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JoAnne Brooks, coordinator End Violence Against Women - Renfrew County (EVA), responds to a question from Renfrew County Council on March 29, 2023 while Lisa Oegema, Anti-Human Trafficking Program Manager, Victim Services of Renfrew County, looks on. They appeared as a delegation to discuss the jury recommendations from the inquest into the murders of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam.
RELEASE DATE:
March 31, 2023
The County of Renfrew has passed a resolution declaring intimate partner violence and violence against women an epidemic following the jury recommendations resulting from the inquest into the murders of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam.
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.
The inquest was held in Pembroke in June 2022, nearly seven years after the three women were murdered in Renfrew County on September 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.
Through this resolution, County 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 (IPV) and the murder of women in our community and society as a whole still need to be discussed. 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,” said Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon.
“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,” the Warden added.
At the March 29, 2023 County 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.
They encouraged members of County Council to read all 86 recommendations, and to use their voices as leaders to bring awareness to the prevalence of intimate partner violence and lead the change with rural pride. The presentation also highlighted other recommendations that EVA and Victim Services would like to see the County of Renfrew address in the future.
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, emergency assistance funding is provided as long as possible and gift cards for groceries and gas are also provided; in addition to first and last months rent in some cases to assist these clients achieve financial stability as money is often a barrier to victims leaving abusive situations.
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,” Ms. Brooks said.
Here is the full resolution passed by County Council:
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
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
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
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.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Kelley Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk 613-735-7288
Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288
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, Program Manager Victim Services of Renfrew County.
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