Event offers support to survivors of domestic violence
Hearts in the Park aims to get people talking in the open
Organizers hope the Hearts in the Park will give strength to survivors moving forward by raising awareness about domestic violence.
“When (survivors) look at events like this they see the outpouring of love and support from other people that sometimes they just don’t get because they’ve been victimized, and they retreat and they feel shameful and they feel embarrassed,” said Gwyn Tremblay, executive director of SOFIA House.
“Embarrassment is a very large issue why women don’t come forward more and why children don’t come forward more.
“People do not need to hide in shame anymore. Victims can become victors.”
Hearts in the Park is put on by the Regina Police Service, Circle Project, SOFIA House and the University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing - Regina campus.
Staff sergeant Tim Seiferling from Regina Police Service said it’s important to make sure people are comfortable talking about the issue of domestic violence.
“If we’re not going to be talking, if we all just shelter ourselves and don’t talk about this, we’re not going to be able to bring awareness,” he said.
“There’s support for everybody that’s out there, if it’s the victim or the offender or the family or the youth.
“Whoever’s involved in it, there’s somebody that’s listening. We do care.”
Tremblay said that, as domestic violence and domestic conflict are on the rise in the province, awareness events are needed to get more people talking about the issue.
“When ... we do projects like this, (survivors) see a swell of support and encouragement and empowerment that helps them to move forward in their daily lives and lets them know that they have other options and that there are other things that they can do moving forward,” she said.
“The more awareness that we can bring to the different programs in the city and our partnerships, the more that women know that they have places that they can reach out to and that there is help out there and that there is loving open arms to bring them into.”
Seiferling said there needs to be more awareness on how much domestic conflict impacts all areas of society, and he hopes that this event will encourage people to start conversations about the issue.
Hearts in the Park will be held Wednesday, May 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Victoria Park.
The theme of the event is Putting our hearts on the line.
If it rains, the event will take place in the lobby of Hill Tower.
People can also support Hearts in the Park through the online hearts campaign that will run this week leading up to the event.