Strathmore showcases local crisis shelter

Times Contributor

 

Does Airdrie need a community crisis centre?

That is the question many members of the community are asking. City council is currently examining the needs of its residents to see if Airdrie could benefit from a crisis shelter. 

Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown and domestic violence survivor Miranda McMullen visited the Wheatland Shelter—The Community Crisis Centre of Strathmore on Dec. 11. 

Strathmore Mayor Steve Grajczyk toured Brown and McMullen throughout the facility that has been made available to Strathmore community since 1993. 

“It is definitely something that every community should have and ours is a model that I’m really proud of,” said Grajczyk, “as a matter of fact High River used it as a model.”

Brown said the intention behind the visit was to get an idea of how crisis shelters operate, how they are funded and what kind of staffing levels are required. 

Brown said he was particularly amazed by Wheatland Shelter’s history in its preliminary years. The operation of the facility depended on donations for funding and it was completely run by volunteers. 

“[I have] nothing but respect for the people who work there and I like the way the facility is integrated within the community.” 

There are several reasons why location is important, said Brown. Airdrie’s close proximity to Calgary allows community members to visit shelters throughout the city. 

“From what I’ve heard from different people… many people that are experiencing domestic violence will stay as a victim rather than uprooting their children and moving to a new community,” said Brown, “it’s already a tremendous stress on their kids and they do not want to change schools and things like that.”

In order for a victim who is without a car to flee to a shelter in Calgary, the cab fare can be anywhere up to $150 said McMullen. 

“We do have a lot of community support here in Airdrie such as Community Links, they have many great programs for victims however, no shelter.”

When McMullen was escaping her abusive relationship, she said there were many instances where a crisis shelter could have been helpful. 

McMullen spoke at the Light the Night event in Airdrie Nov. 15 in support of Family Crisis Prevention Month at the Community Links office location. 

“That night sparked a lot of discussion in Airdrie and within the community in getting resources out here that we don’t have that Calgary and Strathmore and area do have.”

Constable Francine Hennelly of Airdrie’s Domestic Violence Unit said she would love to work in partnership with a community crisis shelter and that it would largely impact individuals and families who are currently involved with family violence situations.

The Airdrie RCMP respond to many cases of domestic violence each week, said Hennelly. 

“I can confirm this much: every year our stats are growing, the number of cases we are responding to are growing,” said Hennelly, “they can range from fairly innocuous type situations like a property dispute to a situation where we have an assault or an assault with weapons.”

“This year we had a case where we responded to a murder suicide situation so Airdrie is definitely a busy community for domestic violence.”

If Airdrie were to have a crisis centre within the community, “we would as RCMP members rest easier knowing that the victims are safe in shelters,” said Hennelly.

“At times they remain with their abusers because they feel there is no other escape. And too, interviewing for police and interviewing people out of a shelter is sometimes a better place than interviewing someone at a police station or in that person’s residence.”

The need for a crisis centre in Airdrie is definitely apparent, said Hennelly.

“I’m really hoping that the mayor and whoever else is looking into this project at this point gets it underway.”

Brown said he asked for a report at the last council meeting to look into the details of whether or not a shelter could be a sustainable within the city and identify what particular needs of the community need to be met. 

“We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to support victims of domestic violence,” said Brown, “and whether that equates to a women’s shelter here in Airdrie, I’m not sure.”