The link between Valentine’s Day and higher rates of domestic violence in Calgary was the subject of a recent interview by Radio-Canada with Lana Wells, Associate Professor and the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence at the University of Calgary.

Valentine’s Day is one of a number of holidays associated with an increase in domestic violence calls in a research study conducted by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy in 2017. The study looked at more than 70,000 calls to police and a helpline for victims of domestic violence, and found that rates of domestic violence calls increase during certain holidays, the summer season, and major sporting events such as the Grey Cup. These findings confirmed the observations of local shelters that rates of violence were increasing at certain times of the year.

According to Wells, while many factors create conditions conducive to domestic violence, people spending extended periods of time with their families or spouses during holidays, along with heightened expectations of children and loved ones, may explain the increase in domestic violence during these times.

The full story can be found here.