Kelowna is # 1........... not necessary good thing.

[GordonH]

http://www.castanet.net/news/Central-Ok ... y-violence

This is not a good list to be number 1 on, shameful.

[NAB]

...in BC apparently, #3 nationally. Certainly not something to be proud of as the article suggests, but the greater issue is why and what do people see as the cause(s)?

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidie ... 2a-eng.htm

Nab

[GordonH]

Oh there is an update: http://www.castanet.net/news/Central-Ok ... ce-numbers

[Glacier]

My initial though upon reading the original headline is that Kelowna is also the whitest city in Canada. Some ethnic groups are more likely to keep mum about domestic violence. Either that or whities are more violent than the typical visible minority, which wouldn't really surprise me if it were true.

[WhatThe]

I'd like to think it's more reporting rather than more actual assaults. That would makes sense IMO, when help is available, accessible, dignified and open, people will feel comfortable to use it.

[Phoenix Within]

Pitiful, when you think about how many resources and shelters that have shut down in the area recently.

[dogbreath]

Its funny how statistics are not accurate for people when they dont fall in line with or threaten the perception of their own little perfect world. Instead of offering up ideas on how to improve things they try to dispute, argue or justify statistics.

[kgcayenne]

The first thing that came to my mind is that the Okanagan is a very stressful place to live:

There is a lack of industry = lower wages
Housing costs more
Food costs more
Family-geared entertainment venues have been replaced by 55+ and/or commercial developments
Tourists come here and a lot of them behave badly (possibly why the drug trade is thriving in Kelowna)
Tourists don't care how they treat service workers here
Seasonal residents with their oodles of cash don't care about making anything better
People can't seem to drive here

Anyone else think stress is part of it?

Stress makes everyone's fuse a whole lot shorter.

Another thought: could tourists behaving badly skew statistics? Did the study factor in whether the reported incidents were from residents or visitors?

[zzontar]

Statistics shouldn't be taken at face value.

That's the opinion of officials with the RCMP

They should keep this in mind next time they post their own stats, which of course they'd like us to believe.

[JanetJones]

Certainly statistics can be misconstrued, but why the shelter workers would go out of their way to say they're not dealing with an overwhelming number of domestic abuse cases is beyond me. Clearly there was enough of a problem at one point to hire a police officer dedicated to working on the issue, while the Elisabeth fry society workers have said they "are still run off their feet.
The statistics should not be used to hand out back pats about how women who were beaten are comfortable to make reports about it.

[Glacier]

The first thing that came to my mind is that the Okanagan is a very stressful place to live:

In addition to your list more and more people are leaving their families for months at a time to work up north. I know three families who have recently joined to plethora of others in sending their men up north to work. This is very stressful on the family unit.

One neighbour was almost in tears the other day as she expressed angst and frustration over being home with three kids while her husband was up north. To add to the stress is the fact that they bought their lot for twice what they are are selling for today.

[cutter7]

My initial though upon reading the original headline is that Kelowna is also the whitest city in Canada. Some ethnic groups are more likely to keep mum about domestic violence. Either that or whities are more violent than the typical visible minority, which wouldn't really surprise me if it were true.

you might be on to something.. people here seem to have 911 on speed dial. whatever the reason people who hit their women need their heads examined.

[NAB]

"their" women ????

Nab

[Captain Awesome]

There women?

[NAB]

My initial though upon reading the original headline is that Kelowna is also the whitest city in Canada. Some ethnic groups are more likely to keep mum about domestic violence. Either that or whities are more violent than the typical visible minority, which wouldn't really surprise me if it were true.

Dunno where the stat that Kelowna is the whitest city in Canada originates, however ...an interesting read here...


http://elliotlakenews.wordpress.com/200 ... in-canada/