Renfrew County declares intimate partner violence an epidemic

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Renfrew County has passed a resolution declaring intimate partner violence and violence against women an epidemic following the jury recommendations from last year’s inquest into the murders of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam in 2015.

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Renfrew County declares intimate partner violence an epidemic Back to video

The resolution highlights troubling statistics in relation to intimate partner violence — every six days in Canada a woman is killed by her intimate partner; one in five women experience some form of abuse in their intimate relationship; and this past year in Ontario, 52 women, or one every week, were victims of femicide. In Renfrew County, two women have been killed by men since December 2022.

The three-week inquest was held in Pembroke in June 2022, nearly seven years after the three women were murdered in Renfrew County on Sept. 22, 2015. The jury was comprised of five Renfrew County residents — three men and two women — who provided 86 recommendations in total.

In a press release, Renfrew County said through this resolution, council recognizes the inquest as important to all rural communities and commits to engaging with community partners to educate and support residents about the seriousness and long-term dangers of violence in the community.

“It’s unfortunate intimate partner violence and the murder of women in our community and society as a whole still need to be discussed,” said Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon. “Municipal governments can no longer remain silent on the sidelines. County Council and our community want change. We will advocate for change, we will support the victims, the survivors and the family members who are affected by violence.”

The warden added that change occurs when people agree intimate partner violence is wrong and denounce it.

“Our motion passed by county council announces we want our community to change and we endorse and pursue change,” Emon said.

As of February 2023, the provincial government was working to address roughly half of the jury’s 86 recommendations. According to The Canadian Press, the government was calling this ‘part one’ of its response to intimate partner violence. The Canadian Press also reported that a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Solicitor General said the government will complete its review of all the recommendations before the summer.

Declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic is one of the recommendations the Ontario government has yet to act on.

At the March 29 Renfrew County meeting, JoAnne Brooks, coordinator of End Violence Against Women – Renfrew County (EVA), and Lisa Oegema, Anti-Human Trafficking Program manager with Victim Services of Renfrew County, appeared to highlight the work of the two groups to eliminate violence against women. They were also joined by Faye Cassista of Victim Services.

“This is an ‘her-storical’ day in Renfrew County and we hope it fosters engagement with government at all levels within Renfrew County, other municipalities and the province of Ontario. EVA hopes that this motion will positively impact everyone who is affected by gender-based violence,” Brooks said.

Kirsten Mercer, a lawyer at Goldblatt Partners LLP, who represented EVA at the inquest, stated all levels of government need to share this sense of urgency and the need for real action to prevent gender-based violence.

“Yet again, we are seeing leadership on this important issue on the ground at the local level, responding to the reality that service providers, activists and local representatives know all too well,” Mercer said.

Oegema said on behalf of those who have experienced violence or are currently living with intimate violence, and the frontline agencies who provide support to those impacted by intimate violence, she was proud of elected leaders in Renfrew County.

“(They) have stepped up and through this declaration have sent a very strong message to those living in violence that we are all committed to working together to ensure the right to live free from harm.”

Oegema acknowledged this is the first step in a long journey but it sets the tone for positive change.

“Though this proclamation, Renfrew County acknowledges that violence in the home is not a private matter, that it affects the wellbeing of our communities, and that community has responsibilities to those experiencing violence,” Oegema said.

Laura Lepine, the County’s director of community services, highlighted some of the initiatives already being undertaken by staff within her department, including training on how to recognize the signs displayed by those living with intimate partner violence in order to assist clients and connect them with other agencies in the community.

She also noted female victims of violence receive priority placement on community housing lists and that emergency assistance funding is provided for as long as possible. Gift cards for groceries and gas are also provided. In some cases, first and last month’s rent is provided to assist clients to achieve financial stability as money is often a barrier to victims leaving abusive situations.

Upon learning council had passed the resolution, EVA applauded the leadership as a step towards implementing the inquest recommendations.

“I am proud to live in a County that publicly supports naming intimate partner violence as an epidemic — this widens the doorways for further exploration of working relationships to make a difference for safety of women and girls in Renfrew County,” Brooks said.

With files from The Canadian Press.

adixon@postmedia.com