While present services like Women’s Emergency Shelters are a necessary and vital emergency solution to the major problem of violence and abuse in Canada, much more is needed. The Prairieaction Foundation supports action-oriented research that contributes to finding solutions to the complex reasons behind societal violence. The role of the Prairieaction Foundation is to be an innovative funding partner for the communities of Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the rest of Canada by supporting solutions to violence and abuse. By establishing a $7.5 million endowment fund, Prairieaction Foundation will enable registered charities in the prairies and across Canada to participate in action research leading to enhanced policy decisions and “best practices” for direct service.

When research leads to a new cancer treatment, it's easy to identify the beneficiaries. But what about research into preventing the social cancer known as family violence? The increasing disclosure of violence in families and intimate relations pose many questions for practitioners and policy makers. What is the most effective way to intervene and stop the intergenerational cycle of violence? Does criminalization help or make matters worse? Can family violence offenders be rehabilitated? Most importantly, how can we prevent violence from happening in the first place?

After the shocking massacre at the University of Montreal on December 6, 1989, many Canadians began to ask themselves what was going on in our country. It was becoming clear that violent incidents were not isolated cases but part of a much larger picture.

In 1992, the Social Services and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Health Canada provided five-year funding to five research centres of excellence across Canada. Their purpose was to conduct community-based, action-oriented research on family violence and violence against women. The Manitoba Research Centre on Family Violence and Violence Against Women was one of the original five federally funded Centres. Three years ago, with assistance from the Honourable Senator Sharon Carstairs, P.C., the Centre began to explore ways to secure long-term funding. It became obvious during this initial research phase that in order to leverage the impact of the research centre, a new partnership between the three prairie provinces - Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan - was vital.

A $7.5 million endowment fund called the Legacy Fund is being raised: $4 million will continue the work of the prairie-based research center now called RESOLVE (Research and Education for Solutions to Violence and Abuse); $2 million will support Canadian charities with a mandate to research and seek solutions to reduce and relieve violence and abuse; and $1.5 million will help support the ongoing educational and awareness initiatives of Prairieaction Foundation. Community service agency workers, employed to work on the front lines to help victims and perpetrators of violence and abuse, are forming links with university researchers who study this issue across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In the summer of 2002, Prairieaction Foundation completed the Founders’ Campaign, which had a goal of $5 million.

By connecting the researchers in universities with these front line workers, we can create the teamwork needed for progress towards reducing the incidence of family violence. With such a network in place, it becomes easier to find and implement effective ways of reducing the cycle of violence. We are encouraged that the dream of healthy communities is gaining momentum as many partners recognize the need to support this cooperative effort.

Solutions must be found to keep individuals safe from violence and abuse. By working together, concerned citizens, businesses, governments, service agencies, universities and researchers can make the difference that leads to answers.