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About Us
The Premier's Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention was appointed by the premier of Prince Edward Island in December 1995. The mandate of the committee is:
- to coordinate the implementation of the provincial Family Violence Prevention Strategy;
- to ensure integrity of community participation is maintained;
- to ensure an evaluation component is in place;
- to develop a work plan; to promote the importance of resource allocations necessary for implementation of the strategy; and
- to communicate initiatives to ensure a high public profile for family violence prevention is maintained across the province.
PAC Annual Activity Reports
Strategies for Addressing Family Violence in Prince Edward Island
Stratégie de lutte contre la violence familiale à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard
Committee Membership (2015)
Committee membership consists of community and government representatives to ensure diversity and collective responsibility. Members are appointed to serve five year terms.Ann Sherman - Chair, Member at Large
Dr. Wendy Verhoek-Oftedahl - Resource Person
Rona Smith - Ex-Officio
David O'Brien, Q.C. - Department of Justice and Public Safety, Crown Attorneys' Office
Carrie St. Jean - PEI Teachers' Federation
Audrey Fraser - Association of Registered Nurses of PEI
Judy Clark - Aboriginal Women's Association of PEI
Dr. Christine MacNearney - Medical Society of PEI
Catherine Freeze - PEI Seniors' Secretariat
Chief Lewie Sutherland - PEI Chiefs of Police Association
Sgt. Leanne Butler - Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Phil Matusiewicz - PEI Family Violence Prevention Services
Sigrid Rolfe - PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre
Kelly Robinson - Community Legal Information Association
Lisa Marmen - Actions Femmes I.-P.-E.
Jane Ledwell - PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Reverend Dr. Andrew Richardson - Trinity United Church Summerside - Faith Representative
Andy Lou Somers - East Prince Women's Information Centre
Farida Chishti - Women's Institute of PEI
Peter Mutch - Catholic Family Services Bureau
Susan Maynard - Department of Justice and Public Safety, Victim Services
Jody MacLennan - Department of Health and Wellness
Joyce Robertson - Department of Family and Human Services, Child Protection
Michelle Harris-Genge - Interministerial Women's Secretariat
Sterling Carruthers - Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture
Melanie Melanson - Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture, Healthy Child Development
Stephen Gould - Federation of PEI Municipalities
Gaylene MacKenzie - Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning
Melissa Coffin - PEI Association of Newcomers to Canada
Jo-Anne Hargrove - Department of Justice and Public Safety, Turning Point
Our Vision Statement
A society where all individuals are safe, respected and valued; where any form of violence is unacceptable; and where children, women and men have opportunities to reach their full potential and contribute to the overall well-being of families and communities.
Family Violence Statement
Family violence affects, or will affect, all people in Prince Edward Island. Family violence is connected to abuse of power and control, and to injustice based on sex, race, age, class, sexual orientation, and physical or mental ability. Individual history, family history, and current circumstances play a role in family violence.
Family violence is known by many names: child maltreatment, child abuse, incest, child exposure to domestic violence, intimate partner violence, spousal violence, woman abuse, domestic violence, sibling abuse, parent abuse, elder abuse, and abuse of older adults.
Family violence can affect anyone, from any demographic: cultural, national and ethnic origin, socio-economic status, education, gender, age and physical or mental ability.
Family violence can take many forms: harassment, verbal abuse, threats, financial abuse, psychological abuse, emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, neglect, damage to property, injury to pets, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and homicide.
Family violence can happen between: current and former intimate partners (married and unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, and dating partners); a legal guardian or parent and child; blood, marriage or adoptive relatives; and a live-in caregiver and care recipient.
Family violence hurts. It can cause physical and psychological harm. Family violence violates the victim's rights and freedoms. Family violence harms the healthy development of children and youth.
Family violence is a public health issue, a criminal justice issue, and a human rights issue. To address family violence, all of us in Prince Edward Island must work together and share our resources.
