Strengthening Community Care, Safety and Well-Being

Saskatchewan continues to experience a growing rate of interpersonal violence, making it more important than ever to strengthen the everyday relationships and community connections that support safety and well-being. 

Across Saskatchewan, people support one another every day—through family, friendships, workplaces and community networks. These “natural supports” are often the first to notice when someone is struggling and the first people others turn to for help.  While professional services are essential, they are only one part of a larger community eco system.

Over the past five years, STOPS to Violence has been exploring how the practice of community animation can contribute to greater community safety and well-being in Saskatchewan. Community animation is a way of working that helps local communities recognize their own strengths, relationships and capacity to care for one another. By supporting connection, trust and shared action, it contributes to community safety and well-being by reducing isolation, strengthening informal support networks and ensuring that people are more likely to be seen, heard and supported before situations reach crisis.

STOPS to Violence is hosting a series of gatherings to explore how communities and service systems can better recognize, align with and support these everyday networks of care. At these gatherings, we will:

  • Share our community animation approach and what we have learned about natural supports and violence prevention

  • Explore how care, knowledge, power and leadership can be more meaningfully shared with communities

  • Introduce the four modes of working in the community animation approach—to, for, with and by communities—and the three lanes of contribution

  • Discuss the roles of community animators, trusted connectors and community ecosystems

  • Explore how natural community systems of care can be strengthened

Who should attend?

This gathering may be of interest to:

  • Community organizations and grassroots groups

  • Violence prevention and gender-based violence services

  • Health, mental health and social service providers

  • Crisis, outreach, counselling and referral services

  • Provincial, Federal, Indigenous government

  • Indigenous organizations and community leaders

Join a Gathering

Regional Gatherings

Regional gatherings are intended for people connected to the geographical area, including those who:

  • Work with agencies that provide services across the region

  • Represent municipal, First Nations or Métis governments in the region

  • Belong to community groups located within the region

  • Are involved in sport, culture, recreation or other community services in the region

  • Live in the region and are interested in strengthening community safety and well-being

Click here to RSVP to a Regional Gathering

Provincial Gatherings

Provincial gatherings are intended for people who work with governments, agencies or organizations that are province wide.

Click here to RSVP to a Provincial Gathering