For women
Bill C-223 (Keeping Children Safe Act)
What it does Bill C-223 proposes changes to Canada’s Divorce Act, so family court decisions better protect children and survivors of family violence. Some of the changes this Bill proposes include: Our view Luke’s Place supports the goals of Bill C-223: that family court decisions prioritize children’s and survivors’ safety. In our experience, family violence…
Read moreHolding Space: Mental Health, Frontline Work, and Supporting Survivors During Family Court
Each year, Mental Health Awareness (May 4-10) invites us to pause and reflect on how we care for ourselves and one another. For those working on the frontlines of intimate partner violence (IPV), this week carries a deeper weight. At Luke’s Place we see every day how the family law system intersects with trauma. Survivors…
Read moreSexual Violence Prevention Month
May is recognized as Sexual Violence Prevention Month in Ontario and across Canada. This is an important time to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual violence and to strengthen efforts to support survivors and prevent harm. Sexual violence is deeply gendered. Women, girls, and gender-diverse people are far more likely to experience sexual violence…
Read moreSurvivors of Intimate Partner Violence and the Ontario Family Law System
Understanding how survivors experience the family law system is essential to improving access to safety and justice. Over the past three years, Luke’s Place has partnered with Dr. Mavis Morton from the University of Guelph to conduct a province-wide research project exploring the family law experiences of women and gender-diverse survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) with…
Read moreInternational Transgender Day of Visibility
Women face many barriers, challenges, and forms of violence in relationships with abusive partners, during and after leaving, and while navigating family court. Trans women experience higher rates of violence than cisgender women, with Black and Indigenous transgender women facing some of the highest levels of harm. The following statistics come from national survey research…
Read moreIt’s Time to Turn the Tide Together: 3rd Anniversary of Mass Casualty Commission Report
On March 30, 2023, the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission released its landmark final report, Turning the Tide Together, offering a wide-ranging and deeply grounded blueprint for how Canada could better prevent and respond to violence in all its forms, especially gender-based, intimate partner, and family violence. The Commission’s report laid out what so many…
Read moreInternational Women’s Day – Love Shouldn’t Hurt – End IPV Today!
International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, is a global day recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while advocating for gender equality. International Women’s Day is also a time to uplift organizations working on the front lines to advance women’s rights and safety. True equality cannot be achieved while women continue to experience violence…
Read moreNational Social Work Month
March marks National Social Work Month, a time to recognize the dedication, compassion, and expertise of social workers everywhere. At Luke’s Place, we are incredibly fortunate to work alongside talented and committed social workers who support women and children navigating the family court system after experiencing intimate partner violence. Their work is complex, emotionally demanding, and deeply impactful.…
Read moreCriminalization of coercive control may be a reality in Canada
In December 2025, the federal government introduced Bill C-16: Protecting Victims Act, which proposes significant changes to various laws, including the Criminal Code. The stated purpose of this Bill is “to better protect survivors of gender-based violence, sexual violence and intimate partner violence and keep kids safe from predators.” A key component of Bill C-16 is the criminalization of coercive control. What is coercive control? …
Read moreLove Shouldn’t Hurt: Navigating Valentine’s Day and IPV
Valentine’s Day is said to be a day of love, but for those impacted by intimate partner violence (IPV), Valentine’s Day can be difficult and even dangerous. Heightened expectations, financial pressure, increased contact with abusive partners, or attempts to control under the guise of “romance” can all increase risk. For survivors, Valentine’s Day can bring fear, confusion, or painful reminders. At Luke’s Place, we want to be…
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