In response to the Coronavirus, we have switched to offering treatment groups through Zoom.
Registration: Intakes and assessments will continue as staff work from home.
MISSION STATEMENT
Changing Minds, Changing Lives.
VISION
To improve the behavioral, emotional, and overall mental health of individuals, families, and communities.
ACTIVITIES
We provide group treatment, advocacy, and education to reduce the incidents of family violence and increase awareness and understanding of family violence and its impact.
CORE VALUES
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INTEGRITY We are honored and humbled by the trust of those we serve. We will endeavor to uphold our commitment with honesty, truth, and respect. |
HEART We provide kind, compassionate, and expert care, always emphasizing the dignity of the individual. |
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ACCOUNTABILITY We exercise prudent use of all resources as part of our stewardship responsibility for fiscal, organizational, and clients’ successes. |
EXCELLENCE We strive for the best, continuously setting the highest standards, improving quality, and evaluating effectiveness in all our activities and services. |
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TEAMWORK We believe teamwork empowers our individual strengths to achieve our vision. |
SAFETY We believe safety is the foundation and must be the forefront to achieve our vision. |
The Edmonton Violence Prevention Centre is operated by a volunteer board of directors and is a registered charitable organization.
History
In 1987, a group of men who had completed a spouse abuse treatment program provided by Forensic Assessment Counselling Services (FACS) identified a need for on-going support to reinforce the positive attitudes and behaviours they had learned. They started a group based on a mutual support model for men who had abused their female partners and who were making changes to develop healthy, non-violent relationships. Volunteers ran the group which had no formal sponsorship.
In 1988, volunteers and professionals worked together to form the Edmonton Family Violence Treatment, Education & Research Centre. The goal was to eliminate family violence. The Changing PathWays Program evolved from this collaborative effort.
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!
When people talk about domestic violence, the person that is abusive is often condemned and judged as evil. When our clients come to our treatment groups, they are filled with shame because they know society sees them as cruel and evil people. This shame leads to isolation and a sense of unworthiness. How many people do you think will reach out for help with abusive behaviour when they know they will be judged and condemned?
Our view is quite different. We see people that lack the skills to cope and handle their 
anger and frustration in a healthy manner. Many people that commit acts of domestic violence grew up in abusive homes and learned this behaviour from their parents. They live what they’ve learned. Does it excuse their behaviour? No, but it helps us to understand why it happens.
Part of our mission at the Edmonton Violence Prevention Centre is to advocate for our clients and help our community understand that condemning these men and women does nothing to solve the problem. The key to prevent further acts of domestic violence is to teach new skills and to provide the support, compassion and encouragement they need to change their behaviour. If we intervene in the lives of these individuals, they can change their behaviour and impact their families in positive ways. They can model a healthy way of handling anger and frustration to their children and break the cycle for the next generation.
If you are attending one of our groups, we welcome you. We know it`s not easy to walk through our doors so we sincerely applaud you for having the courage to attend. Our goal is to teach you more effective ways of interacting with others and to offer you support and encouragement as you make these changes.
Wendy Rhyason
MA Counselling Psychology
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Executive Director
Board of Directors
President:
Sabrina Brady, Registered Provisional Psychologist
Vice-President:
Dr. Gagan Shergill, Registered Psychologist
Treasurer:
Christina Lothian, Accountant
Secretary:
Carol Siziba, MA
Directors:
Mairi Kenyon, Accountant
Semone Dixon, Probation Officer
Scott Lalonde, Probation Officer
Ravi Prithipaul, Lawyer