Domestic Violence: Why has the Silence Continued? With Maria Fitzpatrick

The speaker will discuss the importance of having this conversation now, while sharing some of her own experience.  She will identify some of the statistics (reported cases, non-reported cases, hospitalizations, deaths, affected children) and what research shows would be a huge step to stop domestic violence before it starts – looking at Mental Health and resilience, stable and positive parenting. The speaker will review what warning signs indicate a possible abusive relationship; why someone being victimized by domestic violence finds it difficult or impossible to leave, and what you can do to be part of the solution

 

Speaker:    Maria Fitzpatrick

Moderator:  Mary Shillington

 

Maria was born and raised in St. John’s, NL.  She attended Memorial University of Newfoundland pursuing a conjoint degree in Education and Physical Education.  She is a mother, grandmother and a great-grandmother. Maria has worked all across Canada as well as in the United States for 45 years. She has been a teacher, recreation supervisor, coach, Parole Officer, Policy Analyst and Regional Executive Vice-President of her union. She was the MLA for Lethbridge East in the from 2015-2019. In addition to volunteering with several community groups, in June she was appointed the Advocacy Program Officer with the National Association of Federal Retirees for southern Alberta.  Maria is well versed on this topic having survived being victimized for 9 years by her first husband.