Posts Tagged ‘intimate partner violence’
Report on the Critical Gap in Legal Representation for Survivors in Family Court
Last summer, Luke’s Place heard from frontline workers across Ontario about their experiences supporting survivors in family court and helping them find a lawyer. A total of 104 frontline workers responded to our online survey, and 24 workers participated in our focus groups. What we heard from nearly all these workers was how challenging it…
Read moreSupreme Court of Canada Recognizes Tort of Intimate Partner Violence
Luke’s Place welcomes landmark ruling paving the way for improved access to justice for survivors of intimate partner violence Luke’s Place today welcomed the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision in Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, which recognizes a new tort of intimate partner violence in Canadian law. This ruling, which centers on the corrosive impact of…
Read moreCase Summary: The use of Amicus Curiae in Family Law
Written by Pamela Cross, LLB, LLD This case summary is a bit different from most that we post here, because it is about an important procedural matter rather than about the legal issues between the two parties to the case. As you all know from your work, the number of people engaged in family court proceedings who do…
Read moreVictim and Survivors of Crime Week: Supporting Survivors Beyond the Crisis
Each May, Canada marks Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, a time to recognize the women subjected to intimate partner violence and the ongoing impacts of crime. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the systems those women must navigate, and the gaps that continue to put their safety at risk. For many women who have…
Read moreJoin our team! Volunteer Director, Board of Directors
About Luke’s Place: Luke’s Place Support & Resource Centre for Women & Children is an award-winning non-profit centre of excellence in family law support for women who have been subjected to intimate partner abuse. We are devoted to improving the safety and experience of women and their children as they proceed through the complex family…
Read moreBill 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 moreNew Worker Training: Strengthening Family Court Support Workers Across Ontario
Since 2011, Luke’s Place has led training for Ontario’s FCSWs, funded originally by the Ministry of the Attorney General and now by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. FCSWs play a critical role in supporting survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) as they navigate the family court system. In March, we hosted a…
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 moreCase Summary: Breakdown of Shared Parenting Plans
Written by Pamela Cross, LLB, LLD This was a long and bitterly fought case, that played out over five years of a young child’s life. In 2019, Justice Eberhard made a consent order that the parents would share the care of their child on a week-about schedule and make decisions relating to the child jointly. This…
Read more