Shift is to stop violence before it starts.

WHAT IS SHIFT

Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence is situated in the Faculty of Social Work, at the University of Calgary. This one-of-a-kind initiative is led by Lana Wells, the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence. The purpose of Shift is to empower others to create the social conditions that will stop violence before it starts.

We are change-makers on a mission

We are working to advance gender equality and equity, promote healthy masculinities, address the intersections of racism, heterosexism, and oppression, and build healthy relationship competencies to stop the perpetration of multiple forms of violence including:

Intimate Partner Violence
Violence Against Women
Dating Violence
Child Maltreatment and Abuse
Bullying
Peer-to-peer Aggression

WHAT WE DO

We are Solutions Seekers

We conduct research that will inform primary prevention practices, programs, policies and legislation; and we partner with other researchers and academics, policy-makers, community-leaders, NGOs, community-based organizations and collectives to implement and evaluate effective primary prevention solutions.

WHAT WE DO

We are Solutions Seekers

We conduct research that informs primary prevention practices, programs, policies and legislation; and we partner with other researchers and academics, policy-makers, community-leaders, NGOs, community-based organizations and collectives to implement and evaluate effective primary prevention solutions.

OUR WORK

To solve a complex issue like domestic violence, we need to re-think where we focus our attention, time and resources. A primary prevention approach is essential to changing social norms and behaviours that reinforce and support violence. Primary prevention is our edict. This laser-like focus enables us to leverage our research to enhance the capacity of diverse stakeholders with the goal of reducing the number of new instances of violence. Primary prevention approaches can be delivered to whole populations or particular groups that are at high risk of using or experiencing violence. At Shift, we focus on changing policy, legislation, systems, and developing and implementing new programs and practices that will stop violence before it starts.

Primary Prevention Playbook

Men and Boys

Children, Youth and Parents

WHAT’S NEW

Emerging Results from Shift’s ConnectED Parents Project

News and Events

Date: October 23rd, 2024 Adolescent dating violence is a strong predictor that someone will experience adult domestic violence later in life. By promoting healthy relationship behaviours in adolescents, we can

Ziyana Kotadia, Dr. Winta Ghidei, and Veronika Elyk to support violence-prevention work at Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence, University of Calgary

News and Events

Date: October 17th, 2024 As we invest in our capacity to stop violence before it starts, we are growing our team at Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence.

Film Release – Strong Women’s Circle: Achieving Sovereignty in Our Children’s Welfare

News and Events

Date: October 1st, 2024 Collaborators: LeeAnne Ireland and Kelsi Reimer; Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth Director, Executive Producer, and Writer: Lana Wells Assistant Producers and Video Production: Willian Williamson and Keely

PUBLICATIONS

Shift acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 4, Treaty 6, and Treaty 7 territories and the traditional meeting grounds and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including Cree, Saulteaux, Niisitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, and Nakota Sioux, the Siksika, the Piikani (Peigan), the Kainai (Blood), the Tsuut’ina (Sacree), Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, Dene, Mountain Cree, and the Stoney Nakoda First Nations, including Chiniki, Bearpaw, and Wesley First Nations. It is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 and Region 4. We respect the Treaties that were made, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.

Initiated by The Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence

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