Family Violence roundtable begins
Finding solutions to family violence in the province is the goal for this spring's Alberta Roundtable on Family Violence and Bullying.
In the fall of 2003, Premier Ralph Klein announced that addressing family violence issues would be a top priority for the government this year. He gave Children's Services Minister Iris Evans the responsibility of planning a provincial family violence roundtable that would bring community members, government departments and justice stakeholders to the table.
The roundtable will be held in Calgary on May 7 to develop strategies to create a co-ordinated plan of action addressing family violence and bullying.
"This Alberta Roundtable is about listening to Albertans and creating a plan for action," says Children's Services Minister Iris Evans. "Family violence and bullying are issues that affect everyone, and as a result we all have a part to play in creating a province that is violence-free and where everyone can be safe."
The roundtable process is being planned at the grassroots level with suggestions from communities across Alberta on who should attend and what needs to be addressed. Participants at the roundtable and 13 workshops leading up to the roundtable will be made up of a cross-section of Albertans invited through referrals from front-line community groups, as well as those who work, or are involved or interested in, the area of family violence.
A website has been created to update Albertans on the roundtable and gather ideas and suggestions on family violence concerns and possible solutions. The website is located at www.familyviolenceroundtable.gov.ab.ca.
