“Domestic violence is at epidemic levels in Alberta with 1 in 3 individuals experiencing violence in their lifetime. The impact of domestic violence knows no bounds. Incidents of domestic violence exist across rural and urban areas, within all cultural and faith communities, amongst university educated professionals with a roof over their heads and those who don’t know where their next safe place to sleep will be. It's time to get real.

 Real Talk is a guide to help us understand and talk about domestic violence in Alberta. Learning how to talk about domestic violence isn’t fancy or complicated, it is just a real moment between two people. It isn’t about trying to fix things, it's about empowering change and bringing people together. The Real Talk campaign is about all Albertans getting real and confronting domestic violence in our communities.

Real Talk is about:

Recognizing domestic violence,

Empathizing with the person impacted by the violence,

Asking them what they need, and

Listening without judgement.”

Join us for a presentation by Carolyn Mitchell, Real Talk Program Coordinator at Sagesse. Carolyn Mitchell works as the Real Talk Program Coordinator with Sagesse. She has achieved her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Lethbridge and she has past experiences as a volunteer peer supporter for women. In her role as the Real Talk workshop coordinator, she engages in conversations with diverse groups and communities across Alberta to increase participant's capacity and confidence to respond to people who have been impacted by domestic violence. Carolyn believes that by facilitating conversations, people are best able to explore their own experiences and develop their understanding of domestic violence to increase their ability to be an informal support.