About Us

Testimonial

 At 18, Melanie defined the word vulnerable. She had no high school education, no career path, no self-esteem and a husband who was becoming more and more violent with each passing argument.

"He was my first boyfriend, so I had no one to compare him to. The violence happened so gradually that I almost didn't notice it was happening. It started with verbal abuse, arguments, lots of swearing. Eventually he started pushing me.

I felt trapped. He had me brainwashed into thinking he was the only man who could love me. He put me down. He criticized things about my body that made me feel ugly. He told me no one could ever love me more than him. I was only 18. I started to believe it – I really thought maybe no one else really would ever love me.

He was verbally, physically, sexually abusive. He'd punch me on the arm, or slap me with an open hand, but I thought it was normal. It got worse, to the point where he seriously assaulted me. He did all kinds of horrible stuff. He was charged with assault, choking with intent...five charges altogether.

I was very afraid when he got violent. If I'd stayed with him, I might not be alive today."
Melanie was introduced to La Salle through a local pregnancy counseling service.
" It felt like I was finally home. I thought 'Wow, I'm safe'.

[The Sisters] really helped me a lot. [They] helped me realize that I didn't need to put up with garbage in my life. She wanted to talk and hear my problems and successes. She was a counselor, but I could tell she really loved me. She was wonderful. She never judged me, so I could tell her anything.

The other women at La Salle were wonderful. We used to gather in groups and talk about mothering, work, prior experiences with men."

Melanie is now happily married to a small business operator, himself the father of two.
They live in a comfortable ranch-style home in a spacious rural subdivision near Edmonton.

She says her new husband has been good for her son. And very good for her.
She also says it wouldn't have been possible without La Salle.