in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 16 ,2 02 0 | 12 It's in your hands. Make sure your favourite business or professional is nominated for the Oakville Beaver's 2020 Readers' Choice Awards. The Oakville Beaver Readers' Choice Awards were created so you can tell us which local businesses and service providers are the best at what they do. Once the nominations close on July 26, 2020, the nominees will be shortlisted and you will have the chance to vote for your favourite. Help make your favourite local business become a Oakville Beaver Readers' Choice. NomiNatioNs NowopeN Start nominating now at insidehalton.com/oBRC Halton police will erect a me- morial to remember those who have lost their lives as a result of intimate partner violence within the region. During a presentation before the Halton Police Board on Thursday, June 25, Staff Sgt. An- ita Laframboise noted that since the region was amalgamated in 1974 there have been 32 homi- cides in Halton, which are attri- buted to intimate partner vio- lence. The victims include 26 wom- en, four children and two men. For some time, the police ser- vice has been working with the Halton Women's Place to create a memorial to the victims of this crime. Laframboise said building the memorial will accomplish two goals. "The first is to memorialize all victims," she said. "The other is to increase awareness around intimate partner violence, but more spe- cifically around gender-based violence because it is a reality in our community and a reality in Canada." There are no shortage of rea- sons to draw awareness to gen- der-based violence with Lafram- boise pointing out that in Halton 81 per cent of the victims of do- mestic violence incidents are fe- male. The current plan for the me- morial is to beautify a northern section of the grounds of the Hal- ton Police headquarters at 2485 North Service Rd., W., and affix a plaque commemorating the vic- tims to a large landscaping stone in this area. The statement planned for the memorial reads: "We honour and mourn all those whose lives have been trag- ically taken as a result of Inti- mate Partner Violence. We stand in solidarity with those who still experience abuse in their homes, and we work diligently to create meaningful change to end vio- lence." The statement goes on to ac- knowledge men who pledge not to commit, condone or remain si- lent about violence against wom- en. It further calls for a society that educates children and youth about their inherent right to live a life free of violence and fear not- ing "A life without violence is the only life to live." The unveiling of the memori- al has been tentatively planned to take place on Monday, Nov. 2, which Laframboise pointed out is close to the start of the Pro- vincial Women Abuse Preven- tion Month and the National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. "That seems very suiting for an unveiling date," she said. The cost of the memorial is es- timated at $10,000. Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner said money for the pro- ject is available within the police budget. Halton Police Board Chair Rob Burton said he and the board sup- port the creation of the memori- al. Halton police took to social media recently to remind victims of domestic violence that help is available despite the coronavirus pandemic. Women and their children in need of safe shelter or support can call Halton Women's Place at 905-332-7892 or 905-878-8555. Other numbers that victims of domestic violence can call for help include: • The Halton Police Victim Ser- vices Unit at 905-825-4777 • Halton Children's Aid Soci- ety at 905-333-4441 or 1-866-607- 5437 • Nina's Place Sexual Assault and Domestic Assault Care Cen- tre at 905-336-4116 or 905-681-4880 • Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS) at 905-875-1555 (24-hour crisis line). POLICE TO ERECT MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com NEWS Halton police Staff Sgt. Anita Laframboise discusses the memorial. Halton police photo