Officials with agencies supporting women and children victimized by violence are anticipating a spike in domestic violence during the Olympic Games and they say the province is not doing enough to protect those most vulnerable to abuse.
The groups include the Howe Sound Women's Centre (HSWC), which provides services in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, and the Vancouver-based Battered Women Support Services and Women Against Violence Against Women.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday, Oct. 29, they say they've been told they're "on their own" in providing services needed to meet the estimated 10 to 36 per cent rise in violence against women and children that's expected during the Games.
"This issue of violence against women during the Winter Games is coalescing organizations in the anti-violence sector from Whistler to Vancouver," said Angela Marie MacDougall, BWSS executive director.
"We are concerned about the demand on services because we want to support international visitors during their stay. We would like our provincial government to recognize we need their help."
The statement said support services groups have been taking part in monthly talks with provincial officials for the past two years, but they were recently told they would be getting no additional funding for services to local and international victims of domestic and sexual assault during the Games.
Ian Indridson, senior public affairs officer the office of the Solicitor General and Ministry of Public Safety, emailed The Question to say the ministry's information about the likely incidence of Games-time domestic violence differs from the groups' projections.
"The Ministry has conducted its own consultations with respect to projecting increased needs of victims during the Games," Indridson wrote.
"In January 2009, ministry staff consulted with victim service providers from the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. These providers indicated that any increase in victimization during their Games was negligible. This stands in stark contrast to the projections stated in the news release.
"The ministry continues to meet with the Victim Services Advisory Committee to discuss issues relevant to victim service programs along the Sea to Sky Corridor and within the Olympic venue cities. The next meeting is scheduled for this month."
Joan McIntyre, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, on Monday (Nov. 2) said that while she hasn't been directly involved in talks on the issue, she and others within the government have worked "very diligently" to ensure that services and facilities are available to the victims of domestic violence.
"I know [Solicitor General Kash Heed] has increased funding to those programs, and I was instrumental in ensuring 24/7 coverage for the Pearl's Place [women's shelter] in Squamish," said McIntyre, who is chair of B.C.'s Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth.
