Recognizing Family Violence Prevention Month
By Leela Sharon Aheer Chestermere-Strathmore MLA
Hello Chestermere-Strathmore readers. Every November, we recognize Family Violence Prevention Month to demonstrate our commitment to ending family violence and raising awareness of available resources for those in need.
I have personally worked on the legislation now known as Clare’s Law to give individuals the ability to get information about their partner, allowing them to make informed choices about intimate relationships. Bill 17, the Disclosure to Protect Against Domestic Violence (Clare’s Law) Act, allows individuals who feel at risk of domestic violence to access their partner’s criminal records to find out if their partner has an abusive or violent past. There is still so much more work to be done, and we all share the immense privilege and responsibilities of helping, reaching out, reducing stigma, and educating ourselves on how to help survivors.
The Family Violence Info Line is available 24/7 by dialing 310-1818. This resource provides support for those in need in more than 170 languages. To learn more about what you can do to prevent family violence, visit alberta.ca/EndFamilyViolence
Family Violence Prevention Month began more than 30 years ago as a local initiative in the Town of Hinton and is now recognized by numerous municipalities, communities, and organizations. Support for people at risk of family violence includes:
• Alberta Supports financial benefits for personal needs, emergency transportation, shelter, and damage deposits.
• The Safer Spaces program allows victims of domestic violence to end their lease at no cost by obtaining a certificate. Over 2,100 certificates have been provided since the program started in August 2016.
• The Family Violence Info Line (310-1818) helps Albertan’s access needed support and services 24/7, toll-free, province-wide, in more than 170 languages.
It’s #FinancialLiteracyMonth! Alberta has some great programs and resources that can help keep more money in your pocket. We are all interested in learning about saving, budgeting, spending, and investing in today’s world with rising inflation and many other financial hardships that we are facing as a province. Financial literacy programming will ensure students have access to financial literacy education and gives future generations the financial knowledge & skills needed for success.
Here are some of the programs:
• Supporting students and youth with a financial literacy grant, smart banking tips for students and credit card tips for students.
• Supporting workers and employers with fraud prevention and a Canada-Alberta job grant.
• Supporting families with a federal-provincial childcare agreement and how to financially plan for a baby.
• Supporting businesses with a film and television tax credit and self-employment program.
• Others support programs in regards to credit reports and auto insurance.
The Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal
A new commemorative medal has been created to mark the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal is a tangible way for Alberta to honour Her Majesty’s service to Canada.
The Medal program will be part of the Platinum Jubilee year celebrations organized by the Government of Alberta. Permission is being sought from the Government of Canada to have the Medal included in the Order of Precedence, along with the other commemorative medals of the Canadian Honours System.
The Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal will be awarded to 7,000 Albertans throughout 2022 in recognition of their significant contributions to the province.
The Platinum Jubilee Medal program is continuing as planned despite the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The nomination deadline for the Chestermere – Strathmore Constituency is Nov. 15.
The eligibility criteria for this medal is intentionally broad so that it can recognize a wide range of accomplishments in many areas. A nominee must:
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with a tangible link to Alberta at the time the Medal is granted
• have made a significant contribution to Canada, Alberta, or to a particular Alberta region or community
• have been alive on Feb. 6, the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the throne
More information is available at Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal | Alberta.ca or the Chestermere Strathmore Constituency office at (Chestermere.strathmore@assembly.ab.ca).
Finally, for seven years, I have written to you in these articles almost every week. It has been a tremendous privilege to do this, and I will continue to the end of my term. Politicians are elected to be the voice of their government. My position is to bring issues – the voices of public concerns and demands to the legislature and stay current on issues affecting our community and the province. I want to thank the thousands of folks that have reached out to my office over the years. I hope we have been of service. I have lived in my riding since the age of 7, and I have seen this area grow and develop in ways I could have never imagined. Soon you will have new representation, and I hope that whoever you elect as your MLA feels as lucky as I have to have represented you.
As always, we love you hear from you.
(Leela Sharon Aheer is the MLA Elect for Chestermere-Strathmore)