'She's so brave': Domestic violence victims share moving tales of resiliency

• Click the video above to hear victims of domestic violence describe of the bravest thing they've ever done

Reposted from Nov. 21, 2017:

A fundraiser that hopes to shine the light on bravery coming out of domestic violenceis a showcase of resiliency, the curator says.

"Our idea was to get as many professional photographers in Calgary as we could to offer up their time and talent and then to ask as many women as we could;'what's the bravest thing you have ever done?'" Kathryn Valentine explained to The Homestretch on Tuesday.

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It's a one-night-only exhibit for the Discovery House that runs Nov. 28 at the Glenbow Museum called 'She's So Brave.'

"We had conversations with people coast to coast in Canada and into the States," Valentine said, of how the project evolved.

"I started recording some stories from Discovery House, the women who have been through the programs there and was just struck by the courage and the resiliency."

Had nowhere to go

She says the people she interviewed range from newcomers to retired professionals, ranging in age from 15 to 85.

"One young woman was raised in a very strict religious home. She fell in love with someone who wasn't from her same faith. Her family turned their back on her, then her community turned their back on her. Eventually she found herself in an abusive relationship and she really had nowhere to go," Valentine said.

Another woman, Valetine calls "Super accomplished and really, a very impressive individual."

"She was in a marriage and her husband struggled with drinking and drugs. Eventually that took over his life, altered his personality, altered their relationship. He became quite violent and aggressive. Like so many women, it took her more than one time to successfully leave. Eventually she found Discovery House."

About hope

Valentine says the reaction by some who've seen the exhibitis optimism.

"It's really about hope," she said.

"I think that people are so struck by the smiles, some of the photos have tears in them, but you know that these women have survived."

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With files from The Homestretch