Calgary homicides raise concerns over domestic violence

There have been three murders this summer in Calgary related to domesticviolence and experts are hoping these tragedies will focus attention on the high level of domestic and sexual violence in our community.

"The Calgary police respond to over 18,000calls a year and that's at least twocalls per hour, every hour of the year," said Brigitte Baradoy,speakingfor the Calgary Domestic Violence Collective.

She says many people don't realize how prevalent domestic abuse is in society and wants women to know there is help available. She wants them to reach out for that help before it's too late.

Finding shelter

A 34-year-old woman who asked to be identified only as C.R. says she fled to a local shelterwith her two young children in order to protect them. She fled the first time verbal abuse escalated to physical abuse.

"You don't know how it is going to impact them and affect them later on," she said of her children."And yourself... if you don't get out,At what point is it too much?My mom eventually took her own life."

C.R. plans to move to a new community and start a new life. She says leaving her abusive partner was perhaps the most important step she has ever taken.

Baradoy says there are no easy solutions, buturges anyone who is being abused to ask for help by talking to a crisis counsellorand, if physical abuse isimminent, tocall 911.