MMFC 2007 - University of New Brunswick

MMFC
Networker
The Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research
Le Centre Muriel McQueen Fergusson pour la recherche sur la violence familiale
Muriel McQueen
Fergusson Centre
Exciting time . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Message from the Director . . . . .2
News at the MMFC . . . . . . . .2
The Research Corner
Projects of the MMFC . . . . . .3
Research Corner
Teams of the MMFC . . . . . . . .5
Research Corner
Projects Affiliated with MMFC .6
The Education Corner . . . . . .7
The Discussion Corner . . . . . .8
Research Day 2006
of the MMFC . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Community Page . . . . . . . . . .9
Foundation News . . . . . . .11
The Foundation holds
Annual General Meeting . . . .11
New Brunswick Silent
Witness Project . . . . . . . . . .11
Fund-raising Events . . . . . . .12
MMFF High School
Chapters Update . . . . . . . . .13
Muriel McQueen Fergusson
Foundation Award . . . . . . . .13
MMFF Grants Program . . . . .14
Upcoming events . . . . . . . . .15
Exciting time for the
Muriel McQueen
Fergusson Centre
court, prosecutions); and to develop regional,
national and international forums for dissemination of inter-jurisdictional analyses and program/policy outcomes.
O
Who are the players in the Canadian
observatory?
ver the last two years, articles were published in the MMFC Networker about the
possibility of developing a national/international network that would focus on the justice
system’s response to intimate partner violence.
Today we can say that it is now a reality. The
Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family
Violence Research at the University of New
Brunswick in Fredericton has been awarded $
2.1 million dollars from the Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
under the Strategic Knowledge Clusters program, to establish a network promoting and
coordinating multidisciplinary research from
across Canada on intimate partner violence and
the justice system.
An initiative of this magnitude is unique in
Canada and intends to be a national conduit
between provinces and territories, in both official
languages. The Canadian observatory will enable
the Alliance of Canadian Research Centres on
Violence, partner organizations, and family violence researchers from across Canada, and
abroad, to work together more effectively to
conduct research and develop initiatives on the
justice system’s response to intimate partner violence.
What is the Canadian observatory?
The Canadian observatory is a national/international research network emphasizing continued
bilingual dialogue and in-depth research on the
justice system in all
parts of the country
and on the impact of
its response to intimate partner violence.
The Canadian observatory intends to lay the
groundwork for standardized
national data sets on the justice system's response to intimate partner violence, with
particular emphasis on civil
legislation and specialized
response units (e.g. police,
Building the Canadian Observatory
The Director of the Observatory is Dr. Carmen
Gill, Director of the Muriel McQueen Fergusson
Centre for Family Violence Research at the
University of New Brunswick. At this time coinvestigators involved in the Canadian observatory are: Ms. Rina Arseneault, Muriel McQueen
Fergusson Centre at UNB; Dr. Helene Berman,
School of Nursing and Centre for Research and
Education on Violence against Women and
Children, University of Western Ontario; Dr.
Dominique Damant, École de service social,
Université de Montréal; Dr. Myrna Dawson,
Department of Sociology and Anthropology,
University of Guelph; Dr. Mary Hampton,
Department of Psychology, Luther College,
University of Regina; Dr. Joseph P. Hornick,
Canadian Research Institute for Law and the
Family (CRILF); Dr. Margaret Jackson, FREDA
Centre, Simon Fraser University; Dr. Peter Jaffe,
Faculty of Education and Centre for Research on
Violence against Women & Children, University
of Western Ontario; Dr. Holly Johnson,
Department of Criminology at the University of
Ottawa; Dr. Nicole Letourneau, Associate
Professor at the Faculty of Nursing at UNB and
Canada Research Chair in Healthy Child
Development. Ms. Lucie Ogrodnik, Family
Violence Program, Statistics Canada; Dr. Gilles
Rondeau, École de service social, Université de
Montréal; Dr. Leslie Tutty, Faculty of Social Work
and RESOLVE-Alberta, University of Calgary; Dr.
Jane Ursel, RESOLVE Manitoba, University of
Manitoba. Collaborators are: Ms. Lise Bellefleur,
Violence Prevention Initiatives at the Women’s
Issues Branch, Government of New Brunswick;
Ms. Elizabeth Moore, Charles Sturt University in
Australia; Dr. Angela Ragusa, Charles Sturt
University in Australia; Dr. Liz Kelly, Child and
Woman Abuse Studies Unit at the London
Metropolitan University; Ms. Robyn Holder,
Department of Justice & Community Safety in
Australia. Other international participants are
also joining the Canadian observatory.
Finally, Dr. Elizabeth Blaney, Research Associate
at the MMFC has been designated as the coordinator of the Canadian observatory.
Message from the Director
News at the MMFC
I
M
t is always exciting to talk about what is happening at
the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre. At the same
time, it is difficult to celebrate when some communities
in New Brunswick are struggling with women who were
killed by their partner/ex-partner in 2007.
The year 2007 began in deep sadness for people at the
MMFC as we heard of the death of a woman from the
Acadian peninsula who was killed by her ex-partner in
January. Later on, in July 2007, another woman was
murdered by her common-law partner. This news is telling
us, once again, that we are failing in our work and that
we have not yet found the best ways to protect and save
people’s lives. Femicide is affecting us all in many ways. A
woman’s death has an impact on her children, the
extended family members, the community and the entire
society.
Looking back at what happened at the Muriel McQueen
Fergusson Centre this year is definitely tinted by the
reality in our communities. We cannot change the past,
but we have a responsibility to transform the present and
to take action for the future of our communities. This is
the challenge everyone at the MMFC is working towards.
This year the MMFC is proud to celebrate partnerships
established with various communities in Atlantic Canada
around diverse projects. For instance, the MMFC along
with the Fredericton Police Force, has successfully
developed and launched a training program for police
officers to support an effective response to intimate
partner violence. The MMFC also worked closely with the
Acadian and francophone women communities from all
Atlantic Provinces to inform and mobilize women around
the issue of socioeconomic equity.
The MMFC will focus more intently in coming years on
the justice system response to intimate partner violence.
After two years of intensive work with experts from
across Canada, the Canadian observatory has been
successfully funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council for the next seven years. This means
that national and international research projects will take
place under the leadership of the MMFC. In order to
coordinate the observatory work, we are pleased that Dr.
Elizabeth Blaney has accepted a two-year Research
Associate position at the MMFC.
It is also a pleasure to mention that the MMFC will be
holding its third Research Day in November 2007. It is a
rendez-vous for everyone interested in intervention and
research on family violence issues. I invite you to visit the
MMCF webpage for more information. You will also
notice on the MMFC webpage the new policy document
that is now guiding all research conducted under the
MMFC.
ark your calendars - Research Day 2007 will be
held on November 2, 2007 at the Wu Centre,
UNB Campus. The theme this year - RESEARCH
DAY 2007: Resistance and resilience: Helping
children and youth survive in the face of family
violence.
A general public event will be held on November 1, 2007.
Dr. Bruce D. Perry from the ChildTrauma Academy will
give a public address. Dr. Perry is the Senior Fellow of the
ChildTrauma Academy, a Houston-based organization
dedicated to research and education on child
maltreatment. He is an internationally-recognized
authority on children in crisis. Over the last fifteen years,
Dr. Perry has been an active teacher, clinician and
researcher in children’s mental health and the
neurosciences, holding a variety of academic positions.
This free event will also be at the Wu Centre and it is
open to the general public.
La Rencontre 2007 aura lieu le 2 novembre 2007 au
Centre de conférence Wu sur le campus de UNB
Fredericton. Le thème de la Rencontre 2007 est «
Résistance et résilience : aider les enfants et les
adolescents à survivre à la violence familiale ».
The MMFC has just developed a new pamphlet. Thanks
are extended to the creativity of Michelle Bryar of Yak
Design. You can check it out on our website at
http://www.unbf.ca/arts/CFVR/.
Le nouveau dépliant du CMMF est maintenant disponible
en français sur notre page web
http://www.unbf.ca/arts/CFVR/.
The MMFC is proud of the partnership they have had
with the Fredericton Police Force in the last year. Out of
this partnership we are happy to announce the launch of
our Train-the-Trainer Training Program for police forces in
New Brunswick. If interested or you would like more
information, do not hesitate to contact us. (more
information on this project on page 7) – Plus
d’informations disponibles en français concernant le
programme de formation sur notre page web.
Mark your calendars, the MMFC’s Annual General
Meeting will be held on September 24, 2007 at 3pm.
Dr. William Patrick will be the keynote speaker. All are
welcome to attend.
L’assemblée générale annuelle du CMMF aura lieu le 24
septembre 2007 à 15h00. M. William Patrick, Ph.D. sera
le conférencier invitée. Tous sont invité.
Thank you to Pete Stafford from Cambridge Pen & Design
for helping the MMFC and the MMFF to produce this
newsletter.
If you wish to know more about the activities and projects
mentioned in this newsletter, please do not hesitate to
call me (506 452-6367) or to visit our valuable website at
http://www.unbf.ca/arts/CFVR/
Carmen Gill, Fall 2007
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www.unb.ca/arts/CFVR | 506-453-3595 | 678 Windsor Street, Fredericton, NB | E3B 5A3
The Research Corner - Projects
of the MMFC
New Brunswick Dating Violence Prevention
Team recommends multifaceted
comprehensive approach to deterrence
The following individuals contributed to this research: Lise
Bellefleur, E. Sandra Byers, C. Ann Cameron, Anna Campbell,
Christien Demoré, Norma Dubé, Marie Dumont, Nicole Duperé,
Jeanne Duquette, Jim Dysart, Lyndsay Foster, Wendy Fraser,
Robert Gerard, Kerri Gibson, Shannon Glenn, Fran Harris, Margie
Layden-Oreto, Mary Ann MacNeil, Marlien McKay, Stacey
McKay, Brad McNeil, Andrea Miller, Melissa St. Pierre, Kelley
Robinson, John Tingley, Joanne Williams.
T
he Provincial Strategy Team for Dating Violence
Prevention was coordinated by Ann Cameron and
Sandra Byers of UNB, but benefited from the
contributions of a large number of government,
community and student researchers. The goal of the Team
was to make recommendations for a sustainable
comprehensive provincial strategy for youth dating
violence prevention in the province of New Brunswick.
These recommendations were to be based on an
empirical evaluation of dating violence prevention
programs conducted with high school students in New
Brunswick during the autumn of 2005 by five
community-based organizations: Le Centre de prévention
de la violence familiale de Kent (CPVFK), Coalition Against
Abuse in Relationships/Coalition contre l’abus dans les
relations (CAAR), Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre
(FSACC), and Making Waves/Vague par vague, Inc.
(MW/Vpv). The evaluation was designed to be at arm’s
length from, yet informed by, the programs, systematic,
scientifically rigorous, longitudinal, and to assess diverse
areas.
Prior to conducting the evaluation, the co-coordinators:
(1) established a Provincial Strategy Team for Dating
Violence Prevention and a Dating Violence Prevention
Consultative Committee to guide the research; (2)
articulated a set of goals and objectives for dating
violence prevention; (3) developed an evaluation
framework for the evaluation; (4) reviewed learning
outcomes related to dating violence in the French and
English curricula, and (5) created and validated the
measurement instruments to be used in the evaluation. In
order to determine changes resulting from involvement in
the dating violence prevention programs, we administered
questionnaires assessing the goals and objectives of the
programs. Students receiving each of the programs, as
well as students in five comparison schools not receiving
any outside programming, completed the questionnaires
immediately prior to the program, immediately following
implementation of the program, and four months
following implementation of the program. These data
were used to evaluate changes in students’ knowledge,
attitudes, and behaviour due to the curriculum and due
to each of the programs.
Students in all programs and in the comparison schools
showed increases in knowledge. In general, with the
exception of the somewhat select group of students who
attended MW/Vpv, participation in these programs
produced few changes in attitudes and behaviours. We
also found that, compared to boys, girls were more
knowledgeable, were somewhat less accepting of dating
violence, and evidenced more positive behavioural
intentions for dealing with dating violence. Review of the
New Brunswick curricula demonstrated that it addresses
many of the knowledge goals identified as important to
dating violence prevention. However, there were some
key goals that are not identified as learning outcomes in
the current curricula. The report contains eight
recommendations based on these results. You can view
the recommendations or the entire report at
http://www.unbf.ca/arts/CFVR/research.php.
Sandra Byers, Project Co-coordinator, UNB
Evaluation of the Provincial Court - Domestic
Violence (Moncton)
As part of the provincial violence prevention action plan
(A Better World for Women: Moving Forward 20052010), the Province of New Brunswick announced in
2004 that it would implement a specialized court for
domestic violence cases; and in 2006 the Muriel
McQueen Fergusson Centre joined the government
steering committee responsible for the court’s planning
and design. Since then, the MMFC has played a key role
by developing the evaluation framework for the court.
We are now pleased to be leading the evaluation of
Atlantic Canada’s first provincial court specializing in
domestic violence cases (Provincial Court – Domestic
Violence [Moncton]), which began processing cases in the
spring of 2007.
The aim of the court is to establish a coordinated
response to domestic violence; one in which legal, law
enforcement, treatment, victim service, probation and
corrections professionals work together to provide
effective interventions and ensure victims are supported
and that the violent behaviour of offenders is addressed.
The court is presided over by Judge Dugas-Horseman and
engages a specialized prosecutor, probations officer, and
victim service coordinator. The pilot project also involves
the use of specialized risk assessment, intervention, and
victim safety plan programs, which are key elements in
ensuring victim safety and a coordinated justice system
response to domestic violence.
A three-year evaluation of the court’s implementation is
being conducted by the MMFC. The purpose of this
evaluation is to describe how the court is implemented,
and to assess the functions and processes of the court.
In order to discern the impact that a specialized approach
has on domestic violence case-processing (for victims,
offenders, families, and justice system professionals), we
have taken a comparative approach. Domestic violence
data is being gathered from two court sites: the Provincial
Court – Domestic Violence (Moncton), and the
Fredericton provincial court, which is engaged in a
conventional court approach.
MMFC Networker | Issue #18 | Fall 2007
3
The evaluation methodology consists of three components,
and incorporates both qualitative and quantitative
elements. The first component involves conducting
comparative court observations of domestic violence cases
at the specialized court site and in a non-specialized court
site. Second, the research team will conduct individual
interviews with key informants involved with the court.
Finally, the quantitative component will track all cases
processed through the Provincial Court – Domestic
Violence (Moncton), over the period of 18 months, as well
as comparatively tracking domestic violence cases over the
same period in a non-specialized court site (Fredericton).
For more information on the MMFC’s role in this project,
please contact: Heather McTiernan ([email protected]), or
Dr. Carmen Gill ([email protected]).
Heather McTierman, project coordinator
Intersecting Sites of Violence in the Lives of
Girls
Intersecting Sites of Violence in the Lives of Girls is a threephase participatory-action research initiative. The
overarching purpose of this work is to improve the lives of
girls and young women. Intersectionality is important to
this project and we have endeavoured to include young
women with a range of life experiences. Chillax are focus
group discussions being held with girls by girls. To date, all
seven sites across the province have held their first and
second Chillax sessions. This work has been helped
enormously by the support of the adult mentors at each of
the seven sites. They provided tremendous encouragement
to the peer facilitators and have worked with them
throughout the project. The research team, including the
young women researchers from each site, will meet in the
fall to discuss analysis of the qualitative information and to
consider how to inform policy makers about violence in
girls' lives.
As one of the young woman trained as a “Chillax” group
facilitator explained:
‘Intersecting Sites of Violence in the Lives of Girls’
research project has exposed me to women’s and girls’
issues and needs around Canada. It has given me the
opportunity to try to make a difference. This project has
allowed me to meet many different individuals from
across our country, hear their stories, and share ideas
on where to go from here. It has been through
hearing girls’ concerns and sharing both my own
feelings, and the feelings of those who live in my area,
that I have grown as an individual. I have become
more educated, and I have learned and experienced
more than I ever would have thought possible when I
was approached to join the research team about four
years ago.
In this project, I was able to interact with girls in my
rural area though our “Chillax” discussion. I also
became a student researcher developing my leadership
skills, while having fun. I met incredible women and
girls, and was privileged to share in one-of-a-kind
discussions with girls in high school who were just
waiting for their voices to be heard.
As a student mentor, I was trained as a facilitator, and
then interacted with young, female participants. In our
“Chillax” sessions, I was there to hear their thoughts,
views, and experiences of violence. This was the
ultimate ‘girl talk’. Lots of snacks and pizza were there
for girls to munch on while we discussed these topics
with one another. It has been through these girls and
others across Canada that I have been able to fully and
deeply understand the state of women’s issues in our
country. Each and every single young woman
experiences some sort of violence in her life and they
each have a story to tell. I have been privileged to be
part of this process. From here, I hope and pray that
this valuable research and insight into girls’ lives will
only lead to change, and make this country a better
place for everyone.
Amanda Densmore, youth researcher
Evaluation of the New Brunswick Violence
and the Workplace Toolkit
The MMFC with the members of the
New Brunswick Family Violence and the
Workplace Committee received funding
from the Crime Prevention Strategy
Program to evaluate the Family Violence –
It’s Your Business: A Workplace Toolkit.
This will be qualitative research. The data
will help determine the scope and nature of the
effectiveness of the Toolkit. More specifically, we hope to:
• assess whether the workplaces have become safer and
more respectful environments as the result of using the
Toolkit;
• evaluate whether the Toolkit expanded the awareness
and preparedness of employers and employees to deal
with victims of family violence;
• evaluate the response of employees, managers,
employers and union members in the workplace, and
service providers working in the area of family violence,
to the workplace violence prevention initiatives
proposed in the Toolkit;
Meeting with young girls in Montreal
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• determine the kinds of policies, practices and
programs that were implemented as a result of using
the Toolkit;
• identify the processes that were used to successfully
introduce elements of the Toolkit and set these out as
“best practices” that can be shared with other
businesses interested in using the Toolkit.
To help with the coordination of the research, the
committee hired Darcy Elliot as research assistant and
Melanie Gallant to assist with the francophone
interviews.
Another objective of this project is to undertake a
comprehensive approach to implementing family violence
information and education strategies within the
workplace. In order to achieve this goal, Marian
Hernandez was hired as the project coordinator. We also
made revisions and a reprinting of the Toolkit.
For more information about this evaluative study, contact
Rina Arseneault, [email protected] or Deborah Doherty,
[email protected]
For further information on the Toolkit or if you would like
to receive a copy of these materials please visit our
website www.toolkitnb.ca
Marian Hernandez, project coordinator & Darcy Elliot,
research assistant.
Research Corner –
Research Teams of
the MMFC
Religion and Violence e-Learning (RAVE)
Project: Web-based action to reduce abuse
F
or more than 15 years, Nancy Nason-Clark has been
examining the story of what happens when religious
people look to their faith communities for help in the
aftermath of violence in the family context. For the past
five years Lanette Ruff and Barbara Fisher-Townsend have
been working as part of Nancy’s Religion and Violence
Team at the MMFC, and for the past year they have
worked full-time on the RAVE project.
Religion is an integral part of the context of many, indeed
most, people’s lives. It is important then to emphasize
that just as domestic violence knows no boundaries of
class or color, it also has no boundaries related to
religious persuasion. Yet many religious groups have been
slow to acknowledge the prevalence of violence in their
midst, despite the recognition by psychologist Weaver
(1993: 402) that “domestic violence is probably the
number one pastoral mental health emergency.”1
Many have claimed that there are specific religious
contours both to the abuse that is suffered and to the
healing journey. Yet, amongst professionals in the secular
therapeutic community, there is general agreement that
many do not like to work with clients who are particularly
religious. In a similar vein, there are religious professionals
who are slow to refer their parishioners who have been
abused to outside sources of help, believing that a secular
shelter is an unsafe place to claim faith. There can be
suspicion on both sides, and sometimes the voices of the
caregivers drown out the voices of the victims. For
collaborative ventures between the steeple and the
shelter to be successful, personnel operating from a
secular or sacred paradigm must be willing to see that the
condemnation of domestic violence requires both the
language of contemporary culture and the language of
the spirit.
The RAVE initiative combines research, training and
advocacy in new and innovative ways to build bridges to
effect change – between churches and their leaders and
community organizations working to eliminate family
violence.
The project is committed to using the most current webbased technologies to allow information access from the
privacy of one’s office or home. Currently we offer
resources to faith leaders and communities dealing with
issues of domestic violence, provide training for clergy
members related to best practices, and provide a forum
for a variety of perspectives to be offered, both sacred
and secular, on the numerous issues and questions that
arise around family violence. An important part of our site
is the “Help Now” section that offers easy, convenient
access to contact information for all transition shelters in
North America.
In October 2007 the RAVE site will be highlighted in an
American television documentary series on religion and
abuse produced by Day of Discovery. We would be
delighted to have feedback on the site
(www.theraveproject.org) from anyone interested.
Nancy Nason-Clark, coordinator
1. Andrew Weaver, "Psychological Trauma: What Clergy
Need to Know," Pastoral Psychology 41(1993): 385-408.
Organizational Strategies for Bullying Reduction
The purpose of this study is to help organizations find
more effective ways to prevent and remediate workplace
bullying and to reduce negative effects experienced by
employees and employers. The Team received funding
from the Crime Prevention Partnership Program, National
Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention in
June 2006 and have completed the first two phases of
the study. The first phase involved conducting 24 key
informant interviews with people who had responsibility
for addressing workplace bullying within their
organizations. These interviewees represented unions and
public, private, and not-for-profit sector organizations of
various sizes. After analyzing these interviews, a report
was sent to the interviewees and the analysis was used as
the basis for the second phase of the study that took
place during the winter of 2007. This involved holding a
series of facilitated learning circles with a group of those
key informants interested in exploring in more depth
some of the more persistent and challenging issues
involved in addressing workplace bullying and developing
MMFC Networker | Issue #18 | Fall 2007
5
strategies to address them. The Team is currently
analyzing the data from that phase, preparing a report to
participants, and identifying areas in which further
elaboration may be needed. The next step will be to
develop practical tools that will assist organizations in
more effective workplace bullying prevention,
intervention, and post intervention.
Research conducted by the Workplace Violence and
Abuse Team of the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre on
Family Violence Research, co-chaired by Judith MacIntosh
and Marilyn Noble.
Judith MacIntosh and Marilyn Noble, research team
co-coordinators
potential geographical challenges in terms of service
access and delivery in a province where roughly half of
the population resides in a rural area.
The full results of the study will be released in the fall of
2007. The hope is that this information, coupled with the
findings of the Premier’s Community Nonprofit Task
Force, will contribute to more informed decision-making
and dialogue on the future of service provision by
charitable organizations in New Brunswick.
For more information on this project, please contact the
project coordinator, Heather McTiernan
([email protected]), or Dr. Luc Thériault ([email protected]).
Heather McTiernan, project coordinator
Research Corner – Research
Projects Affiliated with MMFC
UNB Researchers Study NB’s Charitable
Health & Welfare Sector
R
elative to their vital contribution to our population’s
well-being, little is known about charitable
organizations in the province of New Brunswick their activities and challenges, the capacity of the sector,
and its role in the economy, for example. In 2004, the
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council provided
funding for a team of social scientists, led by Drs Carmen
Gill and Luc Thériault of the University of New Brunswick,
to conduct a three-year study of the province’s charitable
human service sector.
The study, which draws data from nearly 300
organizations, is the first in-depth survey of its kind in
New Brunswick, and adds to the growing research effort
to better understand the contribution of human services
by what is now commonly referred to as the “third
sector.” The research focus is specifically on charitable
human service organizations, one of the fastest growing
service providers in the non-profit sector. Therefore,
organizations serving women, children, and families were
among the respondents to the survey. Some examples
include women’s shelters, mothering support
organizations, and organizations providing violence
prevention outreach programs.
The research focus of the New Brunswick-based survey
has been on: the types of activities and services
organizations are providing, their governance structures,
accountability practices, spatial distribution, financial
resources, and gender. Early analysis of results has
provided insight into the sector and its challenges. For
example, we know that the province’s organizations tend
to be small (generally less than 10 staff), and that when it
comes to human resources, the sector is overwhelmingly
female (on average, 80% of organizations’ workforce are
women). The study has also provided data to support the
common sentiment that many organizations in the sector
are in financial crisis (financial resources were the primary
challenge and limitation in providing services for the
majority of organizations). Results also point to some
6
Asking for Directions
MVART, the Male Violence Action Research Team, began
with the idea of “asking for directions” in late 2006.
Concerned with research that will inform and be a basis
for community action to eliminate violence against
women, members and interested parties of this project
have worked in affiliation with the Muriel McQueen
Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research,
MensWork, and Aboriginal consultants to hold three
public consultations (Francophone, Anglophone and
Aboriginal) in the province of New Brunswick between
April 2007 and June 2007 with the help of some funding
from the University Research Fund (UNB), the Women’s
Issues Branch Community Action Fund, the Summer
Employment and Experience Development (SEED)
program, and the Canada Summer Jobs program. The
purpose of these sessions was to generate discussion and
relevant research questions that academic members of the
team will pursue in an upcoming Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) application. The
team sought to identify from those who attended the
meetings: “What information is needed to gather in order
to have a better understanding of the role men need to
play in reducing, and ultimately eliminating, violence
against women?”, “What works and what doesn’t work
within the present situation with respect to the role men
need to play in reducing, and ultimately eliminating,
violence against women?”, and “What are the issues that
should be a top priority to be addressed in a research
agenda on the role men need to play in eliminating
violence against women?”. Feedback came from both the
professional community and the everyday concerned
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citizen. An inclusive report is to be published on the
results of the consultations in the fall of 2007 and will be
available to view both in print and on the MMFC website.
The co-leaders of MVART are Dr. Luc Thériault (Sociology,
UNB) and Dr. William Patrick. Active members of the
team include Rina Arseneault of the MMFC, Bob
Stranach, Miguel LeBlanc and Tim Gallagher of
MensWork. Emma Cunningham is the Project
Coordinator for the group and Tricia Lofstrom is the
Research Assistant. A great deal of support has been
provided by Barb Martin and Reni Han of Han Martin
Associates for their willingness to work with the team on
behalf of the Aboriginal community. Interested parties
include Lorraine Whalley (Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis
Centre), Jeff Landine (Counselling Services, UNB) and Dr.
Nicole Letourneau (Nursing, UNB) as well as a variety of
other organizations and individuals.
MVART is extremely happy to be involved in a project
with the MMFC and looks forward to rewarding
outcomes from this important research.
Emma Cunningham, project coordinator
The Education Corner
L’équité socio-économique et les femmes
acadiennes et francophones des provinces
atlantiques
Comité d’analyse : Louise d’Entremont (Fédération des
femmes acadiennes de la N-É.), Marie-Claude Rioux
(Femmes Action, N.-É.), Colette Arsenault (Association des
femmes acadiennes et francophones de l’Î.P.É), Josée
Gallant (stagiaire FÉA, Î.P.É.), Murielle Malouin (Groupe
Femmes francophones de l’ouest du Labrador), Francine
Couture (Terre-Neuve), Rina Arseneault (présidente de
FÉA, N-.B), Nancy Benoit (coordinatrice du projet).
L
e volet IV « Se faire entendre » de Femme Équité
Atlantique est en cours depuis octobre 2006 et doit
se terminer en septembre 2007. Le volet IV vise à
consolider les activités amorcées et à favoriser une prise
en charge collective, par les femmes, des dossiers liés à la
problématique de l’absence d’équité socio-économique
de leur milieu.
Deux objectifs sont poursuivis afin de réaliser ce volet :
Objectif 1 : Accroître la capacité des femmes et de leurs
allié(e)s d’agir de façon concertée dans le but d’apporter
les changements nécessaires relatifs à la problématique de
l’absence d’équité socio-économique.
Objectif 2 : Accroître la crédibilité de Femmes Équité
Atlantique, des groupes de femmes et de leurs
partenaires qui oeuvrent pour l’obtention de l’équité
socio-économique.
Pour atteindre ces objectifs, une analyse inclusive des
Plans de développement global des communautés
acadiennes et francophones des quatre provinces
atlantiques sera réalisée.
Si vous voulez plus d’information sur le comité ou le
travail qu’il effectue vous pouvez contacter Mme Rina
Arseneault, (506) 458-7137 ou FÉ[email protected]
Understanding the Impact of Intimate Partner
Violence: Helping Police Officers to Better
Intervene
Since 2006 the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre
(MMFC) and the Fredericton Police Force have worked in
partnership to develop “Understanding the Impact of
Intimate Partner Violence: Helping Police Officers to Better
Intervene” – a training program to support those who are
in a position to train police officers about the dynamics of
and effective response to intimate partner violence. The
project was funded by the National Crime Prevention
Strategy and has also received funding from the Women’s
Issues Branch, Executive Council. Fern Paul, graduate
student, was the project coordinator until January, 2007.
Rina Arseneault acted as liaison between MMFC,
Fredericton Police Force, and a community-wide
representative Advisory Committee. Elizabeth Blaney
supervised the content of the training.
Intervening in situations of intimate partner violence is one
of the most difficult aspects of policing and police officers
are often the first members of the law enforcement system
to be encountered by victims. Successful interventions rely
on effective practices. This training provides police officers
with a better understanding of the dynamics of intimate
partner violence, such as what it is, why it occurs, the
process of ending abuse, and the impact that it has on the
lives of individuals (victims, abusers, and children). It
examines police officers’ intervention from receiving a 911
call, to charging and assessing the risk of lethal violence, to
report writing. It also focuses on how police officers are
impacted by their interventions. The training manual is
organized in a train-the-trainer design. Organizing the
training in this format means that once police officers have
taken the training, they will have the tools to train others
in their workplace. In the manual police officers find
training support materials and a workshop guide, all of
which have been created to help them to develop and
deliver workshops to their peers.
The words of Fredericton Police Force’s Deputy Chief,
Leanne Fitch, echo the importance of this training. She
stated:
MMFC Networker | Issue #18 | Fall 2007
7
"Police response to situations of intimate partner
violence requires a unique set of skills and
competencies in order for the police to be successful in
their intervention. Calls of this nature have the
potential to be damaging on many levels, volatile, and
in some cases fatal for the victim, as well as the
responding officers. The Muriel McQueen Fergusson
Center for Family Violence Research, in partnership
with the Fredericton Police Force, has developed this
important training to provide police officers with the
tools and the knowledge to better intervene in a safe,
effective and compassionate way. This training is fully
endorsed by our organization and we hope that other
agencies across the country will adopt this as a model
training guide for their police and civilian employees."
In November, 2006 four police officers of the Fredericton
Police Force received the train-the-trainer training. These
trainers are: Detective Corporal Michael Berry, Detective
Melissa Collins, Corporal Michael Hudson, and Constable
Andrea Joyce. In December, 2006, these trainers
successfully piloted the training in a two-day event,
composed of 14 officers of the Fredericton Police Force,
two members of UNB Security, and two Military Police
from CFB Gagetown. In June 2007 the training package
was launched to the broader community. Training can
now be delivered in English or French. For more
information on the training program, contact the Muriel
McQueen Fergusson Centre, at 453-3595 ([email protected]).
Discussion Focused on How Men Can Reduce
Violence Against Women
There is a growing awareness that men can play a
significant role in ending violence against women. To
further explore this issue, the MMFC and the New
Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women held
an informal discussion on how men can participate in
reducing violence against women.
Led by Bernard Richard, New Brunswick ombudsman,
lawyer, and former social worker, the event took place on
Wednesday, Dec. 6 at the Wilmot United Church in
Fredericton.
Men's anti-violence programs are formed on the
understanding that violence against women hurts society
and that men can have an important influence on
reducing violence by changing their own attitudes and
behavior and by intervening to prevent other men's
violence. The discussion looked at these and other issues.
Elizabeth Blaney, research associate
The Discussion Corner
Identifying, Assessing and Treating Male
Perpetrators and Abused Women
O
n October 25 2006, Dr. Leslie Tutty, Academic
Coordinator of RESOLVE-Alberta and professor in
the Faculty of Social Work at the University of
Calgary, gave a lecture at the MMFC as part of the 2006
Discussion Series. Dr. Tutty discussed approaches to
research, treatment, and program evaluations in regards
to “Identifying, Assessing and Treating Male
Perpetrators and Abused Women”. Dr. Tutty stressed
the need for clinical models on how to identify individuals
who are victims of violence and how to identify the need
for further assessments that include current and historical
contexts.
Dr. Tutty interacted with the audience and offered clinical
information. As always, Dr. Tutty shared her passion and
knowledge for the issue. Her dynamic presentation was
appreciated by a diverse group of intervenors, academics
and students. It was timely for the MMFC to have such a
presentation, as the provincial government is developing
the Specialized Domestic Violence Court in New
Brunswick. Dr. Tutty offered an opportunity to reflect on
our own practices.
8
Colleen MacQuarrie & Lori Weeks, UPEI.
Research Day 2006 of the
MMFC
L
ast year’s Research Day was entitled “Lifespan
Perspectives on Woman Abuse: Preventing Abuse
and Rebuilding Lives”. The event was a great success.
A total of 75 participants took part in the Research Day,
held on November 3, 2006 at the Rodd Charlottetown
Hotel. Dr. Joan Harbison from the School of Social Work
at Dalhousie University delivered the keynote address
entitled: How do we know what older women want?
Understanding responses to violence, mistreatment and
neglect. Her presentation set the tone for an informative
and diverse day of sharing between practitioners,
academics and students. Thank you to Colleen
MacQuarrie and Lori Weeks from UPEI for organizing and
hosting the 2006 Research Day. Their commitment
towards the research Day has generated enthusiasm and
interest to conduct research on family violence issues.
www.unb.ca/arts/CFVR | 506-453-3595 | 678 Windsor Street, Fredericton, NB | E3B 5A3
Community Page
La violence conjugale, comment la
démystifier?
E
n janvier 2007, la population de la Péninsule
acadienne et les gens d’ailleurs dans la province sont
interpellés par un drame de violence conjugale : une
femme est décédée. On en parle, on se questionne, on
ose certains commentaires, on essaie de comprendre les
raisons d’un geste si grave, si inexplicable. Certains iront
jusqu’à tenter de trouver des raisons ou des excuses à
cette violence. On entendra des commentaires réfléchis
dans lesquels on dénoncera cette violence.
Malheureusement, on entendra aussi des commentaires
plutôt gratuits qui nous laisseront croire à une certaine
banalisation de la violence conjugale. Pourtant, depuis
1990, plus de 26 femmes ont perdu leur vie suite à un
acte de violence conjugale, au Nouveau-Brunswick.
C’est quoi la violence conjugale? À tous les jours, à toutes
les heures, à toutes les minutes, une femme est victime
de violence dans notre région, dans notre communauté
ou dans notre province. La violence conjugale est un
exercice abusif de pouvoir par lequel le conjoint cherche à
contrôler sa conjointe en l’obligeant à adopter des
comportements conformes à ses propres désirs. Il y a
différentes formes de violence : physique, psychologique,
verbale, spirituelle, sexuelle et économique. La personne
violente se donne le droit de contrôler et d’exercer un
pouvoir sur l’autre personne par ses gestes ou par ses
paroles. La personne violente va souvent utiliser
l’intimidation, les critiques et les menaces pour s’assurer
du contrôle sur sa victime. La violence conjugale est
plutôt une prise de contrôle qu’une perte de contrôle.
Chez la femme, la peur, l’isolement, la perte d’estime de
soi, le manque de moyens financiers ou de ressources
externes sont souvent des obstacles considérables pour
elle à se sortir de cette relation abusive. Les victimes de
violence conjugale se trouvent dans toutes les classes
socio-économiques et dans toutes les cultures, et peu
importe le sexe, la violence est inacceptable.
Dans la plupart des régions de la province, des services
existent pour les femmes et les enfants victimes de
violence conjugale et familiale ainsi que pour les hommes
violents. En 2006, dans la Péninsule acadienne, les
Services à la famille de la Péninsule et son programme
CHOIX a donné un service de thérapie à 34 hommes
violents, à 49 femmes victimes de violence et à 27
enfants exposés à cette violence. L’Accueil Sainte-Famille,
maison d’hébergement pour femmes victimes de violence
conjugale, a accueilli plus de 45 femmes et 40 enfants
exposés à cette violence.
Aux proches de Simone Boudreau et à toutes les familles
qui ont perdu un être cher dans un contexte de violence
conjugale, nos pensées sont avec vous.
L’équipe d’intervenants du programme en violence
conjugale de Services à la famille de la Péninsule,
organisme membre de la Table de Concertation pour
contrer la violence conjugale et familiale dans la Péninsule
acadienne.
Martine Haché, membre de l’équipe d’intervenants,
programme en violence conjugale de Services à la Famille
de la Péninsule.
Updates from the Women’s Issues Branch
2007
The Women’s Issues Branch, under the umbrella of the
violence prevention initiatives, has been busy working
with their community and government partners to
implement several action items delineated under the “A
Better World for Women – Moving Forward 2005-2010”
action plan. The following is a sample of some of the
work completed to date.
Domestic Violence Court
Moncton was selected as the site for implementation of a
specialized court dealing specifically with domestic
violence cases. The court commenced operations on April
12, 2007.
Judge Anne Dugas-Horsman is the presiding judge
Outreach Services
Spring 2007 saw five New Brunswick communities/
regions (Kent County, Bathurst, Fredericton, Shediac,
Miramichi) implement or expand outreach services for
victims of domestic violence. Outreach workers will
provide a range of services not limited to providing
information, safety planning, referrals to other
agencies/services, counseling, accompaniment of victims
to appointments, etc.
Programs for Child Witnesses of Woman Abuse
Spring 2007 also saw five communities/regions (Saint
John, Acadian Peninsula, Woodstock, Charlotte County,
Moncton) receive funding to implement group
intervention programs for child witnesses of woman
abuse and their mothers. The program is designed to
operate concurrent groups for children and their mothers.
Training on the program was delivered in January 2007 to
over 80 front-line community partners. Communities will
begin delivering groups in the fall.
Expansion of Sexual Assault Services
The Women’s Issues Branch, in partnership with the
Fredericton Sexual Assault Centre and communities across
the province, is building a strong voice for sexual assault
prevention and enhancement of sexual assault services.
Some of the current and upcoming activities of this
exciting initiative are:
• a training forum in Fredericton on November 13,14 for
those interested in enhancing sexual assault services in
their community and networking with other
communities;
• a provincial scan on sexual assault to be used to
enhance community capacity to offer sexual assault
services and programs; and, present a larger picture of
sexual assault in New Brunswick.
MMFC Networker | Issue #18 | Fall 2007
9
Advisory Committee on Violence Against Aboriginal
Women
In 2006, the Minister responsible for the Status of
Women established the Advisory Committee on Violence
Against Aboriginal Women. The current work of the
Advisory Committee consists of identifying priority issues
of Aboriginal women in the province of New Brunswick,
and developing an action plan.
For more information on the violence prevention
initiatives undertaken, please consult our updated website
at http://www.gnb.ca/0012/violence/index-e.asp
Executive Council Office-Women’s Issues Branch
Compte rendu de la Direction des questions
féminines pour 2007
Relevant de la Direction des questions féminines, l’Unité
des initiatives portant sur la prévention de la violence est
occupée à travailler avec ses partenaires communautaires
et gouvernementaux à la mise en oeuvre de diverses
mesures présentées dans le plan d’action intitulé Un
monde meilleur pour les femmes : Aller de l’avant 2005
2010. Vous trouverez ci dessous un aperçu des travaux
réalisés à ce jour.
Tribunal chargé des causes de violence conjugale
Un nouveau tribunal chargé expressément des causes de
violence conjugale a ouvert ses portes à Moncton le 12
avril 2007. Ce tribunal provincial spécialisé entend les
affaires pénales du district judiciaire de Moncton.
Le tribunal est présidé par la juge Anne Dugas Horsman.
Services d’approche
Au printemps 2007, cinq localités ou régions (le comté de
Kent, Bathurst, Fredericton, Shediac et Miramichi) ont mis
en oeuvre des services d’approche pour les victimes de
violence conjugale ou élargi les services déjà offerts. Les
travailleurs d’approche offrent toute une gamme de
services (p. ex. : renseignements, planification en vue
d’assurer la sécurité des victimes et de leur famille, renvoi
des clients vers d’autres organismes ou services,
counseling et accompagnement des victimes à leurs
rendez vous).
Programmes à l’intention des enfants témoins de
violence à l’égard des femmes
Au printemps 2007, cinq localités ou régions (Saint John,
la Péninsule acadienne, Woodstock, le comté de
Charlotte et Moncton) ont reçu des fonds pour mettre en
?uvre un programme d’intervention collective à l’intention
des enfants témoins de violence à l’égard des femmes et
de leur mère. Ce programme prévoit la formation d’un
groupe pour les enfants et d’un groupe pour leur mère
qui se réunissent simultanément. Une formation sur le
programme a été offerte en janvier 2007 à plus de 80
intervenants de première ligne étant des partenaires
communautaires. Les groupes commenceront à se réunir
à l’automne.
Élargissement des services aux victimes d’agression
sexuelle
La Direction des questions féminines, en collaboration
avec le Centre pour les victimes d’agression sexuelle de
Fredericton et différentes localités de la province, exprime
haut et fort le besoin de services de prévention
d’agressions sexuelles et l’amélioration des services aux
victimes de telles agressions. Voici quelques-unes des
activités en ?uvre et à venir dans le cadre de ce projet
passionnant :
• Séance de formation à l’intention des personnes
désirant améliorer les services aux victimes d’agression
sexuelle dans leur localité et réseauter avec des
représentants d’autres localités (les 13 et 14 novembre
à Fredericton);
• Examen sommaire de la situation de l’agression
sexuelle au Nouveau Brunswick en vue d’accroître la
capacité des localités à offrir des services et
programmes à l’intention des victimes d’agression
sexuelle et de pouvoir présenter une vue d’ensemble
de la situation au Nouveau Brunswick;
Comité consultatif sur la violence faite aux femmes
autochtones
En 2006, la ministre responsable de la Condition
féminine, a établit le comité consultatif sur la violence
faite aux femmes autochtones. Actuellement, ce comité
s’occupe de cerner les priorités des femmes autochtones
au Nouveau Brunswick et d’élaborer un plan d’action en
conséquence.
Pour plus d’information, veillez consulter notre site
internet : http://www.gnb.ca/0012/violence/index-f.asp
Bureau du Conseil exécutif - Direction des questions
féminines
10 www.unb.ca/arts/CFVR | 506-453-3595 | 678 Windsor Street, Fredericton, NB | E3B 5A3
Foundation News
Joining together for answers (1985-2007)
The Foundation is a charitable organization
dedicated to the elimination of family violence
through support of action-orientated research,
public education and awareness initiatives.
For more information, please contact:
Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation
PO Box 50 000. 678 Windsor Street
UNB Campus, Fredericton, NB E3B 6C2
Phone: 1(506)472-5085
Toll free: 1(888)673-6633 (mmff)
Fax:
1(506)472-5084
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mmff.ca
The Foundation holds Annual
General Meeting
AGM MEETING SPEAKERS
LEFT TO RIGHT: THERESE MURRAY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR;
GUEST SPEAKERS LANETTE RUFF AND BARBARA FISHER
TOWNSEND, DR. DAVID BESNER, PRESIDENT. PHOTO BY:
MICHAEL NOWLAN
A
GM guest speakers, Barbara Fisher Townsend, Ph.D.
and Lanette Ruff, Ph.D. presented an overview on:
Rave "Religion and Violence e-learning": a training
model for pastors and their congregations related to
collaborative community based integrated responses.
NFVPM SIGNING WITH PREMIER
LEFT TO RIGHT: THERESE MURRAY, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR; PREMIER GRAHAM; DR. DAVID BESNER
PRESIDENT. PHOTO BY: MULLINS PHOTOGRAPHY LTD
November Family Violence Prevention
Month
Premier Bernard Lord signs the 15th Annual Family
Violence Prevention Month Declaration. The month is
recognized by municipalities with grassroots initiatives
and community Proclamations.
As it is still in the developmental phase, their developers
have provided them with a registration feature. To
complete this process, click on the registration link at the
bottom of the login page and fill in the required fields. An
email will be sent to the RAVE inbox and they give you
complete access to all resources on the website. If you
have any questions or comments, please contact:
[email protected] or by telephone at 506-451-6957 or
[email protected] or at 506-451-6978.
www.theraveproject.org. More information can be
found on page 5.
New Brunswick Silent
Witness Project:
To Remember, To Create Awareness,
To Promote Action
T
he New Brunswick Silent Witness
Committee continues to work with
families and community groups helping
create silhouettes for New Brunswick
domestic homicide victims. The response to
learn more about the project continues from
across Canada. New Brunswick and PEI Silent
Witness Committee members presented at
the Atlantic Police Academy in Summerside, PEI this past
February. Silent Witnesses from both provinces were
presented to over 100 cadets from the Police Academy
and related fields, Corrections and Customs officers.
MMFC Networker | Issue #18 | Fall 2007 11
The New Brunswick Silent Witness Committee is a
collaborative partnership with the Charlotte County
Family Violence Committee (CCFVC), the Muriel
McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research
(MMFC), the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation
(MMFF) and the Provincial Caring Partnerships Committee
(PCPC).
beings; albeit with special needs that call for protection
from the legal system. The Chief Justice will discuss how
the law protects children, for example through imposition
of tort liability for child abuse, protection of the child's
right to medical care, protection of the best interests of
the child in custody and access cases, etc.
Now Available: A bilingual National Guide entitled, How
to start your own Silent Witness Project; Bilingual
Silent Witness car magnets $5 / each.
Coming soon, The Silent Witness website
www.silentwitness.ca.
For more information on the Silent Witness project,
contact the FVRC, 506-453-3595.
Fund-raising Events
Rt. Hon. Madame Justice Beverley McLachlin,
PC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Canada coming to New Brunswick
GUEST SPEAKER: Rt. Hon. Madame Justice Beverley
McLachlin, PC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Canada (PHOTO SUBMITTED)
MMFF GALA DINNER 2007 NEWS CONFERENCE
PHOTO BY: DANIEL ST. LOUIS PHOTOGRAPHY
T
he Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation
announced recently Rt. Hon. Madame Justice
Beverley McLachlin, PC, Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of Canada as the MMFF 2007 Gala Dinner keynote
speaker this October. The Gala Dinner will be held at the
Delta Beauséjour in Moncton on Tuesday, October 23rd as
a kick-off for November Family Violence Prevention
Month, a provincial initiative of the Foundation.
The Foundation Gala Dinner chair, Linda White, was
excited about the prospect of the Chief Justice’s visit to
New Brunswick and hearing her keynote address. “As
Chief Justice, she is certainly aware of the impact family
violence has on the fragile fabric of society and has a
powerful message to share. Much has been accomplished
over the years but we still have family violence haunting
us every day across the country. By being exposed to the
Chief Justice’s message we can better appreciate how
complex an issue it is.”
The Gala Dinner theme "Respecting Our Children: The
Law Takes Note” will look at the evolution in the law's
treatment of children, from treatment of children as
"property" to treatment today as autonomous human
“The law evolves”, states the Chief Justice, “but the law
alone is not enough to improve the lives of children,
particularly when it comes to addressing the problem of
family violence. We must work together as communities
to address the root causes of family violence. Through
research and public education the Muriel McQueen
Fergusson Foundation gives communities the tools to
change the lives of women and children; the tools to
make families safe places for all of their members.”
The Foundation is pleased that Michelle Carinci, CEO of
Atlantic Lottery Corporation, has accepted the key
responsibility of Community Co-Chair. His Honour,
Herménégilde Chiasson, Lieutenant Governor of New
Brunswick, will join as the dinner's Honourary Chair.
Barbara Quigley, City Clerk for the City of Moncton and
James Lockyer, of the Faculté de droit, Université de
Moncton and former Foundation Vice-President and Board
member, are the Masters of Ceremonies for the evening.
The Foundation is pleased to acknowledge the support of
Platinum sponsors: Atlantic Lottery Corporation, The
Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, The University of
New Brunswick, and Moncton Times Transcript; Gold
sponsors: Bristol, Marwood, and Sitel; Silver sponsors:
Aliant, Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada; Centrebeam,
Emera, NB Liquor, Province of New Brunswick Women’s
Issues Branch, and Stewart McKelvey; Friends sponsors,
Delta Beauséjour, Isomni Solutions, New Brunswick Union
and Spielo; and Patron sponsors:, ADP, Caisse populaire,
Magic 104, Mt. Allison University, Technology Venture
Corporation and Trius Group.
12 www.unb.ca/arts/CFVR | 506-453-3595 | 678 Windsor Street, Fredericton, NB | E3B 5A3
Join Muriel’s Mission and attend the Gala Dinner on
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at the Delta Beauséjour in
Moncton. Transportation provided by Trius Group. Tickets
can be purchased at a cost of $125.00 each (a taxable
receipt for $75.00 will be issued). Contact the Foundation
office for further information or to purchase a ticket:
1(888)673MMFF (6633) or www.mmff.ca.
behalf of women, children and vulnerable populations
and as the champion behind the province’s first Advisory
Council on the Status of Women.
MMFF Award 2007
LEFT TO RIGHT: T. Murray, D. Parkinson, M. DelaneyLeBlanc..C. Boldon. Photo: Mullin’s Photography Ltd.
MURIEL BELL PAINTING
(PHOTO BY MULLINS PHOTOGRAPHY LTD)
Fredericton based artist Muriel Bell, has agreed to have
her inspirational piece entitled, Illuminator: Justice and
Women’s Initiative, which the Foundation affectionately
calls Muriel’s Mission, stand as the signature piece for the
fall Gala Dinner.
The original work hangs within the Foundation’s home at
the Centre for Family Violence Research on UNB Campus,
678 Windsor Street, Fredericton, NB.
MMFF High School Chapters
Update
In accepting the award Delaney-LeBlanc said, “Given her
outstanding contribution to the advancement of women,
being associated with the name of Muriel McQueen
Fergusson is in itself very rewarding. And it is with great
pride and a lot of modesty that I’m joining the list of the
Foundation’s award recipients with such illustrious people
as June Callwood and Her Excellency Margaret Norrie
McCain, to name only a few."
Hosting the reception was the Honourable Herménégilde
Chiasson, New Brunswick’s Lieutenant Governor whose
office is recognized for being very supportive of
community volunteerism and non-profit organizations
throughout the province.
B
ernice McNaughton High School from Moncton will
soon join MMFF High School Chapters Fredericton,
Harvey and Oromocto. These student driven groups
continue to organize public education and awareness
events on family violence within their school settings. In
addition, school principals proclaim November Family
Violence Prevention Month. For more information on
these groups or their work, contact the Foundation office.
Muriel McQueen Fergusson
Foundation Award
M
adeleine Delaney-LeBlanc, social justice activist and
founding chair of New Brunswick’s Advisory Council
on the Status of Women (ACSW) was presented with the
15th Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation Award. The
Award, presented annually, is named in honor of the
Foundation’s patron, Muriel McQueen Fergusson.
Madeleine was selected as recipient for her life’s work on
Lieutenant-Governors of New Brunswick
LEFT TO RIGHT: Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain, MMFF
Lifetime Member, Hon. Herménégilde Chiasson,
Sen. Marilyn Trenholme Councell
Photo by: Mullin’s Photography Ltd.
MMFC Networker | Issue #18 | Fall 2007 13
The Foundation makes a donation to a registered charity
of the recipient’s choice, whose objectives further the
goals of the Foundation. Madeleine Delaney-LeBlanc’s
choice is theMuriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family
Violence Research (MMFC). "We have made a lot of
progress in reacting to family violence and in educating
young women in not accepting it, but I don't think we
have made a dent in the incidence. We have not yet
discovered the deep causes of violence against women,
what motivates it. That's why I think that research is so
needed to find elements of lasting progress.” said
Delaney-LeBlanc.
The goal of the MMFC is to understand family violence
and generate effective action strategies to reduce and
eventually eliminate it. The Muriel McQueen Fergusson
Foundation and UNB established the MMFC in 1992. It
works in collaboration with St. Thomas University,
l`Université de Moncton and other universities across
Canada, numerous community organizations and
government agencies.
(http://www.unbf.ca/arts/CFVR/index.php)
“In her acceptance speech for the award, Madame
Delaney-LeBlanc placed an emphasis on the continued
need for research that can help to inform the actions
aimed at preventing family violence within our
communities”, stated Award Chair David Parkinson. “Her
choice of recipient is in keeping with those sentiments
and will help to support the MMFC’s ongoing work in this
truly important field.”
MMFF Grants Program
T
he 2007 MMFF Grants program funding decisions
will be announced in late September. Officially
established in 1992, the program provides financial
assistance to non-profit organizations which research the
causes, incidences and forms of family violence; promote
effective intervention; and support educational programs
that increase public awareness about this pervasive
problem. A grant to a maximum of $3,000 is awarded
per organization. For more information and the 2008
deadline please visit our website:
http://www.mmff.ca/mmff/en/programs/grants.aspx
Grants 2006 recipients include:
• UPEI Dept. Family and Nutritional Services – Research
Day 2006, Charlottetown, PEI
• Kent Centre for the Prevention of Family Violence, St.
Anne-de-Kent (Kent County), NB
• In Home Early Intervention Program – Saint John, NB
• Dress for Success – Saint John, NB
• Big Brothers Big Sisters, Saint John, NB
• Liberty Lane Inc., Fredericton, NB
• Saint John Community Loan Fund, Saint John, NB
• Crossroads for Women Inc., Moncton, NB
• Services à la Famille de la Peninsule, Caraquet, Acadian
Peninsula, NB
Community Partnership work:
Provincial Caring Partnerships Committee (PCPC)
www.violencepreventionnb.org Conference a Big
Success!
Over ninety people from communities across New
Brunswick gathered at a conference in Fredericton, N.B.,
November 22nd-24th, 2006. This conference brought
together service providers from community, volunteer,
professional and government agencies who shared
knowledge on current and new initiatives in New
Brunswick to address issues relating to victims of family
violence. It provided an exciting opportunity for an
exchange of practice knowledge and networking. The
conference theme was “VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES: SUPPORT, KNOWLEDGE AND
EMPOWERMENT”.
If you have news or an event that you would like included
in the PCPC newsletter, please e-mail
[email protected] with subject line "PCPC
newsletter".
Award recipient chooses MMFC
Left to right: Therese Murray, David Parkinson,
Carmen Gill, Madeleine Delaney-LeBlanc
La conférence du Comité provincial « On vous a à
coeur » www.violencepreventionnb.org est un franc
succès!
14 www.unb.ca/arts/CFVR | 506-453-3595 | 678 Windsor Street, Fredericton, NB | E3B 5A3
Plus de 90 personnes d’un peu partout au NouveauBrunswick ont participé à une conférence qui a eu lieu à
Fredericton du 22 au 24 novembre 2006. Cette
conférence a réuni des fournisseurs de services
d’organismes communautaires, bénévoles, professionnels
et gouvernementaux. Ils ont partagé leurs connaissances
sur les initiatives actuelles et nouvelles du NouveauBrunswick pour s’attaquer aux problèmes auxquels font
face les victimes de violence familiale. C’était aussi une
belle occasion de faire du résautage et de discuter des
pratiques qui s’avèrent efficaces. La conférence avait pour
thème « VICTIMES DE VIOLENCE FAMILIALE DANS NOS
COMMUNAUTÉS : INFORMER, SOUTENIR ET
PROMOUVOIR L’AUTONOMISATION ».
Si vous avez des nouvelles ou un évènement à annoncer
dans le bulletin On vous a à c?ur, veuillez envoyer un
courriel à [email protected] et indiquer «
PCPC newsletter » dans l’objet (subject).
For more information on the Caring Partnerships project,
please visit our website or email us: [email protected] or
www.violencepreventionnb.ca
Upcoming events:
“In Muriel’s Footsteps” Legacy Project
S
pirited and uncompromising, the late Senator Muriel
McQueen Fergusson captured the hearts of
Canadians from coast to coast by breaking gender
barriers and amassing huge accomplishments. At the
same time, the Shediac, New Brunswick native exhibited
such wit, wisdom and strength of character that her
legacy lives on in an active foundation and research
centre.
The Foundation and the Times & Transcript have teamed
up this summer for a legacy project called "In Muriel's
Footsteps." In preparation for the Foundation's Annual
Gala in Moncton on October 23, living memories and
anecdotes about Sen. Fergusson were sought. Highlights
of these glimpses of history and the work that lives on in
her name will be contained in a special supplement to be
published in the three largest New Brunswick daily
newspapers in the fall.
Sen. Fergusson, a graduate from Mount Allison University
in 1921, was the first woman elected, in 1950, to the
Fredericton City Council and was the first woman deputy
mayor in 1953. She was appointed to the Senate of
Canada in 1953 and was the first woman Speaker of the
Senate from 1972 to 1974. In 1974, she was sworn to
the Privy Council and in 1997, she was made an Officer
of the Order of Canada.
"So much work is being carried out in her name today,
but as time has passed, fewer and fewer New
Brunswickers remember her incredible life and
accomplishments," said Therese Murray, executive
director of the Foundation. "We want to celebrate her life
by collecting the stories and memories of those who
knew her and remember working with her, being with
her, and knowing her."
Each person who submitted a memory or story about
Sen. Fergusson will have their name entered in a draw
to win two tickets to the Foundation’s gala dinner set
for October 23 at the Delta Beausejour. Special guest
speaker will be Rt. Hon. Madame Justice Beverley
McLachlin, PC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Canada.
Old Government House hosts Muriel
McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF)
Gala Dinner Art Series
The exhibit features work created for the Foundation's
annual Gala Dinner Series. It includes works by artists
Muriel Bell, Herzel Kashetsky and Carolyn Purdy. Other
related works joining the display include: The New
Brunswick Silent Witness Silhouettes; Lois Wilby
Hooper’s Sue Anonymous Quilt Series; select pieces
from the Putting Ourselves Back Together Again
MMFC collection; along with sculpture pieces by
Wendy Forrest.
This combined exhibit will be on display from
November 5 to December 7 as part of November
Family Violence Prevention Month, an initiative of the
Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation. Please drop by
Old Government House, 51 Woodstock Road,
Fredericton to view these inspirational pieces for
yourself. For further information you may contact the
Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation: 1-888-6736633.
Old Government House accueille
l’exposition de la soirée de gala de la
Fondation Muriel McQueen Fergusson
(FMMF)
L’exposition met en vedette des ?uvres créées
spécialement pour la soirée de gala annuelle de la
Fondation. Elle comprend des productions des artistes
Muriel Bell, Herzel Kashetsky et Carolyn Purdy. D’autres
créations seront aussi exposées, notamment les
silhouettes du projet Une témoin silencieuse du
Nouveau-Brunswick, la série de courtepointes Sue
Anonymous de Lois Wilby Hooper, des ?uvres choisies
de la collection Putting Ourselves Back Together Again
du CMMF ainsi que des sculptures de Wendy Forrest.
Cette exposition conjointe sera à l’affiche du 5
novembre au 7 décembre dans le cadre du Mois de la
prévention de la violence familiale, une initiative de la
Fondation Muriel McQueen Fergusson. Visitez Old
Government House, 51 Woodstock Road, Fredericton
pour admirer ces pièces inspirantes. Pour de plus
amples renseignements, communiquez avec la
Fondation Muriel McQueen Fergusson : 1-888-6736633.
MMFC Networker | Issue #18 | Fall 2007 15
Harley Davidson Elimination Draw coming
in 2008
Food & Wine Gourmet Adventure coming
in 2008
On the road to ending family violence! The Muriel
McQueen Fergusson presents the 3rd Harley Davidson
Elimination Draw in the spring of 2008 in support of
ending family violence. Only 500 tickets are made
available at a price of $100 per ticket. Past events have
sold out quickly so you will want to reserve your ticket
now!
The 4th Gourmet Food & Wine Adventure to be held in
the fall of 2008! This five course gourmet dinner
showcases culinary and wine paring skills of the Master
Chefs and Sommeliers. A limited number of tickets will be
made available for $125 each (charitable receipts will be
given). Past events have sold out quickly so you will want
reserve your ticket now!
Tirage Harley Davidson 2008
Aventure gastronomique 2008
En route vers l’élimination de la violence familiale! La
Fondation Muriel McQueen Fergusson présente le 3e
Tirage Harley Davidson qui aura lieu au printemps 2008
et qui a pour but de faire progresser l’élimination de la
violence familiale. Il y a seulement 500 billets disponibles
au prix de 100 $ chacun. Les billets s’envolent vite, alors
réservez le vôtre dès maintenant!
La 4e édition de l’Aventure gastronomique se tiendra à
l’automne 2008! Ce repas somptueux de cinq services
vous permet d’apprécier les talents des grands chefs et
sommeliers. Un nombre limité de billets sera vendu au
prix unitaire de 125 $ (un reçu d’impôt sera émis). Les
billets s’envolent vite, alors réservez le vôtre dès
maintenant!
Therese Murray, executive director of the Foundation, and
Christina Cameron, Office Administrator, work in the
footsteps of Sen. Muriel Fergusson whose image graces
their office.
For more information, please contact:
Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation
PO Box 50 000. 678 Windsor Street UNB Campus
Fredericton, NB E3B 6C2
Phone: 1(506)472-5085
Toll free:1(888)673-6633 (mmff)
Fax:
1(506)472-5084
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:www.mmff.ca
16 www.unb.ca/arts/CFVR | 506-453-3595 | 678 Windsor Street, Fredericton, NB | E3B 5A3