What some are calling the pandemic within a pandemic – aggravated instances of domestic violence – will be the topic of a presentation this week in Cochrane.
Patti Fisher is the co-founder and program manager of Big Hill Haven, Emergency Shelter and Outreach Services, a shelter facility for women from Cochrane and area who are experiencing and/or fleeing situations of domestic violence.
Fisher will be presenting at the King Solomon Lodge, 120 Centre Ave. on Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. A discussion will follow Fisher’s presentation, which is open to the public.
A registered social worker, Fisher has worked in the corporate sector and the non-profit field with vulnerable individuals and families for over 35 years. In her presentation, she will address the challenges involved in dealing with domestic violence, her knowledge of the issue in Cochrane, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the situation.
When it comes to how the pandemic has impacted domestic violence, a study by The Learning Network out of Western Ontario University found reports of domestic abuse and family violence have increased around the world since social isolation and quarantine measures came into force.
According to Statistics Canada, every six days a woman is murdered by her past or current intimate partner in Canada.
