The need for men’s violence prevention programming has been stated as the area’s most important social service issue by social service agencies in the region.
Representatives from women’s groups, alcohol and drug and mental health agencies, the RCMP and victim assistance groups have come together to support the Northern John Howard Society in bringing their S.T.O.P. program to our communities.
Stop Taking it Out on Your Partner (S.T.O.P.) is a voluntary program designed for adult men who are not facing current criminal charges for assaulting their partner. Participants meet for a three-hour group session one evening per week for 14 weeks. The program will support men and their partners and families as they deal with stress, mental health and addiction issues, unemployment, and healing from trauma and abuse.
New Gold’s Tim Bekhuys attended the most recent committee meeting, and in keeping with New Gold, Inc.’s reputation of being strong community supporters, brought a $3,000 donation to help get the program up and running.
This donation comes in addition to New Gold’s donations of $3,300 to the Vanderhoof and Districts 4-H Council and $2,700 to the Nechako Valley Search and Rescue Society.
New Gold will open their Vanderhoof office in May with Kathie LaForge (currently the District of Vanderhoof’s Economic Development Officer) as their Community Liaison. A lab facility in Vanderhoof, employing 25 to 30 people will open in early summer, while New Gold’s exploration camp at the Blackwater site currently employs over 200 people.
For more information about New Gold and their commitment to the communities where they operate, visit their website at www.newgold.com/SocialResponsibilities/default.aspx.
For further information or to get involved with bringing STOP programming to our region, contact Marianne Sorensen at 250-561-7343.