Mission Statement
Create a community free of domestic violence and its impact by inspiring change through education, skill development and awareness.
Vision Statement
Eliminate domestic violence and inspire change to develop healthy relationships in families and communities
RESPECT
COLLABORATION
ACCOUNTABILITY
GROWTH
WISDOM
INTEGRITY
SAFETY
Our Team
"Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." - Mattie Stepanek
Melanie
Executive Director
I was born in the Peace Region and feel very fortunate to now be home again, raising my family in a place that I feel so connected to. I also consider myself very lucky to be part of the Stepping Up team and share in the amazing work being done here. I bring with me a background of over twenty years of family empowerment and a drive to share space with those seeking personal growth. Meaningful change is truly a journey, unique to everyone, and I look forward to meeting each of you from a place of integrity and understanding, wherever you may be on your path.
Email: melanief@prsteppingup.ca
Kandice
Program Facilitator
I grew up in Central Alberta and currently live near Buck Lake, Alberta. I am excited to be able to join Stepping Up through Zoom. I am a Registered Professional Counsellor with over 15 years of experience working in a variety of settings. I work from a client-centered approach and believe that for change to occur there must be a genuine, non-judgmental relationship between the client and the counsellor. I strive to empower you so you may build and draw upon your own internal resources and develop better coping skills to help deal with whatever life challenges you may encounter.
Email: kandicew@prsteppingup.ca
Naomi
Administrative Assistant
I have lived in the Peace Region for over 20 years and it has become home for my family and I. As the first person you connect with or see when you come in the office, I hope to create a warm, safe, inviting atmosphere.
Email: info@prsteppingup.ca
Are you interested in volunteering with us?
Call or email our Executive Director for more information.
"Great leadership usually starts with a willing heart, a positive attitude, and a desire to make a difference." - Mac Anderson
Our Board
Nancy
Bliss
President
Dona
Lemieux
Vice-President
Michelle
Reason
Secretary
Priya
Sandhu
Treasurer
Marc
Boychuk
Director
Ann
Cassidy
Director
Marie
Laventure
Director
Shavonne
Armstrong
Director
Arthur
Sunday
Director
Open
Director
Are you interested in becoming a board member with us?
Download and fill out the Board Application below.
You can email it to our Executive Director.
Our History
"Stories matter."
In 2008, a committee consisting of representation from various human service organizations throughout the Peace River region was formed. Collectively, the members of the committee identified a service delivery gap in the region, as it related to domestic violence prevention, education, and awareness. The result of this service shortfall was that few local resources were available to human service providers, to which to refer clients that were experiencing the effects of domestic violence in their lives. The committee pledged to address this shortfall and ultimately endeavored to create community programming that would assist those who were struggling with domestic violence.
In 2010, the committee members formed the North Peace Society for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and shortly thereafter, were successful in securing recurring funding for community programming through the Alberta Health Services “Safe Communities” grant. With the support of and in consultation with Alberta Health Services, the Society developed the “Stepping Up” psycho-educational program for victims and offenders of domestic violence. The group-based program has been adapted since its original iteration, in order to best suit the unique needs of the regional population, while continuing to meet and exceed the Alberta Health Services program standards.
Up until 2024, the Society had been continually delivering the “Stepping Up” program since its inception and accepted both self-registrations and court-mandated referrals and expanded to deliver programming at other venues, including the Peace River Correctional Centre, and at local schools, where healthy relationship education was being delivered with the goal of preventing intimate partner violence. The Society additionally hosted several annual community events to raise public awareness of domestic violence issues.
As of April 1, 2025 Stepping Up no longer operates under Alberta Health Services and we now receive funding through the Calgary Counselling Centre in partnership with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction to deliver and oversee counselling services with a provincial scope under the operating name of Counseling Alberta. Due to our new mandate and funding we can ONLY accept clients MANDATED through the provincials court system (Community Corrections/Probation, or Child and Family Services for charges related to intimate partner violence for our main program.
“Stepping Up” addresses a variety of topics including but not limited to emotional safety, relationship skills, communication skills and conflict resolution, in a safe, blame free environment that supports personal challenge, growth and change. The program is offered free of charge to all clients.
Our Community Partners
