Going the Distance

Download: Going the Distance (PDF)

Between 20 and 30% of Canada’s population lives in rural areas, yet public policy and community services all too often focus on the needs of those living in urban areas.

Location affects every aspect of people’s lives: education, housing, employment, health care, and more.

Women subjected to intimate partner violence are affected significantly by where they live. While the laws that are intended to respond to this abuse are the same regardless of where people live, the way the violence plays out and the effectiveness of policy and service responses are profoundly shaped by where people live.

This resource is divided into two sections:

1) Understanding the Rural and Remote Experience

Designed for workers and decision-makers who are less familiar with the challenges of rural and remote living, this section may also affirm the experiences of workers and women living in small communities.

2) Strategies for Supporting Rural and Remote Women

The second section helps us think of ways to support violence survivors in these areas.