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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 are currently on display at the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre to shed light on the invisible disability of brain injury, in honour of National AccessAbility Week. Morris-Campeau has been a member of the program for over a year and said it has made a huge ...

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 its kind that’s happened in a very long time, if there even is precedent for it,” said Victoria Women’s Transition House executive director Bahar Dehnadi. The meeting was born out of tragedy, following the death of Laura Gover, a respected business instructor and mother of two. The ...

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 counts himself lucky to have escaped with his life, Bergsson suffered a brain injury caused by lack of oxygen. His Lyrics Studio folded after the overdose and he now works in a café operated by fellow brain injury survivors. Bergsson still struggles with his short-term ...

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 safe setting. “We know that a lot of time survivors, it’s a challenge to get back into the work force,” Tori Dach, The Cridge Centre for the Family manager of brain injury services, said.   “For some to get back to what they were doing, ...

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 in her Saanich home on Jan. 5. Gover’s ex-husband, 47-year old Muhammed Ali Basar, is charged with second degree murder in her death. An allegation that hasn’t been proven in court. People of all ages came to honour Gover and rally for government to act. ...

Friends and advocates of a Saanich woman who was found killed in her home this month say B.C. and Canada’s court system failed to protect her. Hundreds gathered outside a Victoria courthouse Wednesday morning to speak up about the Jan. 5 death of 41-year-old researcher and mother of two, Dr. Laura Gover. Gover’s ex-husband, Muhammed Basar, has since been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in relation to her death. Kelsea McLaughlin says her friend had done everything right to protect herself and her kids. Gover had reported her fears about her ex to police, and she had a protection ...