Safety planning before, during and after separation
This webinar examines key safety issues for women leaving an abusive relationship from the time the woman begins to consider separation, throughout the separation and family law processes and beyond. We will look at both physical and emotional safety issues, legal steps women can take, tech safety and keeping children safe, offering tips and strategies…
Read moreDealing with school holiday issues? Pandemic-related back to school cases may help
In the early fall, there was a flurry of cases relating to whether children should go back to in-school learning or continue with online learning, some of which you can find summarized in our Case Law section. The upcoming winter school break, coupled with COVID-19 cases rising at an alarming rate in many Ontario communities,…
Read moreOntario’s family law takes a step forward in protecting the vulnerable: Toronto Star op-ed
Luke’s Place Legal Director, Pamela Cross, published an opinion piece in The Toronto Star about the passing of Bill 207: An Act to amend the Children’s Law Reform Act, the Courts of Justice Act, the Family Law Act and other Acts respecting various family law matters. Last week’s passage of Bill 207, which significantly changes…
Read moreInternational Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women: How you can help
Today the world is coming together in recognition of International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Today we are asking you to join us in showing your support by sharing our posts on your social media and by making a meaningful donation. Text COURAGE to give. Donations that come through text message will…
Read moreNew custody and access legislation increases safety for women and children fleeing abuse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Bill 207, the Moving Ontario Family Law Forward Act, received Royal Assent on November 20th. Likely to come into effect in conjunction with the revised Divorce Act on March 31, 2021, these changes to how courts will make parenting arrangement decisions offer new hope for women with children who are fleeing abuse.…
Read moreTips for working with women during the pandemic
1) Everyone is stressed Remember everyone is more stressed than usual: your client, her children, her extended family, even her lawyer (if she has one). Don’t forget to include yourself on the list of people who are more stressed than usual. You may be working from home, without ready access to your colleagues or files.…
Read moreComments on the Law Society of Ontario’s Family Legal Services Provider Licence Consultation Paper
Prepared by Luke’s Place Support and Resource Centre for the Feminist Law and Policy Reform Coalition, endorsed by over 30 Ontario organizations, this is a response to the FLSP Call for Comment. We support the three guiding principles informing the development of the Law Society of Ontario‘s consultation paper: access to justice, public protection and…
Read moreIt doesn’t end when she leaves: Post-separation abuse
Why doesn’t she leave? Many people, including judges and lawyers, believe that when a woman leaves an abusive partner, he will stop abusing her. Sadly, this is rarely the case. Women with abusive partners realize this. Knowing the abuser will continue the violence often prevents them from leaving. Staying with him means a woman knows…
Read moreTVO article: ‘Vagueness is a gift to an abuser’: What the Tories got right — and wrong — on Bill 207
Journalist Jane Gerster interviewed Luke’s Place and other women’s advocates/services about Bill 207 and its impact on women, as well as the importance of programs like the Family Court Support Worker Program in supporting women through the complex family law system. Advocates such as Pamela Cross, legal director at Luke’s Place, an Oshawa-based family-law support…
Read moreCTV’s W5 article: ‘Why does he keep abusing?’ Changing the question about intimate partner violence
As part of CTV’s W5 episode Unrestrained, host Avery Haines interviewed Luke’s Place Legal Director, Pamela Cross. Unrestrained aired at 7:00pm EST on November 14, 2020. Pamela spoke about the complex family law system and described how restraining orders don’t do enough to protect women in abusive relationships. Lawyer and advocate Pamela Cross says,“a woman…
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