County of Renfrew declares intimate partner violence an epidemic

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The County of Renfrew has passed a resolution declaring intimate partner violence and violence against women an epidemic. This following the jury recommendations resulting from the 2022 inquest into the murders of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam in 2015. The resolution highlights some 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.

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The inquest was held in Pembroke in June 2022, nearly seven years after the three women were murdered in Renfrew County on Sep.

22, 2015. The jury for the inquest was comprised of five Renfrew County residents — three men and two women — who provided 86 recommendations in total following the three-week inquest.

People take part in a vigil at the Women’s Monument in Petawawa, Ont., following the jury’s release of recommendations in the inquest in Pembroke, Ont., Tuesday, June 28, 2022.

Experts say a coroner’s inquest has highlighted the need for a co-ordinated approach to intimate partner violence, including ways to address perpetrators as well as oversight and accountability measures to ensure that real change is being made. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press

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

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The warden added that change occurs when we all 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 is 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.

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At the March 29, County of Renfrew council meeting, prior to the resolution being passed, JoAnne Brooks, coordinator End Violence Against Women – Renfrew County (EVA) and Lisa Oegema, Anti-Human Trafficking Program manager, Victim Services of Renfrew County, appeared as a delegation to highlight the work of the two groups to eliminate violence against women in Renfrew County and to ask council to act and endorse recommendation #1. 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.

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Following their presentation about intimate partner violence to Renfrew County Council on March 29, 2023, Laura LePine (left), the County’s Director of Community Services, spoke with JoAnne Brooks, coordinator End Violence Against Women – Renfrew County (EVA); Lisa Oegema, Anti-Human Trafficking Program Manager, Victim Services of Renfrew County and Faye Cassista, also of Victim Services. County of Renfrew photo Photo by County of Renfrew /jpg, PM

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 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.”

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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 of 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 achieve financial stability as money is often a barrier to victims leaving abusive situations.

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Upon learning County 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 [email protected]

The County of Resolution

Moved by Councillor Donohue

Seconded by Councillor Brose WHEREAS the jury that adjudicated the Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam Inquest issued 86 recommendations on to the Province of Ontario on Intimate Partner Violence; and

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WHEREAS every six days in Canada a woman is killed by her intimate partner; and

WHEREAS on any given night in Canada, over 6,000 women and children sleep in shelters because it is not safe for them at home; and WHEREAS each year, over 40,000 arrests result from domestic violence, about 12% of all violent crime in Canada; and WHEREAS the majority of victims of spousal abuse are female, accounting for 83% of all victims; and

WHEREAS one in five women experience some form of abuse in their intimate relationship; and WHEREAS this past year in Ontario, 52 women or one every week, were victims of femicide; in Renfrew County, 2 women have been killed by men since December 2022; and WHEREAS the cost of violence against women costs the national justice system, social assistance budgets and municipal budgets millions of dollars per year; and

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WHEREAS municipalities are on the front lines in addressing gender-based violence in our communities and therefore are in a position to offer insights on the needs and possible directions for provincial and federal funding; and WHEREAS a pebble mosaic was unveiled in Barry’s Bay’s Water Tower Park to honour Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam; and WHEREAS each year, Renfrew County hosts a vigil in Petawawa at the Women’s Monument to honour women who have been lost through femicide;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council for the County of Renfrew recognizes the issues of violence against women in rural communities as serious to the health and wellness of local families; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Council for the County of Renfrew recognizes the rural Renfrew County Inquest as important to all rural communities; and

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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Council for the County of Renfrew is committed to engaging with community partners to educate and support our residents about the seriousness and long-term danger of violence in our community; and

Based on the statistics of 4,815 crisis calls and service provision to 527 women and children in our local community, the Council for the County of Renfrew declares IPV (intimate partner violence)/VAW (violence against women) an epidemic as per recommendation #1 of the Renfrew County jury recommendations; and AND FURTHER THAT this resolution be circulated to all municipalities in Ontario and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. CARRIED.

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