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February 25, 2024 I am a survivor of domestic violence. It took me a long time to understand the full dynamic of mental, emotional and psychological abuse I endured before the physical abuse. When I was assaulted and took a stand for myself and my unborn child, I lost everything. The person I thought I knew, a home I thought I would grow in with my family, and a huge part of myself. I didn't understand...no one did. I started the YEG Built For Life Foundation to provide women and children experiencing domestic violence with resources, support recommendations and hope for you to know YOU are built for a better life. I have been incredibly blessed to connect with many organizations that have offered me supports and resources as well as making genuine connections and developing relationships with people who understand and have had similar experiences. Support from the right people goes a long way! We are here to help and looking forward to connecting with you. Through Advocating and Empowering other women who have experienced domestic violence, we can find our voice and make it louder together <3 2022 #RaisingAwarenessOfCovertDomesticAbusePetition Link: https://www.change.org/p/petition-for-domestic-violence-deliberation-in-family-court-the-broken-legal-system  Bill S-249: To Develop a National Strategy to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence, Proposed Actions to be Included From a Survivor's Perspective In April 2023, I had the opportunity to attend (virtually) a meeting with Members of the Senate to share my experience as a survivor of domestic violence and make recommendations for changes to current policies and procedures which included training for judges, lawyers and protective agencies regarding domestic violence, coercive control, parental alienation allegations and post-separation abuse. Check out the link below for more information on Bill S-249: https://cdn.fbsbx.com/v/t59.2708-21/433920049_781739150200872_1144387580449423508_n.pdf/Bill-S-249-National-Strategy-for-the-Prevention-of-Intimate-Partner-Violence-IPV.pdf?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=2b0e22&_nc_ohc=YzkXfJnZUxoQ7kNvgHhqzV5&_nc_ht=cdn.fbsbx.com&oh=03_Q7cD1QGVyginIiUB9NX1cM97bM4dYbNMXJBPLtCAvrXNI4DqWw&oe=66472C30&dl=1
January/February 2024 STRONG FITNESS MAGAZINE 2024 MISS QUEEN ALBERTA PAGEANT 2024 SOROPTIMIST CLUB OF EDMONTON AWARD I received an award from Soroptimist International Club of Edmonton as a recipient of their Live Your Dream Award. Over half of the Live Your Dream Awards recipients are survivors of domestic violence, trafficking or sexual assault. Nearly all of the women and families served have overcome enormous obstacles. I’m incredibly thankful to have been selected as one of the top 8 out of 35 applicants. My hope is to inspire victims and survivors of domestic violence that there is hope after leaving an abusive relationship. Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation 5K Run 2024 In memory of Jessica Martel, a women who lost her life to her abuser. RIP Your Legacy lives on through survivors fighting to make a change in the system
 Huge shoutout to Alexandra Park Dental in Leduc for supporting YEG BUILT FOR LIFE FOUNDATION with 100 toothbrushes, toothpaste and teddies for the kids! I am incredibly thankful for the generosity of business such Alexandra Park Dental with Dr. Lee and his incredible team! Dr. Lee also sponsored a $1,500 scholarship for our 1st Annual Scholarship Award Ceremony in September 2025! Congratulations to the recipient, Traci and best of luck with your ongoing studies to become a Nurse!  In recognition of the development of YEG BUILT FOR LIFE FOUNDATION and ongoing advocacy efforts, I have been recognized and nominated for the 33rd Annual RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Presented by Women of Influence! I cannot express my gratitude for this opportunity and will continue to advocate and raise my voice to seek justice, as I encourage others to find their voice and speak their truth. #BreakTheSilenceAgainstDomesticViolence #JusticeForWomen #JusticeForChildren #EndChildAbuse #ReformFamilyCourt #Advocate #ShareYourStory #SpeakYourTruth #TruthAlwaysWins Turning A Painful Experience Into A Powerful Testimony! Check out the Summer Issue 2025 of Life Changes & Divorce Magazine - an opportunity that gave me a voice to share my story with others who experience(d) domestic violence, intimate partner violence and/or abuse. Sharing my story, raising awareness about covert abuse tactics behind closed doors, giving someone hope that they aren't alone in their experience has opened many doors for training opportunities, proposed legislation changes & showing victims of abuse that they can thrive after an abusive relationship! Website: https://divorcemagazinecanada.com/store/p/life-changes-divorce-magazine-summer-2025-issue
July 25, 2025 - Meeting with the Federal Office of Women & Gender Equality Today I had the opportunity to meet with the office of the Federal Minister of Women & Gender Equality to discuss domestic violence and declaring a domestic violence an epidemic in Alberta. Some of the main points we covered included the types of abuse (financial, legal, physical, psychological, reproductive coercion, coercive control, intimidation tactics & Post separation abuse). We stated our case about women and girls being twice as likely to be victims of domestic violence and three times as likely to be victims of intimate partner violence then men. We discussed how strangulation is used as a tactic to in-still fearful compliance in victims and physical abuse. Victims of strangulation are likely to be killed by their perpetrator, increasing the probability by 750%. We discussed the “legal system” at length and how it is “Reactive” and not “Preventative” for women and children when it comes to revictimization as well as “Sanctioned Control” which refers to authority or control that is formally approved, permitted or legitimized by a governing body, organization or system (in cases where children are forced into unsafe situations with abusive fathers despite a history of domestic violence and abuse and where mothers are accused of having parental alienation behaviours for advocating for their child’s safety). Additionally, we talked about how perpetrators of abuse are not going to be less abusive to someone more vulnerable and the stages of “Deviation” according to Interactional Theories in Criminology. Primary Deviation: 1. Early in life children are exposed to violence, abuse or a criminal life, 2. They start with small crimes, 3. They become more willing to do the crimes as they gain adrenaline, 4. The youth are then labelled as (criminal, abuser, thief etc), 5. They “drift” back and forth from the life of crime to being good and continue on the cycle of drifting between these two stages but have enablers encouraging them to do bad things, 6. They make moral rhetorics; justifications for their actions Secondary Deviation: 1. They accept the label of (criminal, abuser, thief), 2. Little to do “drift” occurs, 3. They begin to do larger, more serious crimes, 4. Master status of “Criminal” develops, 5. Continuance Committment to a life of crime because there has been little to no accountability and the punishment or consequence does not match the crime committed. Criminals who are sentenced to time in jail are likely to receive day parole 6 months prior to 1/3 of their sentence and full parole by 1/3 of the sentence. Without accountability to perpetrators of domestic violence and the judicial decision makers, society is teaching youth that they can commit crime withouth little to no repercussions. Victims deserve better and we are not backing down. We will continue to advocate for much needed change and make the appropriate connections with government officials to implement much needed changes. CITY NEWS FEATUREYEG Built For Life Foundation Founder, Sarah Courchesne, was interviewed by CityNews Edmonton following a meeting last week with the office of the Federal Minister of Women & Gender Equality about declaring Domestic Violence against women & children an Epidemic across Alberta. News Link: https://youtu.be/1MWqL-ECfYw?si=nV2rTHo59vORInOC
"Your Voice Matters" Interview with Alberta Radio
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