A Better Way is a collaborative effort between Cold Lake Victim Services, Dr. Margaret Savage Crisis Centre, Cold Lake FCSS, Cold Lake RCMP, The Cold Lake Military Police, Elizabeth Settlement, Alberta Health Services Addiction Services, and Alberta Child And Family Services. The steering committee began the planning stages for The Better Way Program in 2009 and worked on its design and execution for a year before rolling out the program. Dave Zimmerman with Victim Services and Coordinator of A Better Way explains the program as “proving participants with education, skills, and resources required to make necessary changes in their relationships to resolve conflicts peacefully.”
Zimmerman says he “believes in the program and believes its making differences in people’s lives”. Zimmerman notes one example of a man stating the course “saved his marriage” and “changed him as a person”. The man, whose identity like all those in the program remains unknown, noted he was promoted twice at work following the completion of the program and co-workers, friends, and family all noted a positive change in him.
To help build these skills the women and men meet on separate nights, this also allows for couples with children to have one parent home with the kids while the other is in session. The women meet on Wednesdays and the men on Thursdays starting April 8th and 9th for the 8 week program. Each session has two facilitators, one male and one female, represented from one of the groups on the steering committee. All information in the sessions, as well as, during the registration and inquiry process remains confidential. Space is limited, to register contact the Cold Lake FCSS at 780-594-4495.