A Prince George survivor of domestic violence was recognized for her courage in the face of adversity on Tuesday.
Heather Hein was the recipient of the 11th annual Hazel White Award presented during a luncheon at Hummus Brothers Tapas Bar.
"I am so humbled by this award and need to share it with all the other women in the community that are doing the same thing I am doing," she said.
Hein married young and briefly split from her husband in 1999 when her daughter was born. They reunited in 2003 and Hein said the relationship became unbearable shortly after the family moved to B.C. in 2006.
That's when she went for help.
"I didn't know a soul in British Columbia and I just picked Prince George, got on a bus with my daughter and found Amber House [affiliated with the Elizabeth Fry Society]," Hein described.
With a strength she said didn't know she had, Hein picked herself up and applied to the nursing course at the college.
Four years later she has graduated from UNBC's nursing degree with great grades and a hopeful future.
"I would like to thank God, my daughter -- because she is the reason I changed my life -- and the men and women in the community that help the women and children that are victims of violence," she said.
The award dates back to April 29, 1996 when the life of Hazel White, 48, was ended by a Roland Kruska who entered his common-law wife Bonnie Mooney's home at Cluculz Lake bearing a sawed-off shotgun.
Mooney tried to draw Kruska away by crawling through a window. Instead he killed Mooney's best friend Hazel and wounded Mooney's daughter, Michelle, 12. He then tried to burn the house down before killing himself.
The community appreciation luncheon also recognized The Warriors Against Family Violence who are volunteers from the John Howard Society, as well as Sandra Morton, Susanne Wolf and Norm Canuel, Jessica Cave and Satinder Klair, who have also gone above and beyond to support women and children in need in the Prince George community.
In 1995 the Lieutenant Governor of B.C. declared the fourth week of April Prevention of Violence Against Women Week and each year the City of Prince George has issued a proclamation declaring the city's commitment to stopping the violence against women.
FILM SUPPORTS FIGHT AGAINST VIOLENCE
The film Tough Guise is screening at the College of New Caledonia Thursday at 7 p.m. with a panel discussion to follow in Room 1-306. At 6 p.m. there will be We Can signing where men, including Mayor Dan Rogers, sign a public pledge to help eliminate violence against women and children.
The highlight of the week is the Flower Ceremony on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Paddlewheel Park. This annual event provides a healing opportunity for people to gather beside the Fraser River and place flowers on the current to honour women and children who have experienced violence in their lives.
