Posts by Luke's Place
New Case Comment: Choice of School – Catchment Area
This case comment was prepared by Emily Ernst (law student volunteer) and Rachel Parry (Staff Lawyer). This case involved a dispute between parents over which school their child, aged 4, should attend, with both parents wanting the child to attend the public school in their local catchment area. The parents had already agreed to joint…
Read moreCriminalization of coercive control: shifting the focus to system change before implementation
Last week, Luke’s Place submitted a Brief to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on Bill C-332, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (coercive control of intimate partner). This Brief reflects our decades of experience supporting survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and navigating the intersections of the family law and…
Read moreThere’s still time to make a big difference in the lives of women and children this year!
Thanks to YOU… Ontario women were able to access the support they needed for their family law issues and receive important information about ongoing changes to court operations over the last year. This means that more women had a better understanding of their legal rights, the family court process, and their legal issues. Women were more empowered to speak in…
Read morePamela Cross confronts the epidemic of intimate partner violence
Pamela Cross recently launched her book And Sometimes They Kill You, on November 26th. In the two weeks since then, Pam has completed 14 events in 14 communities across the province. The Walrus recently published an article about Pam and her book And Sometimes They Kill You. What makes this particularly notable is that the…
Read moreEmotional safety: Boundaries for the holidays
The holiday season is a busy time of year. You may find yourself in more situations that put you in contact with your former partner. It can be helpful to plan for these situations in advance by thinking about setting boundaries. Below are strategies for creating an emotional safety plan by setting healthy boundaries with…
Read moreHuman Rights Day: A Time to Reflect and Act Against Intimate Partner Violence
Every year on December 10th, people around the world celebrate and acknowledge Human Rights Day, marking the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The UDHR affirms universal rights to all people, including the right to live free from violence and discrimination—fundamental to the fight…
Read moreAn open letter from 150 organizations urging for the passing of Bill 173
Led by the YWCA Toronto, Luke’s Place has joined 148 other organizations urging the Ontario government to Pass 173, The Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2024: Dear Premier Ford and Members of the Ontario Legislature, Today marks the 35th anniversary of the Ecole Polytechnique Massacre which saw a man deliberately kill 14 women. Not much…
Read moreRecognizing the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
Today, December 6th marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Thirty-five years ago today, a violent femicide took place at Polytechnique Montréal. On December 6, we remember: Since this femicide occurred 35 years ago, femicides have been on the rise. There was a 26% increase in killings of women and…
Read moreLet’s stand against violence together this #GivingTuesday
This #GivingTuesday, we are asking you to stand with us. We are calling on our community to come together and take action against intimate partner violence because together, we can make a difference. Your support matters now more than ever. Why #GivingTuesday #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving, where people around the world take…
Read moreWays a survivor can engage in the GBV movement
As we continue to recognize Woman Abuse Prevention Month and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), we’ve explored ways that service providers, advocates, lawyers, judges and the broader community can take action to end all forms of gender-based violence. We recognize that many people working in these roles are also survivors, and…
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