CIAFV

People often want to help when someone they care about may be experiencing family violence, but they are not always sure what to say or do.

Real Talk: Break the Cycle of Violence is a free online workshop from Sagesse’s award-winning Keep it REAL campaign. It offers practical tools and language to help informal supporters recognize domestic violence, ask questions, and have supportive conversations.

Real Talk is not about fixing everything. It is about creating a real moment between two people, listening without judgement, and helping empower change.

🌿 Real Talk: Break the Cycle of Violence
June 23 | 1:00–2:30 PM
Online via Zoom

Learn how simple, caring conversations can help disrupt cycles of violence and bring people closer to support.

🔗 Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/43Wkq3i

CIAFV is proud to be a partner of REACH Edmonton.

A couple of members of our Council had the opportunity to attend REACH’s 2026 AGM, Igniting Potential for Safer Futures, and celebrate the many programs, initiatives, and partnerships working toward safer communities across Edmonton.

We are grateful to be part of a network that understands meaningful change happens through collaboration, shared knowledge, and community commitment.

Thank you to for the important work you continue to lead and for bringing partners together in the shared goal of building safer, more inclusive communities.

Here’s what’s coming up this week for learning, leadership, and community connection:

🌿 Public Art Walking Tours: Tawatinâ Bridge
June 20–21 | Edmonton
Join artist David Garneau for a guided tour of the Tawatinâ Bridge and explore the stories behind more than 500 paintings celebrating the River Valley’s flora, fauna, and the intertwined histories of First Nations, Métis, settler, and newcomer communities.
🔗 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3Qpmuhb

🌿 B.R.A.V.E. Conversations Certification
June 23 | 8:30 AM–4:00 PM MDT | Online
This full-day certification helps participants recognize signs of distress, navigate courageous conversations, and provide mental well-being first aid in the workplace. Ideal for professionals working in social services, healthcare, education, public safety, and community support roles.
🔗 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4ojOIqb

🌿 Strategic Thinking, then Strategic Planning
June 23 | 7:00–9:00 PM MDT | Online
Hosted by the Government of Alberta’s Board Development Program, this webinar explores how strategic thinking can strengthen planning processes and help organizations build meaningful, actionable plans.
🔗 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4e61Lqp

🌿 Beyond the Classroom: The Educator’s Role in Child Maltreatment Prevention
June 24 | 9:00–10:30 AM MDT | Online
Educators will learn to recognize warning signs of abuse and neglect, foster safe learning environments, and respond effectively when concerns arise.
🔗 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4gdIENI

🌿 Pickleball for Charity
June 27 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | IQ Tennis & Pickleball Centre
Enjoy a day of friendly competition while supporting WIN House and its work with women, children, and non-binary individuals fleeing violence. Registration includes a light breakfast, lunch, and player kit.
🔗 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4oj1e9o

These opportunities offer meaningful ways to learn, connect, build skills, and strengthen community wellbeing.

Many people successfully move forward from abusive relationships.

By providing assistance in areas such as housing, transportation, counselling, advocacy, employment, and safety planning, CIAFV member agencies provide essential services to families experiencing family violence. These supports can greatly increase the chances of people experiencing abuse, and their families, moving forward into safer, healthier lives.

Friends and family members of people experiencing family violence can often feel helpless. A supportive, non-judgemental listening ear and a commitment to always be there are often the best ways to help.

For additional support and information, people experiencing family violence and/or those who care for them can call:

📞 In cases of immediate danger: 911

📞 Family Violence Information Line: 310-1818
Toll free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

📞 The Today Family Violence Help Centre: 780-455-6880
Monday to Friday, regular business hours

📞 The Support Network Distress Line: 780-482-HELP (4357)
Weekdays after 5 PM and weekends

🔗 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/42W9DG4

Human trafficking happens in Alberta, and recognizing the signs is an important part of community response.

Join CIAFV, in partnership with ACT Alberta, for Human Trafficking in Alberta, an online session designed for service providers and family violence professionals.

This session will provide an in-depth overview of human trafficking in Alberta, including:

🌿 Signs and indicators of labour trafficking and s*x trafficking
🌿 How trafficking can progress and happen
🌿 Resources available to support response
🌿 Ways service providers and family violence professionals can respond

There will also be time for questions and discussion at the end of the session.

Human Trafficking in Alberta
June 17 | 1:00–3:00 PM
Online via Zoom
Free to attend

🔗 Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/49I0UuU

Here’s what’s coming up this week for learning, connection, and strengthening community response:

🌿 Sagesse Domestic Violence Prevention Society – Annual General Meeting
June 15 | 6:00–7:00 PM MDT | Online
Sagesse’s Annual General Meeting will include yearly updates, reports from leadership, and the election of new directors. All are welcome to attend, though only Sagesse members are eligible to vote.
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3PUzz1O

🌿 Government of Alberta – Risk Management: Board Development Program
June 16 | 7:00–8:30 PM MDT | Online
Also offered
June 17 | 1:30-3:00 PM MDT | Online
A webinar designed to help non-profit boards better understand risk, including how to identify, assess, manage, and prevent risk, along with an overview of insurance considerations for non-profits.
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4fEV7Kr
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4anadjU

🌿 The Today Family Violence Help Centre – Information Session and Tour
Date and time available through the event listing | Edmonton
An opportunity for service providers and front-line agency staff to learn more about referrals, intake, client services, programs, educational resources, and community partnership opportunities.
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3PXqwNp

🌿 Human Trafficking 101: Community Member Essentials
June 18 | 12:00–1:00 PM | Online
A free one-hour training for community members to learn more about human trafficking in Alberta through guided group case studies. Completion certificates are available upon request.
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4vj0bIF

These opportunities offer helpful ways to stay informed, build capacity, and support safer, more connected communities.

Happy Pride Month from CIAFV. 🏳️‍🌈

Pride is a time to celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, honour the work that has brought us here, and recognize that safety, dignity, and belonging are still not experienced equally by everyone.

Family violence can happen in any relationship, and 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors may face unique barriers to accessing support, including fear of discrimination, being outed, or not being believed.

This month and every month, we remain committed to supporting safer, more inclusive communities where everyone can seek help, be heard, and be treated with respect.

Pride is celebration, visibility, advocacy, and care.

Support is available, any time of day.

BREATHE by Black Mental Health Canada is a 24/7 national support line dedicated to the mental health and well-being of Black Canadians.

Through Breathe Resource Connection, individuals can access immediate support and resource navigation for mental health, trauma, grief, stress, systemic barriers, advocacy needs, and pathways to care.

BREATHE is grounded in safety, trust, and dignity, with support designed to recognize the lived experiences, community realities, and barriers that can shape mental health and access to care.

Call 1-800-917-0272 for support.

You deserve care that understands.

🔗 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4dIZhhA

Here’s what’s coming up June 6–12 for awareness, learning, and strengthening support across our communities:

👖 Blue Jean Jacket Day
June 6 | 1:00–3:00 PM | 9625 Jasper Ave, Edmonton
A day to raise awareness for Missing, Murdered, and Exploited Indigenous Men and Boys. Join YWCA Edmonton for an afternoon of information sharing, learning activities, and community reflection. Wear blue, say their names, and never forget.

🌱 Southern Arizona Trauma Informed Network – Triple P: Raising Resilient Children
June 9 | 12:30–2:00 PM MDT | Online
An online training introducing core strategies to help children recognize and manage their feelings, build coping skills, and develop resilience when facing life stress.
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4vabdzW

💼 Government of Alberta – Financial Responsibilities Webinar
June 9 | 7:00–8:30 PM MDT | Online
Also offered June 10 | 1:30–3:00 PM MDT
A Board Development Program webinar focused on the board’s role in financial management, including key responsibilities, delegation, and the financial statements board members should understand.
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4utu2OB

💻 Zero Abuse Project – AI Literacy & Responsible Use for Frontline Professionals
June 10 | 12:00–1:30 PM MDT | Online
A training exploring where AI may intersect with child protection and human services work, with a focus on ethical decision-making, privacy, risk, and responsible use.
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4fHPOJR

☕ TEND Academy – CARE4YOU®
June 12 | Online
A free conference for helping professionals focused on burnout, secondary traumatic stress, empathic strain, and organizational health. This event offers space to learn, reset, and refuel while continuing to care for others.
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4nO9SfM

These opportunities offer meaningful ways to learn, reflect, and strengthen the care we bring to our communities.

Stay connected with CIAFV.

Join our mailing list to receive updates on upcoming trainings, workshops, community events, sector resources, funding opportunities, and family violence prevention initiatives.

It’s an easy way to stay informed, share opportunities with your network, and remain connected to the collaborative work happening across Edmonton and area.

Join the list and be part of strengthening our community’s response to family violence.

🔗 https://bit.ly/49FJyyy