A student at St Mary's School sorted some scenarios about healthy and unhealthy relationships (photo courtesy Bob Schneider)

By Teagan Rasche

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Women’s shelter educating youth on dating violence this month

Feb 16, 2022 | 4:48 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It’s Peggy Revell’s sixth stop this month educating local youth on dating violence.

“We partner with local schools to bring in programming and activities that focus on healthy relationships, what’s healthy, what isn’t, what abusive behaviour looks like and really with the idea of encouraging youth to start having those conversations,” said Revell, who’s the community education and awareness coordinator at the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society.

Revell is at St Mary’s School today talking to curious students about the many different types of abuse. By starting the conversations now, it will help give youth the ability to establish important boundaries in their relationships.

“They have crushes, they may have friends that have started dating,” Revell said. “They may have older siblings who have started dating so it’s really important to lay the foundation with them about what is healthy and what isn’t so as they do decide to start dating the info is already there for them.”

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The reason she’s going to different middle schools, high schools and youth centre’s this month is because February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

The students participated in a variety of activities on their lunch breaks.

“We did some wonderful nail painting, we sorted some scenarios about healthy and unhealthy relationships and we had a photo booth with some cue cards on what a healthy relationship looks like,” Lana Walton, a wellness facilitator in the Catholic schools said.

Walton says these conversations happen all year long and this is a good age to talk about it.

“I think in middle school, kids are just figuring out their boundaries and who they are in life and I think these open, honest conversations just lead to more conversations at home and in the community,” Walton said.

The bell rings and students head back to class while Revell packs up. She still has three more stops this month at other schools.

While February is all about education and awareness, the women’s shelter is available all year round offering support to anyone who needs it.