Violence knows no boundaries, but sometimes the support that's available to victims does.
But it doesn’t have to.
Speaking at the first Hope in Every Step walk in Georgetown, Carm Bozzo, the director, philanthropy and community engagement for Halton Women’s Place said there has been a noticeable increase in domestic violence calls in recent years.
“This area, during COVID, saw an increase in crisis calls,” she said. “But there’s a disconnect for women knowing there is a shelter close by in Milton.”
That’s why Sunday’s walk, which saw approximately 30 people making their way down Guelph Street, was so important in creating awareness.
“We know we need to reach more women in this community and this event is a great stepping stone,” Bozzo said.
It can be difficult to get a person suffering from abuse to take that step and seek help from others, whether it’s feelings of fear or shame or isolation.
“As an immigrant, I realize how isolating it can be when family and loved ones are so far away,” said Aditee Goswami, one of the organizers of the walk. “All of us coming together to bring this walk to life, I think it provides hope that no one is suffering in silence.”
Councillor Alex Hilson said Halton Women’s Place asked him about becoming an ambassador after he was elected to council. He accepted their offer and then began doing his own research. He met Goswami, who works in Georgetown as a therapeutic art instructor treating children who have been traumatized by incidents of domestic violence, through one of their events. They began talking about bringing the Hope in Every Step walk, which holds events in Burlington and Milton, to Halton Hills.
“It is such an important issue,” he said. “I was lucky to meet Aditee. We thought if we could bring a walk to Halton Hills and bring some awareness, so that if there are victims, they will be able to recognize there are resources available to help them.”
Flo Bellman and her husband Paul know the heartache of domestic violence all too well. Their granddaughter, Darian Henderson-Bellman, was shot and killed in July, 2020.
Their granddaughter had spent the day with them helping them around the house.
“When she walked away that day, never did we think she wasn’t coming back,” Bellman said. “We’d love to have her back, of course, but we hope by speaking out it can prevent this from happening to someone else.”
