The month of October is drawing near and with it the Purple Lights Campaign, which shines a light on domestic violence. For the entire month, starting on October 1, with the lighting of the Purple Lights tree in Memorial Park, the entire District of Hope will be acknowledging victims of violence.
All of Hope is encouraged to wear purple, light their homes and businesses with purple light bulbs, and to join Marianne Brueckert, program manager of Victims Services for the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment (UFVRD,) sponsors, and the RCMP in a bid to recognize and bring awareness to an important and often silenced issue.
“We will be having a peace walk, a blessing, and a chainsaw carving dedicated to domestic violence, that will be carved by Brigitte Lochhead,” Brueckert told The Hope Standard. “Attendance was big last year, and it’s important to honour the lost lives of domestic violence.”
Service clubs like the Rotary and the Lions Club have gotten on board with the Hope Legion, the Blue Moose and the Chamber of Commerce (to name a few) to strategize for the success of the campaign — there will be wristbands available for sale and bulbs at various locations throughout the community.
“We’re hoping for a big turnout this year at the kickoff,” said Brueckert. “It’s about ending violence — there has been an increase in numbers and you don’t want to see a child dying in this situation, it has a ripple effect.”
According to Brueckert trauma affects everybody in the community, whether it be financial, health or employment related.
“It’s important for the community to come together and to not be afraid of talking about it, while lending support and raising awareness,” she said. “There was a turnout of about 100 people last year which was big — some people are afraid to be seen, because of what others might think, but the participation of the elderly, children, and the District coming together was huge in a community this size.”
The campaign was created to help provide the tools for people to reach out for support when they need help, during a situation that shouldn’t be occuring.
“It’s about opening doors and creating more comfort for people to reach out for help,” said Brueckert.
Please join the community of Hope on Thursday, October 1 at 6:30 p.m. in Memorial Park for the lighting of the Purple Lights tree. For more information please call 604-869-7770 or check out the Purple Lights Night Hope Facebook page.
