A $160,000 grant will support the anti-violence program, Be More Than a Bystander, a groundbreaking partnership with the BC Lions Football Club and the Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC) that is helping young people throughout the province break the silence on violence against women.

Through the Be More Than a Bystander program, BC Lions players have used their status and public profile to create awareness and help address abusive behaviour by men and boys against women and girls. The program aims to help solve the problems of violence, abuse and harassment by providing tools and practical ideas about how to communicate that violence is not acceptable.

Over the last two years, BC Lions players have visited 40 secondary schools throughout B.C., reaching over 29,000 youth through interactive workshops. The program helps change negative attitudes and behaviours. It empowers students by educating them about how to speak up among their peers against gender-based violence.

BC Lions players also are delivering the message of respect for women and girls through a targeted advertising and public awareness campaign. And, in May 2012, the Lions hosted a conference workshop where amateur football coaches learned how to talk to their players about respectful relationships, behaviours and attitudes on and off the field.

An educational film is being developed and will be distributed to communities throughout B.C. next year, coinciding with a provincial symposium on public education of violence against women and girls.

EVA BC spearheaded the Be More Than a Bystander partnership with the BC Lions, the B.C. government, Status of Women in Canada and Encana Corporation in July 2011. The project also has been supported by the BC Government and Service Employees' Union and the cities of Surrey and Vancouver. As a founding partner, the B.C. government has now provided a total of $480,000 in support.

Last year, the campaign earned the BC Lions and EVA BC a Community Safety and Crime Prevention Award. EVA was also the recipient of the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters' Humanitarian Award. As a result, B.C.'s private broadcasters donated 52 weeks of radio and television advertising.

Quotes:

Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development -

"We are proud to support this excellent program which teaches children and youth that they have an instrumental role in breaking the silence and helping put an end to violence against women and girls. The Lions have been great role models and are helping to create positive change within the school culture and beyond."

Shirley Bond, Minister of Justice and Attorney General -

"It takes courage to stand up for what is right. This program teaches young people and provides them with the understanding they need to speak up and do their part to stop violence against women. The partnership between EVA BC and the BC Lions is making a difference and we need to make sure that this program continues. I want to say a special thank you to the BC Lions players who have been outstanding role models as they have visited schools and communities to encourage all of us to be more than bystanders."

Dennis Skulsky, president and CEO, BC Lions Football Club -

"Since 2011, the BC Lions Football Club has been proud and honoured to take part in the Be More Than a Bystander project in association with the Ending Violence Association of BC, Status of Women Canada, the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the Ending Violence Association of BC and Encana Corporation."

"Today's announcement of renewed support is welcome news as we continue to focus our efforts as an organization on the very serious problem of violence against women in our province."

Tracy Porteous, executive director, Ending Violence Association of British Columbia -

"Ending violence against women and girls is everyone's business and will take the involvement of all sectors in all communities to speak up and be more than bystanders. This is what is so positive about this program. People are getting involved and speaking up, right across B.C."

Richard Dunn, vice-president of regulatory and government relations, Encana Corporation -

"Encana believes that Be More Than A Bystander is making a difference to the health and safety of women across British Columbia by empowering men to speak out and break the silence on violence against women."

"We are proud to partner with the BC Lions, Ending Violence Association of BC, the federal government and the B.C. government, to help increase the awareness and understanding about the impact of men's violence against women. In the past two years the Lions have taken this program to impressionable youth in high schools in our operating areas including Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Fort Nelson, and this year we are also focusing on getting this message out to our staff and contractors in northeast B.C."

(flickr.com)

Quick Facts:

• It is estimated that every year in Canada 800,000 children witness a woman being abused.

• The B.C. government commits more than $70 million per year in prevention and intervention services and programs to help families involved in domestic violence and other crimes.

• The Provincial Office of Domestic Violence was created in March 2012 as the permanent lead for the B.C. government, focussed on strengthening the services and supports available for children, women and families affected by domestic violence.

• The office is developing, in consultation with the anti-violence community, a comprehensive three-year provincial plan that will consider the needs of women with disabilities, immigrant and refugee women, and will include an Aboriginal-specific strategy to address domestic violence.

• EVA BC is a registered provincial charity, whose mandate is to provide support and training for more than 240 programs throughout B.C. that work with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Learn More:

To learn more about Be More Than a Bystander, visit: http://www.endingviolence.org/Be+More+Than+a+Bystander

Contact:

Sheldon Johnson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639