This is how easy it is to forget. To set it aside. To shuffle it back into that place where whatever happens, happens, without my participating in making a difference.

November is Family Violence Prevention Month. A week ago yesterday, I made a commitment to write a blog to raise awareness around Family Violence Prevention every Friday for the month of November.

And already, I forgot!

Which highlights for me one of the realities of an issue as big and challenging as Family Violence Prevention — it is easy to forget the importance of being part of raising awareness.

It is important we remember.

That we not forget. That we keep in mind those who have lost their lives because they stayed in a relationship that was hurting them. It is important we support those who are working so hard to leave, and everyone who is working so hard to those struggling to leave a relationship that is causing them harm. And it is important that we each do whatever we can to stop abuse.

Abuse hurts. Stop it.

There are many heroes in the Family Violence/Domestic Abuse continuum.

The shelters which take in women and their children fleeing violence. And, those that help men who are suffering abuse. Like the Wheatland Shelter that has 4 beds for men, the only male domestic abuse shelter in the Calgary region.

The team at Wheatland are heroes.

There are people of vision, like Kathy Christiansen at Alpha House, who is partnering with Calgary Counselling Centre to provide a program for male victims of abuse that will help them understand, not only what has happened to them, but how it has affected their lives and what they can do to create positive changes.

Kathy Christiansen, all the staff and volunteers at Alpha House are heroes.

So many people are committed to ending violence in our homes. People like Christine Berry who is the Director of Family Violence at Calgary Counselling Centre. Christine is a compassionate advocate for change. A tireless supporter of those who have experienced abuse and everyone who is seeking ways to move beyond it.

Christine Berry is a hero.

There are groups who make difference every day. Calgary Police Service which works with Homefront and Victim Services and all the agencies to ensure victims of abuse are not re-victimized through the judicial system.

You are all heroes.

This past week, Robbie Babins-Wagner presented at a conference in Vancouver on the findings of Calgary Counselling Centre’s research into motivational interviewing and men who abuse. This is important work in the continuum of Family Violence Prevention as it speaks to the capacity for change in men, and women, who abuse. Calgary Counselling Centre is doing some ground-shifting work on changing the family violence/domestic abuse landscape. What they’re doing shows — can can do it. We can prevent, and stop, abuse. Robbie is a fearless advocate for ensuring people receive the support they need to move beyond abuse.

Robbie Babins-Wagner and the team at Calgary Counselling Centre are heroes.

There are countless heroes in the Family Violence Prevention continuum and every one of them deserves to be celebrated and acknowledged for the important work they do and the difference they make every day in the lives of those who have fallen victim to violence in their homes. Preventing family violence isn’t just about helping those who are victims of abuse. It’s also about working with those who abuse to change their lives too. People are not lost causes. People deserve the opportunity to learn and grow and change. , or those who have abused and are discovering ways to change and to free themselves from abuse.

And… tomorrow is Remembrance Day. A day to remember fallen heroes and those who continue to fight for freedom the world over.

And… because I like to share a video on Saturday, I am sharing Terry Kelly’s powerful, Pittance of Time.

May we not forget.