Courage Is Purple

Pete Fisher
5 years ago
• Categories: Community, Local

By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre kicked off its annual Wrapped In Courage campaign Monday with drop-ins in Cobourg and Port Hope to thank many community partners for the many ways they have supported their work – and to join them in wrapping up warmly in purple.

Purple is the colour of courage for the month of November, which is Women Abuse Prevention Month, and you can salute the courage of the women who take the giant step of fleeing domestic violence by wearing it.

At the same time, you can support the work of Cornerstone yourself by purchasing and wearing one of the purple scarves, toques, ties or pet bandannas for sale in locations throughout the community.

Cornerstone executive director Nancy Johnston and director of community engagement Janelle Eisler stopped in eight key locations, starting with Port Hope council, where they have found support in the past for such programming as HomeShare.

From there they moved on to Lakeridge Chrysler, who have been long-time major sponsors for their annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event.
Stops were made at headquarters for Cobourg Police Service, Northumberland Paramedics and Northumberland OPP, all of whom have been partners in programming and services and continue to be supportive. The OPP stop also gave Cornerstone representatives to try one of their pet bandannas on Dax, the German Shepherd who works for the OPP with handler Jonathan King.

They also visited each retail location where the purple merchandise is being sold – We Fix U Cobourg, Just Brew It! and All Creatures Great and Small.

Products can be purchased at these locations, and also at Cornerstone, through Dec. 6 at $20 each ($15 for pet bandannas) and worn throughout the winter.

The people at Cornerstone are also hoping everyone will wear purple on Nov. 25, the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women.

#1 – Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre executive director Nancy Johnston (left) and director of community engagement Janelle Eisler (right) thank Just Brew It! owners Carin and Glenn Keeling for selling their Wrapped In Courage scarves, toques and ties – the stuffed Bigfoot is modelling their Wrapped In Courage pet bandanna.

#2 – Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre executive director Nancy Johnston (front and centre) thanks the staff at We Fix U Cobourg for selling their Wrapped In Courage scarves, toques and ties. We Fix U manager Tanya Ritchie is holding the gift box the ties come in.

#3 – Under the leadership of Northumberland Paramedics Chief Bill Detlor (rear), a crew of paramedics models the Wrapped In Courage ties, scarves and toques that are on now on sale as a Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre fundraiser – with thanks from Cornerstone director of community engagement Janelle Eisler and executive director Nancy Johnston (front and centre).

#4 – Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre executive director Nancy Johnston (front, centre) and director of community engagement Janelle Eisler (front, right) are grateful to the Cobourg Police Service for their support in many areas, including their current Wrapped In Courage ties, scarves and toques – which are modelled by (from left) executive assistant Jackie Steacy, Special Constables Mitchell Cairns and Claudia Heipel, Chief Paul VandeGraaf and Sergeant Brent Allison.

#5 – All Creatures Great and Small co-owners Heather Glennie (left) and Theresa Rickerby (right) show off the special purple-themed window in their downtown store for Women Abuse Prevention Month to Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre director of community engagement Janelle Eisler and executive director Nancy Johnston.

#6 – From left, Northumberland OPP Insprector Brian O’Halloran joins Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre director of community engagement Janelle Eisler and executive director Nancy Johnston, along with Canine Unit handler Jonathan King – and even Dax the German shepherd – in modelling the Wrapped In Courage purple scarves and pet bandannas now being sold in locations throughout the community.