Sagesse

We are so grateful to the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta for their generous support of Sagesse’s Peer Support Program.

Through a recent grant ceremony, we received $20,000, along with an additional $5,000 from the WestMET Community Fund, to support our work in Hanna and Youngstown, bringing the total investment to $25,000.

This funding helps ensure people experiencing domestic abuse and coercive control are supported, believed, and not alone.
Peer-based support is powerful. It connects people with others who understand, strengthens community capacity, and helps individuals access support in the places they live, work, and play.

Thank you for investing in community members supporting one another and for helping build safer, more connected communities 💜

👉 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4xfqSA6

A major decision came out today in Canada.

The Supreme Court has recognized intimate partner violence as its own legal harm, meaning survivors may now be able to take civil action against the person who caused them abuse.

This matters because abuse is not only physical.

It can look like:
• Feeling afraid much of the time
• Not having control over your own decisions
• Not being able to make choices you feel are best for you or your children
• Changing your behaviour to avoid anger, punishment, or retaliation
• Feeling like you are constantly walking on eggshells
• Being isolated, monitored, or controlled in ways others cannot see

The Court recognized that these patterns, often called coercive control, are real and harmful and take away a person’s freedom and autonomy.

At Sagesse, this reflects what we hear every day from the people we support.

If this feels familiar, you are not alone.
If you are supporting someone, your care and presence matter.

This decision is an important step forward, but support, connection, and prevention are still essential.

If you need support, we are here.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4eL7vbf