The North Rocky View Community Links Society will be hiring two and a half new counsellors to provide individual and group counselling to support people affected by family violence thanks to new funding announced yesterday (April 27) by the Alberta government.

Minister of Community and Social Services Irfan Sabir was at the Community Links office in Airdrie to announce funding of $333,000 for 2017 - 2018.  Combined with more than $166,000 in funding provided in 2015 - 2016, an extension of the grant to March 2019 brings the total funding from the government to $500,000.  

Community Links Executive Director Brenda Hume says the funding from the government is amazing.

"It continues our support to the community for those that are impacted by family violence.  We started the program two years ago with funding from the government so to have another year it is tremendous for us."

The counsellors will provide clients with strategies and tools to develop healthy and positive behaviours.  Thanks to the ongoing funding, more than 1,400 individual counselling sessions and 1,500 counselling hours have been provided so far.

Minister Sabir believes it's the government's duty to help those affected by family violence.

"No Albertan should suffer domestic violence.  As a government, I think it's our obligation and it's our committment to provide the resources that those Albertans need to rebuild their lives." 

Hume says family violence prevention continues to be one of the key things Community Links undertakes.

"Family violence continues to be a priority, not only for us but for our partners as well.  By working together we're trying to address it the best way we can and support those at the very early stages of what they're going through and continue that support onward.  This funding is very, very helpful." 

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