Local organizations unite for violence-prevention events
Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - Natalie Miller
Nine years ago when the YWCA Week Without Violence was first celebrated locally there was a series of focused violence-prevention events held in the community.

That hasn’t changed. However, the co-ordinator of the week that’s celebrated across Canada, says the message of the event now extends well beyond that week in October.

Cathie Caverly says peace building is becoming more ingrained in the Peterborough community.

“There’s been a bit of a shift,” Cathie says.

“There’s a sense people are integrating peace building into more of their life than just the seven days.” She points to the local public school board, which is infusing character education into its curriculum. As well, local organizations hold training year-round on well-being and stress management for employees, Cathie says.

Local activities geared at reducing violence and promoting peace are occurring all week long in celebration of this year’s Week Without Violence.

The Week Without Violence steering committee, made up of 25 people from a variety of community agencies, have organized parenting workshops, penalty-free hockey and a well-being day amongst a host of other events. Week Without Violence is Oct. 17 to 23.

The event, which originated in the United States, has been celebrated across Canada for nine years. Last year more than 45,000 people took part, according to a press release from the YWCA.

The week is designed to get people and communities identifying realistic alternatives to violence, the local YWCA says.

“The goal is really the same as it has always been – to help people initiate living in a more peaceful community,” says Cathie. The events are designed to “promote discussion” and “ignite imagination about living a non-violent community. We really want to promote peace.”

Public events this week include:

‘Keeping Peace at Home’ today 7 to 9 p.m.: Conflict management skills from problem solving to family meeting to anger management, hosted by Peterborough Family Resource Centre, 201 Antrim St., call Faith Bellamy at 748-9144 for information.

‘Assumptions’ today 7 to 9 p.m.: Information session for gay and bisexual men, service providers and interested community members on safer sex practices, hosted by the Peterborough AIDS Resource Network, held at the Peterborough Lions Club, 347 Burnham St., call Charles or Ben at 743-8960 for more information.

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