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It’s considered one of the largest modern migrations: students, teachers, and support staff heading back to school!  Backpacks are zipped up, paper-bag lunches are packed, and bright yellow school buses roll around street corners once again after a summer hiatus that always feels too short.  Despite the looming and dreaded concept of “work”, the first week of school is always optimistic with the notion of a fresh start.  However, as the school year continues, everyone inevitably experiences ups and downs.  Whether you’re a teacher, student, custodian, or principal, the school year is a great opportunity to support one another.

What is your role as a bystander? Do you know about warning signs and risk factors? You are a powerful being – learn how you can have a positive IMPACT!

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Women who are in abusive relationships often feel as if they have nowhere to turn and no one to ask for help. That’s the thing about abuse and abusers -- they know exactly how to isolate and manipulate their spouses or partners into believing it's their fault and that they are completely alone.

Ask a child who they idolize and often, they will name a star athlete from a professional soccer, baseball, football, or hockey league.  Lately however, it seems like sports teams, brimming with admired talent, are mired in domestic violence controversies.  No level of sports is immune to violence and even the culture of amateur sports here in Canada has been infiltrated by attitudes and actions that reflect an acceptance of violence against women.

If you work in Ontario, you may have heard the words “Bill 132” mentioned or heard that some sort of legislature takes effect on Sept 8.  These terms might sound ambiguous or confusing, but they will soon make a big impact in how you work: your employer will now be required to create clear policies and procedures to protect you from sexual harassment, domestic violence, and sexual assault.  This means that if someone reaches out for help at work, there should be an immediate action plan in place to guide how they can be accommodated through paid/unpaid absences, revised responsibilities, an

More than one in three people in a 2016 Canadian survey believe that at least one of their colleagues was experiencing or had experienced domestic violence.

One in three!

Would you know what signs to look out for?  Do you know someone whom you think is facing abuse?  Would you know how to act appropriately?

There are so many questions that you might have and it can seem overwhelming, so we’re going to do our best to answer all of them so you can be confident in how you can help!

Intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) refers to all forms of sexual violence which occur in the context of an intimate relationship between current or former partners.

As the separate high-profile trials involving former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi and musical artist Kesha concluded a few weeks ago, the lack of support and resources for victims of sexual violence has been brought into the spotlight.  What’s more, the events following the outbreak of the scandal has also thrust an unlikely subject into the limelight: the workplace.

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #PledgeForParity. The theme highlights the gender parity that women still struggle to achieve economically, socially, culturally, and politically.  The theme is timely.  Financial abuse is a common tactic that is often used to control the woman in domestic violence situations.  If she wants to leave an abusive relationship, her choices are limited by her ability to leave the relationship, earn a living and make a new life for herself and children. We also know that abuse impacts work performance and income as well as potential job loss.

On Family Day February 15, 2016 Make It Our Business (MIOB) is recognizing the 100 Organizations who have recently completed workplace trainings. Since we launched our Make It Our Business workplace training program five years ago, over 400 companies have participated in our trainings to learn how to recognize and respond to domestic violence in the workplace!