Lorraine Hearn, Regional Coordinator      
Central West Committee Against Violence

Lorraine’s professional background is in the field of Nursing – in what today would be called Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and in Addiction Studies. She graduated as a Registered Nursing Assistant (RNA) in 1977. She was employed with the ‘Central Newfoundland Regional Health Care Centre’ (CNRHC) for the next seventeen years.  In 1998, she graduated from McMaster University in Ontario with two Diplomas -- one in Addictions Studies and the other in Addictions Care Worker. In 1998-9, she earned, Associate Counsellor Status in Addictions through the Canadian Certification Board for Alcohol and Drug Counsellors.

Lorraine’s passion has always been in the ‘Helping’ professions. Consequently, she followed this passion into the volunteer sector in 1992. This is when she began volunteering with the newly formed ‘Committee Against Violence Inc.' Being unemployed at the time provided Lorraine with the opportunity to take a lead role (via various executive positions on this committee) in the advancement of violence prevention concerns in Grand Falls-Windsor. After four years of volunteer work, the Central West Committee Against Violence Inc. hired Lorraine as a Coordinator in 1996. She presently holds the position of Regional Coordinator for the central west region of the province. This is one of ten committees working under the Government’s Violence Prevention Initiative.

As a volunteer and as Coordinator of the central west region, Lorraine has lead the charge to diminish the impact of domestic violence in Central Newfoundland, for over seventeen years. Her work and the work of her committee serve as a provincial model of violence prevention initiatives throughout the province. Other provincial initiatives follow this lead.  Lorraine has a wealth of knowledge and experience that she brings to bear in her numerous public, private and professional presentations. She is in constant demand for her public awareness campaigns and training programs for numerous professionals.   Resources developed under Lorraine’s guidance and leadership are in use throughout the province -- in schools, colleges, medical offices, as well in the offices of private and provincial service providers. Lorraine’s passion shows in every sentiment and word she utters with respect to violence prevention.