Vaughan council declares intimate partner violence an epidemic in Ontario

City hopes other York Region municipalities will follow its lead

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 22, 2023
Brian Capitao

At a recent city council meeting, Vaughan declared intimate partner violence (IPV) an epidemic, with many of the other municipalities in York Region looking to follow suit.

The announcement comes after 86 recommendations were made following the inquest of three women who were murdered in Renfrew County.

A recent report released this year by the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) stated that 30 women were killed in 30 weeks in

Ontario alone, while a 2020 report by the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability indicated that one woman or girl is killed every 2.5 days.

In York Region, York Regional Police saw a 22 per cent increase in domestic violence incidents at the onset of the pandemic, as reported by CBC.

“I think that every municipality, every level of government should be committed, not just declaring it an epidemic, but also making sure that our sector (Vaughan’s women sector) has sufficient funding to operate. We have 41 beds and cribs. Only 25 beds are funded by the provincial government,” said

Lorris Herenda, CEO of Yellow Brick House, an organization that helps women and children affected by domestic violence.

Herenda wants more pressure on the Ontario government, which denied the request to announce femicide an epidemic in Ontario.

“We are forced to fundraise in order to keep our doors open, in order to keep the services available for the women and children,” she added.

According to Herenda, Yellow Brick House is continuously required to raise 35 per cent of its operating budget.

“We're very happy that the City of Vaughan has taken this proactive step. I’m requesting all other municipalities in York Region to follow suit, to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic and to invest funds,” said Herenda.