By Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press Pauline Pollard didn’t hesitate when asked what advice she would give her teenage self, a pregnant young mother of one in an abusive relationship. “Leave sooner,” she said, citing everything she’s learned over the last 25 years, including at Red River College Polytechnic’s shelter support worker program. The 43-year-old said she has “a lot of compassion” for women of all ages who find themselves stuck in unsafe situations. It’s far easier in retrospect to see the warning signs, noting that in her case, an ex-boyfriend started confiscating her clothes and makeup before his controlling behaviour escalated to physical violence. “I know my heart is in support work now. Support work doesn’t feel like work. (Listening to others) is not working….
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