The City of St. Albert and St. Albert RCMP have partnered to install two purple Adirondack chairs on the north side the Sturgeon River on Red Willow Trail.
The installation of the purple chairs directly north of the Children’s Bridge coincides with Family Violence Prevention Month which is observed in November each year.
St. Albert’s Purple Chairs are inspired by the murder of Barbara Baillie in October 1990 by her husband of 25 years. She was found strangled in her home in Spryfield, Nova Scotia. Barb’s children, with help of local MLA, were instrumental in starting the first purple bench to memorialize all victims of violence.
The bench was not only a memorial to Barb and other women who endured domestic violence. It also included a plaque with emergency telephone numbers of help lines people could call.
St. Albert’s chairs also contain plaques with the phone numbers for the Alberta Family Violence Info Line, Hope for Wellness Helpline for Indigenous People and Kids Help Line.
The chairs also carry a message that individuals who experience abuse and/or violence are not alone. All they need to do is reach out.
For additional information on support services for families or individuals in vulnerable situations, visit the City of St. Albert’s Family and Community Support Services at https://stalbert.ca/city/fcss/.
