Domestic Violence remains a Concern for Cold Lake RCMP

A Better Way Support Groups offered through Dr. Margaret Savage Crisis Centre.

During the week of June 30th to July 7th, the Cold Lake RCMP Detachment had 230 calls of service; of those 10-11 were related to domestic violence.

“We always talk about domestic violence and how serious [those calls] are,” explains Cst. Dave Hart with the Cold Lake RCMP Detachment. “We have support groups in place, that we would like to let the community know about. One group is the Better Way groups, mens and womens groups, offered through the Dr. Margaret Savage Crisis Centre.” The groups are open to anybody who may be having issues with domestic violence, “it’s a group program where the female and the male go at different times.” The group helps people discover different past or present behaviours or experiences that may trigger violence and how to overcome and cope with those triggers.

Overall the 230 calls of service is higher, which is the norm for the summer months, says Cst. Hart, “but consistently, every week, there’s a significant amount of domestic violence. That could be a verbal argument or physical violence that’s just taken place.”

“Domestic violence can be verbal, financial, religious and physical; it ranges,” Cst. Hart says no matter the type of domestic violence there are community support groups in place. To find out more, visit the Dr. Margaret Savage Crisis Centre online or call 780-594-5095.