The Made in Alberta initiative is a collaborative effort between Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence (University of Calgary), YWCA Banff, Cochrane Big Hill Haven, and Rowan House Society in High River. This multi-phase initiative focuses on building rural capacity to prevent gender-based violence (GBV), with a specific emphasis on addressing male perpetration. Phase 1, called ZeroGBV, brings together Shift/UCalgary, the Collaborative Applied Research for Equity in Health Policy and Systems (CARE) Lab, and HelpSeeker Technologies. This phase supports three rural GBV-serving organizations—YWCA Banff, Rowan House, and Big Hill Haven—in leveraging open-source and public data on GBV prevalence and help-seeking behaviors. The goal is to strengthen data-informed prevention strategies, particularly those aimed at stopping domestic, sexual, and family violence before it starts. Phase 2 focuses on engaging local champions to co-develop community-specific primary prevention plans. These plans are rooted in local data and community insights and emphasize approaches that centre equity-deserving groups. This presentation explores how cross-sector collaboration, data-driven insights, and a primary prevention lens can collectively drive systemic change at the community level. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how addressing root causes of violence can disrupt cycles of harm and promote safety and wellbeing in rural Alberta.

Why does this presentation matter to FCSSAA and members?

This presentation offers practical insights for FCSS programs that are committed to building safe, resilient, and connected communities. By highlighting a collaborative, data-informed approach to preventing domestic, sexual, and family violence—especially in rural contexts—it aligns with FCSS's preventive mandate and focus on strengthening community capacity. Participants will learn:

• How rural organizations are using publicly available data to better understand local risk and protective factors for gender-based violence.
• The value of cross-sector collaboration in addressing the root causes of violence before it occurs at the local level.
• Concrete examples of how community-led prevention plans are being developed with attention to local context and equity-deserving groups.

This session will equip FCSS leaders with innovative ideas and tools to strengthen upstream efforts, foster local partnerships, and engage men and boys in prevention—all of which are key to long-term community wellbeing.

Presenters: Reave Macleod, Wanda McGinnis, and Linette Soldan
Collaborators: Lana Wells, Caroline Claussen, Sharon Blackwell