By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
A program designed to help women in distress is taking shape in Chatham-Kent.
Dubbed “Ask for Angela” – in honour of a British woman who died as the result of femicide – the initiative has started thanks to collaboration between Loblaw Companies Ltd. and Chatham-Kent Victim Services.
A first for Chatham-Kent, it will see workers in the Loblaw chain, including No Frills, Shoppers Drug Mart and Real Canadian Superstore, undergo training to be on the alert for anyone asking for Angela – code for “Help, I’m in trouble.”
As part of the effort, staff will take women or girls who “ask for Angela” to a quiet safe space within the store and connect them with police or other appropriate services.
There is signage up in the stores as well, advising victims on how to seek help.
According to Kate de Forno, executive director of Chatham-Kent Victim Services, the program is a first for Chatham-Kent and comes none too soon, as rates of violence against women continue to rise.
“We are thrilled to partner with Loblaw to bring the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign to Chatham-Kent,” de Forno said. “This initiative will provide a vital resource for individuals who may find themselves in uncomfortable or dangerous situations while out in the community.”
Domestic violence is the number one crime that Victim Services deals with, she added, with sexual assault crimes second on the list.
“We’ve not seen a decrease in these crimes since the pandemic,” de Forno said in a recent interview. “This is part of a continuing trend, that’s neither healthy nor positive.”
But on the upside, de Forno said the program has been working well in other regions, even helping one young woman who was a victim of human trafficking.
“They were able to help her and brought her into the backroom to safety,” she added.
Although no one is certain why violent crimes against women are on the rise, de Forno said there are a lot of pressures in society, and social media may account for some of the increase.
“People can hide behind their keyboards and be part of communities of hate and negativity,” she said. “It’s part of the general political and social climate we’re currently seeing and it is seeping into our communities. We’re seeing a general increase in hate…how do we tackle this?”
de Forno thinks curbing violence against women lies in education, but noted the “political will” must be there.
“We have to show kids that there is another way, that they don’t have to go down the path that leads to hate,” she said. “We need to be teaching young boys and young girls, around the ages of nine or 10, what healthy relationships and healthy sexual relationships look like.
“There need to be better supports for kids,” she explained. “The reality is that without a collective effort around this, it’s going to continue.”
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