Times Colonist: Art-therapy program helps women build confidence after brain injury, abuse
A three-dimensional yellow daffodil pops out of a pink and purple canvas painted by Emilie Morris-Campeau, a survivor of brain injury and intimate-partner violence. She’s one of a handful of people with similar experiences who take part in an art-therapy program at the Cridge Centre for the Family. Art pieces by women in the group […]
CTV News: Calls for stronger domestic violence protections in B.C. heard by province
By Anna McMillan Organizations that respond to intimate-partner violence say they’re feeling a renewed sense of hope that changes will be made to B.C.’s justice system to better protect women. Their optimism stems from a recent meeting between service providers, police leaders and provincial politicians, including the attorney general. “It was the first meeting of […]
The Canadian Press: Brain injury a shadow crisis amid overdose deaths in British Columbia
by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press Edwin Bergsson’s friend broke down the door of his recording studio in Victoria about five years ago, found him unconscious, and saved his life. “It’s incredible that I’m here today,” Bergsson said in an interview. He had overdosed after taking what he believed was crystal meth. But while he […]
Working Together to Affect Systems Change
Left to right: Amanda McFarlane (BrainTrust Canada), Barb Butler (BI Survivor), Tori Dach (The Cridge Centre), Ali P (BC Brain Injury Association), Maggie Spizzirri (Brain Injury Alliance), Janelle Breese-Biagioni (BC Brain Injury Association), Linda Sankey (South Okanagan Similkaeen Brain Injury Association), Helena Konanz (MP, Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootney), Michelle McDonald (Brain Injury Canada), Karen Mason, (SOAR), […]
Helping children find their voice
At The Cridge Children’s Services, we are often privileged to be with children from their infancy through the toddler years and into elementary school, as many continue with us as they enter out-of-school care. We delight in watching children grow, and we take their development seriously at every age and stage. A central focus of […]
Advocating for Your Child: Turning Love into Action
By Linda Pityn and Heather Stevens When raising a child with support needs, parents quickly learn something powerful – love is not always enough. Love must become action. It must become research. It must become persistence. And sometimes, it must become advocacy. The Cridge R & R Family Services understand that, while advocating for a […]
Women’s safety is public safety
To mark this International Women’s Day, we collaborated with other women’s services and anti-violence organizations to publish the following open letter in the Times Colonist. Text is below. View the print copy of the open letter here. Intimate partner violence impacts everyone. It crosses every boundary – age, income, culture, and community. It is not […]
CHEK News: Second Chance Cafe creates job opportunity for brain injury survivors
The Second Chance Cafe aims to help brain injury survivors rebuild their lives and get back into the workforce. The cafe, operated by the Cridge Centre for Family, offers an opportunity for survivors of brain injury to gain some employment readiness skills and get back into the work force in an accommodated and flexible and […]
What Will It Take? What Needs to Change?
On Wednesday, January 21, The Cridge Centre for the Family, alongside community and anti-violence organizations from across Vancouver Island, held a press conference, behind the Victoria Courthouse, in response to the killing of Laura Gover and to the broader systemic failures that continue to place victims, survivors, women, and their children at risk in the […]
CHEK News: ‘Women keep being killed’: Victoria rally calls for urgent action after mother’s death
Following the recent death of a 41-year-old Vancouver Island mother, nearly 200 people of all ages gathered outside Victoria’s Courthouse on Wednesday, as the community and anti-violence organizations honoured her death and called on the government to act. Laura Gover, a 41-year-old mother of two, a university instructor and friend to many, was found dead […]