Women’s shelter focussed on bringing back fun on Halloween for victims of family violence

“I think it’s just so important for kids to be kids. And for kids who have experienced trauma or crisis coming from family violence that’s just not on their radar. And that can change their perspective on so many things,” said the society’s executive director Natasha Carvalho. “So, if we can just remember and bring them back to their inner child and what it should be. It should be lots of sugar and lots of fun.”

To help bring back that fun, the society’s children programming management Katrina Barron says they’ve been putting on events like family pumpkin carving and a party in the onsite daycare.

“We had a party and we invited parents to come and interact with their children as well. Some of our children have had a real interest in Ghostbusters lately so we really went with that and used that as our theme. We had our water table full of slime,” she said. “They painted some pumpkins and wrapped each other up in toilet paper to be mummies. All kinds of fun stuff.”

The theme was “Ghostbusters” for women shelter staff members

Barron says they also had a costume parade and had the kids trick or treating in the shelter between offices.

“Sometimes the family when they are coming to see us because of the safety concerns due to family violence sometimes they are not always able to get out into the community to do that trick or treating so we try really hard to bring that to them here,” she said.

Carvalho says she loved having the kids knocking on her office door.

“Because when the kids come here they are sad, scared, not sure why they are here. And it’s kind of a scary time for them. So to see them all dressed up in their costumes coming down the hall, they were so excited. I gave them chips and chocolate so they were happy,” she smiled.

All of the kids were dressed in costumes donated from the community.

“I think some of the kids when they get here they’ve left everything. So all of those plans they had for that month all a sudden they are gone,” Carvalho said. “So all of a sudden I had a plan to be this for Halloween and that’s not happening and I can’t be in my neighbourhood with my friends. Or maybe even at my school having the Halloween parades. We just try and make it seem as normal as possible.”

For Barron, Halloween is also a time for learning.

She says for some, it’s also a time to take back what is thought to be a scary holiday.

“The workers are really great about going into that group, talking about Halloween, and how to be safe on Halloween. But also transition that conversation from spooky Halloween safe to what are some scary, fearful things in our everyday life. And how can we safety plan for those home situations as well.”

The Women’s Shelter is hosting its fifth annual Memorial Walk on November 1st at City Hall to start Family Violence Prevention Month.

by Hayley Ferguson

Women’s shelter focussed on bringing back fun on Halloween for victims of family violence

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