Two vehicles were required for Thursday's special delivery. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community support

Royal Purple makes big delivery to Prince Albert Safe Shelter for Women

Oct 16, 2025 | 4:45 PM

While discussing the high domestic violence rates in Saskatchewan, the president of Shellbrook Royal Purple became visibly emotional and stressed a need to end it.

Elaine Perkins, who is also a member of Prince Albert Royal Purple, was among a handful of women who dropped off 70 small purple bags at the Prince Albert Safe Shelter for Women.

The bags contain a variety of hygiene-related items including shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other things that the women may not have when they leave their place of violence. While some items are purchased by club members through donated money, others have been donated outright by local businesses.

“We will be delivering about 5,000 bags across Canada today,” Perkins explained.

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The third Thursday of October is known as Purple Thursday and is a day to raise awareness for interpersonal violence and, in many cases, the brain injuries that occur as a result.

According to national statistics, one-in-three women and one-in-five men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime and out of those 80 per cent will suffer a concussion.

Every six days in Canada, a woman is murdered by an intimate partner.

BrendaLee Pellerin, a support services worker at the shelter, said the donation from Royal Purple means a lot to the women and children who reside there.

“It shows that we care, that other people in the community care what they’re going through, ” she said, adding the bags get passed around at Christmas and also to the homeless walk-ins.

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Pellerin explained that when an assault occurs, the woman who comes to the shelter for help often comes in with just the clothes on her back and in some cases with no identification.

“They call them hygiene bags and we call them blessing bags. We’ve said it before, just because it’s such a blessing to be able to pass the spirit of generosity onto our ladies and children,” she said.

Reflecting back on the pandemic, Pellerin said incidents of interpersonal violence were higher due to the fact that people were stuck at home with their abusers. While rates have dropped a bit since then, Pellerin said there is a great need for shelters.

“It’s more difficult when you have children with you to be able to find a safe place. You don’t want your children on the street, they’re at risk so anything a shelter can do to take in a lady and her children is valuable to herself and her family.”:

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

This year, the Canadian Royal Purple and its partners introduced Purple Thursday x 7, an entire week of activities across Canada.

“Our Purple Care Bag campaign and education have been so successful, one day was no longer enough,” says Sandi Lougheed, chair of the Canadian Royal Purple’s Charitable Initiatives Committee. ‘Now, the seven days include a media day, two education days, two days of local activity and a Sunday of High Teas across Canada raising funds and awareness to support prevention.”

The total number of “family beds” serving women and children escaping domestic violence has steadily increased since 2020. Nearly 20,000 people spend their nights in shelters.

“We are pleased to see the effects of awareness empowering women to break the cycle of violence and seek a new life. It’s why we emphasize awareness and prevention. These brain injuries are 100 percent preventable if we stop the violence.”

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell