Calgary 'getting better' at talking about domestic abuse, but more work needed: advocate
Calgary police and a local advocacy group are urging citizens to watch for warning signs following a deadly domestic situation in the community of Redstone.
Maninderpreet Singh, 22, is charged with the second-degree murder of 25-year-old Manpreet Kaur on April 21.
Police say the death was the result of a fatal domestic assault.
Staff Sgt. Glenn Andruschuk from the Calgary Police Service's domestic conflict unit tells CTV News domestic abuse reporting has climbed in the last few years.
"That infers to us that families are calling for our assistance, and we can connect them to community supports prior to violence happening in the home," he said.
"The police aren't coming to break up families, we're coming to help."
The conflict unit is comprised of 30 officers who monitor and follow-up with chronic and escalating home violence situations across the city.
Andruschuk says the unit is integrated in the community and works with other agencies to try to stop incidents like the one in Redstone from occurring.
Last year, more than 4,000 domestic violence incidents were reported to Calgary police.
Andrea Silverstone with Calgary's Sagesse Domestic Violence Prevention Society says she believes even more took place.
"Only about 35 per cent of people who experience domestic abuse go to access a service," she said. "People think it requires a broken bone or a black eye to call the police, but it doesn't."
Silverstone says incidents have increased since the pandemic.
"So many (people) are having mental health issues, housing issues, economic issues, and the more that we have supports and services surrounding individuals as they're facing these complexities, the less likely they are to find themselves in abusive situations that they can't get out of."
Her advice to Calgarians is simple: educate yourself on what to do and say if you find yourself or someone you know in a situation that doesn't feel right.
"The most powerful thing we can do is take action to learn how to be a good informal supporter, so we can ask our friends and family if they're okay," Silverstone said.
"We're getting better at talking about domestic abuse, but we're still not where we need to be."
Singh is due in court on May 14.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
Video appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating singer Cassie in hotel hallway in 2016
Security video aired by CNN appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs physically assaulting singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.
Scottie Scheffler isn't the first pro golfer to be arrested during a tournament
Scottie Scheffler's arrest hours before his second-round tee time at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, will go down as one of the most shocking in professional golf history. It certainly wasn't the first, though.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta border: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Anglers reel in 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off coast of Florida: 'She found my bait'
A group of fishers said it took roughly 20 minutes to reel in this 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off the coast of Florida.
Australia's richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition
Art is subjective. And while many artists long to share their work with the world, there's no guarantee that the audience will understand it, or even like it.
Canadian convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer sentenced to 30 years
The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.
NEW What a wildfire survivor says she regrets not grabbing before leaving home
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.