Angel Street project raises awareness of domestic violence

“Broken down on Angel Street,” sings Nunavut rock goddess Lucie Idlout in her song Lovely Irene. “He pushed you down, and made you unseen.”

Those powerful words about domestic violence have resonated with a lot of people since the song came out in 2007. One of them was Iqaluit’s mayor, Elisapee Sheutiapik. In an effort to shine light onto the darkness of domestic violence, she and other councillors in Iqaluit renamed a street leading to the city’s Qimavvik Women’s Shelter “Angel Street.”

They then encouraged other cities across Canada to follow suit. And many did. Fredericton, New Brunswick was first. Then came Kamloops, B.C. and Regina, Saskatchewan. And now, another Northern city with a domestic-violence problem is joining the project: Yellowknife.

“The city of Yellowknife is moving towards creating their own version of Angel Street,” says councillor Amanda Mallon. “It’s about drawing attention to the issue of domestic violence, and drawing attention to the fact that there are supports out there. We want it to be an issue that can effect change.”