The evolution of the violence against women sector with Pamela Cross

For decades, advocates, survivors, and community leaders have worked tirelessly to confront violence against women and create systems of support, prevention, and accountability. Few people have witnessed and shaped that evolution as closely as Pamela Cross. A feminist lawyer, advocate, and leading expert on violence against women and the law, Pamela Cross, joins the finale…

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Finding Hope Despite the Despair: Pamela Cross on Ending Gender-Based Violence, Hosted by CFUW Perth

On January 19th, feminist lawyer Pamela Cross will lead a virtual session titled “Finding Hope Despite the Despair: Moving Forward to End Gender-Based Violence.”  In this powerful free online talk, hosted by CFUW Perth, Pamela draws on more than 30 years of frontline experience in the violence against women movement to explore why our legal systems continue to fail so…

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Insights from Pamela Cross: Learning from the DVDRC Report

In her recent blog post Learning from Those Who Have Died, Pamela Cross, legal expert, feminist, member of Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee, and former Legal and Advocacy Director for Luke’s Place, reflects on the 2022–2023 Domestic Violence Death Review Committee (DVDRC) report, which analyzed 28 cases involving 43 deaths related to intimate partner…

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Former Luke’s Place Advocacy Director, Pamela Cross Shortlisted for 2025 Balsillie Prize

Kingston-based feminist lawyer and advocate Pamela Cross has been named a finalist for the 2025 Balsillie Prize for Public Policy with her book, And Sometimes They Kill You: Confronting the Epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence.   Now in its fifth year, the Balsillie Prize recognizes nonfiction works that push forward public policy conversations in Canada. The…

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Understanding Coercive Control: A Conversation with Pamela Cross

On a recent episode of CBC Radio’s Just Asking with Saroja Coelho, feminist lawyer and advocate Pamela Cross joined the conversation to talk about a form of abuse that’s all around us, but still largely invisible: coercive control. Pamela Cross brings decades of experience to this issue. She’s a member of Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death…

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And Sometimes They Kill You shortlisted for Donner Book Prize 

April 15, 2025  (Toronto, ON) Gregory Belton, Chair of the Donner Canadian Foundation, today announced the shortlist for the 2024 Donner Prize, the award recognizing the best public policy book by a Canadian.  “The aim of the Donner Prize is to spotlight books advancing a thoughtful perspective on policy issues facing our society and governments…

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A warrior for victims of domestic violence

Pamela Cross

Last April, Pamela Cross, our Legal Director, was awarded the J.A. (Alec) Corry Distinguished Alumni Award (for excelling in a career outside the traditional practice of law) from Queen’s Law. A virtual ceremony on May 20, 2021, celebrated this year’s Queen’s alumni award recipients with last year’s. Here’s Pam’s speech from the event: I am deeply…

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Pamela Cross celebrated with Queen’s University award

Pamela Cross

Our Legal Director, Pamela Cross, has been recognized with a Queen’s Law alumni award. Pam receives the J.A. (Alec) Corry Distinguished Alumni Award for excelling in a career outside the traditional practice of law. Described as “a warrior for victims of domestic violence”, Pam was chosen by the Dean’s Council Awards Committee. The award was…

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For some women, home is as dangerous as the virus

woman holding a little boy

Published in the Globe & Mail by Elizabeth Renzetti Being trapped inside your house during this coronavirus crisis is hard enough. Now imagine being truly trapped: Let’s say you’re a woman who’s been living with an abusive partner, and planning to leave him. A decision about whether to leave, already dangerous and difficult, becomes almost…

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