By Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press Pauline Pollard didn\u2019t hesitate when asked what advice she would give her teenage self, a pregnant young mother of one in an abusive relationship. \u201cLeave sooner,\u201d she said, citing everything she\u2019s learned over the last 25 years, including at Red River College Polytechnic\u2019s shelter support worker program. The 43-year-old said she has \u201ca lot of compassion\u201d for women of all ages who find themselves stuck in unsafe situations. It\u2019s 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. \u201cI know my heart is in support work now. Support work doesn\u2019t feel like work. (Listening to others) is not working…. <\/p>\n
By Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press Pauline Pollard didn\u2019t hesitate when asked what advice she would give her teenage self, a pregnant young mother of one in an abusive relationship. \u201cLeave sooner,\u201d she said, citing everything she\u2019s learned over the last 25 years, including at Red River College Polytechnic\u2019s shelter support worker program. The 43-year-old said she has \u201ca lot of compassion\u201d for women of all ages who find themselves stuck in unsafe situations. It\u2019s 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. \u201cI know my heart is in support work now. Support work doesn\u2019t feel like work. (Listening to others) is not working.... <\/p>\n