Be the Peace Institute had the opportunity to present to Justice Canada, during virtual panels with academics, gender-based violence advocates, service providers, police, prosecutors and survivors to discuss the creation of a potential coercive control offence in the context of intimate relationships. We have also submitted a written brief on our position to Justice Canada.
Federal Justice Minister Arif Virani responded to the Supervising Coroner of the Renfrew County Femicide Inquiry with a declaration of GBV as an epidemic in Canada.
The Ending Violence Association of Canada (EVA) has shared a summary document of key findings related to gender-based violence in the Mass Casualty Commission Final Report.
Our 7th Annual General Meeting was held virtually May 10th, 2023 with 39 attendees. We shared updates on work to date and opportunities ahead. Special guests shared their reflections on the Mass Casualty Commission and Report as well as ideas for implementation of the MCC recommendations. To read more and access our full reports, click here.
Some of our research has been considered relevant to the work of the Mass Casualty Commission’s Public Inquiry into the mass shooting in April of 2020 and has been submitted into the public record. This research was focused on bystander reluctance to report intimate partner violence (IPV) to police and is available on their website, or here.
Be the Peace Institute made a written submission to the pre-budget consultations in advance of the Federal Budget for 2023.
These recommendations outline our identified priorities for spending to help end GBV based on our many years of experience in the field, collaborating with front line, community-based services and support, intersecting government departments, academic researchers and what we have heard from survivours themselves.
The Mass Casualty Commission's public inquiry into the mass shooting from April 18 & 19 2020 in Portapique Nova Scotia included an examination of the role that gender based violence/intimate partner violence and misogyny played in the shooting. Be the Peace Institute, Women's Shelters Canada and Transition House Association NS participated in the inquiry in a coalition. This report is their list of final recommendations to the commission.
As part of our participation in the Mass Casualty Commission’s public inquiry into the mass shootings in Portapique, Nova Scotia, BTPI did our own research to better understand and underscore these connections. The following is a summary analysis of the themes, patterns and repeated recommendations for the prevention of mass violence as it relates to gender-based violence and misogyny.
Part two of our reflections on the Mass Casualty Commission’s public inquiry into the shootings of April 2020 in NS: Sue Bookchin provides an outline of the key documents, research and diverse roundtables of experts from the field on the connections between gender based violence and mass casualty events. Key viewing and reading for policy makers, legal professionals, service providers and anyone interested in learning more for better prevention and support. Click title to read more…
Be the Peace Institute was granted participation in the Mass Casualty Commission’s public inquiry into the tragic mass shooting in Portapique, NS in April of 2020 along with our coalition members, Women’s Shelters Canada and Transition House Association NS. Sue Bookchin has been watching hours of testimony, round tables and panel discussions on the complexities of this event and is sharing some of her reflections on the role and impact that gender-based violence played in this and other mass tragedies. Both to understand, and to prevent. Click title to read more…
We recently wrote a letter advocating that Bill C-233, which includes Keira’s Law on domestic violence education for judges, be passed into law in the House of Commons. This private member’s bill would expand training for judges to include domestic violence and coercive control. Bill C-233, "Keira's Law," would help to ensure the best interests of the child are central to decision making around custody and access in cases of family law.
Check out our letter advocating for this important bill to be passed, or consider writing your own.
To learn more: #ForLittleKeira
We recently partnered with Saint Mary's University through their Service Learning program and their Offenders and Victims course where students shared their research findings with us on a designated topic. One of our chosen areas of interest was how Men’s Intervention programs impact the prevention of gender-based violence.
We recently partnered with Saint Mary's University through their Service Learning program and their Offenders and Victims course where students shared their research findings with us on a designated topic. One of our chosen areas of interest was how gender-based violence affects 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women invited the public to submit written briefs for its study on Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence in Canada - Be the Peace Institute contributed to a collaborative brief, shared a few weeks ago but here is our independent brief, submitted on behalf of our organization.
It reflects our key takeaways over 6 years of projects, partnerships, research, interviews and reflection on IPV in Nova Scotia with a particular focus on rural needs, barriers and solutions.
We are so proud to have contributed to this brief on IPV in Canada to the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women with our amazing colleagues at the Metro Interagency Committee on Family Violence.
There are some specifically rural NS barriers & needs for those who have experienced IPV/GBV that need to be considered and if addressed, would help some of the most vulnerable victims of this issue.
Many things are and will be written about this time, that I hope will reflect an awakening from this collective “time-out.” We’ve been sent to our proverbial rooms to think long and hard about our life as we knew it — the patterns of human activity on the planet, how we treat one another and the Earth that sustains us, and the governing structures we have created that permit and promote stark and ever-growing social inequities.
Today, I am grappling with grief and the convergence of two pandemics.
