The sober side of Saturday. Why YOU should attend #yeghelp
Submitted by katy on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 14:27
Time and time again, we hear stories of women who quietly fought for their lives at home. All too often, even friends and family find out the truth about victims of domestic violence once it's too late. We live in a world where people are encouraged to talk about their challenges and struggles but it's not always that simple. Women (and children) from all walks of life do everything they can to conceal the abuse they endure at home. In the most tragic circumstances, women die at the hands of those who are supposed to protect them.
This week, the Edmonton Police Service released details on the dramatic June 10, 2010 Lago Lindo house explosion that caused the deaths of four Edmontonians. Confirming suspicions of area residents, police said Dwayne Poirier strangled his common-law wife Cathie Heard before cutting a gas line, causing the massive blast. It wasn't the first time Poirier put his hands on Heard. She had spent at least one evening in a city women's shelter.
My wife Kari and I both covered a domestic violence-related fatality inquiry while working as news reporters in Red Deer in 2005. The heart-wrenching details of Josif Fekete's heinous crime, killing his estranged wife Blagica and 3-year-old son Alex before turning his shotgun on himself, are ones we'll never forget. The couple were embroiled in a tense fight for custody of Alex. Blagica was well-known to women's shelter staff in the area. Testifying at the fatality inquiry, numerous workers shared emotional stories of times they'd wished they could do more for her, knowing she was often returning to an unstable and dangerous situation.
Women's shelters and the programs they offer need our support more than any of us realize. We don't hear about every time they save a woman's life. There aren't front page headlines every time a mother and her young children get a decent night's sleep for the first time in months. Yet we know with economic downturns and unemployment come increased instances of domestic violence. Front line workers will tell you it's worse now in Alberta than it's ever been.
Balancing this sober reality is the celebration that comes with stories of joy, hope and new beginnings. On Saturday, May 14th, Kari and I will host #yeghelp at Lux Steakhouse to benefit the LaSalle Shelter. The talented DJ David Stone will be spinning, drinks will be flowing, we'll have a lively silent auction and plenty of laughs. We're aiming to raise $5,000 for a very worthy cause. To do that, we need your help! You'll find all the details on how to get involved here on the website. See you Saturday night!
-- Ryan Jespersen
Host, Breakfast Television, Citytv Edmonton
Link to EPS story:
http://www.citytv.com/edmonton/show/news/article/130457?showuid=78194
Link to Fekete fatality inquiry:
