Perth East declares intimate partner violence an epidemic

By Galen Simmons

Perth East council has unanimously declared intimate partner violence an epidemic in the municipality following a presentation from local advocates who urged council to recognize the growing impact of gender-based violence across Perth County.

At its March 3 meeting, council voted in favour of the declaration after hearing from Optimism Place Women’s Shelter and Support Services executive director Donna-Jean Forster and board member and Perth East resident Jen Bouwman, who outlined the local prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the need for a coordinated community response.

“Not only am I a survivor of intimate partner violence, in 2012, my sister-in-law, Nicole Wagler, was murdered by her intimate partner,” Bouwman told council. “As an advocate for women experiencing intimate partner violence, I am hopeful that the municipality of Perth East will take a stand today and declare intimate partner violence an epidemic.”

“In December of 2012 at just 17 years old, Nicole Wagler was killed by her intimate partner,” Forster added. “This senseless death sent shockwaves through this community. Even a month ago, in a community speech, Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma teared up when he recalled the day, as principal of Northwestern Secondary School, he had to announce to the whole school body this brutal act of intimate partner violence occurred. While Nicole’s violence was a very public experience of intimate partner violence, there are hundreds more women in Perth East alone who are currently experiencing intimate partner violence or who have experienced it in the past.”

The declaration makes Perth East the 112th municipality in Ontario to formally recognize intimate partner violence as an epidemic. Earlier the same day, Perth South became the 111th municipality to do so. With Perth East’s vote, all six municipalities within Perth County have now made the declaration.

The decision follows similar declarations made in recent months by the Town of St. Marys, North Perth, West Perth and the City of Stratford. St. Marys council declared IPV an epidemic in February after hearing from Forster and Optimism Place board chair Nancy Preston.

In the declaration letter presented to Perth East council, Optimism Place notes 110 municipalities in Ontario had already made the declaration before March 3 and highlights the local impact of IPV. The letter states many incidents of intimate partner violence happen behind closed doors and 44 per cent of women who have been in an intimate relationship have experienced some form of psychological, physical or sexual abuse.

Forster told council IPV continues to have a significant impact across Perth County. Statistics shared with municipalities across the county show there were 994 reports of IPV in Perth County in 2024, resulting in 227 charges laid. Every month, probation and parole services supervise an average of 115 clients on probation related to domestic-violence charges.

Optimism Place reported that in 2024, 203 women and children accessed shelter services, while an additional 200 women used IPV-related services without needing residential shelter. Since 2022, 50 Perth County women have been assessed as high risk for intimate partner homicide and have received wraparound safety supports from a collaborative group of community partners.

“Every year at Optimism Place, we see about 10-15 women, along with their children, from Perth East who are accessing our shelter for a residential stay,” Forster said. “In addition, we have about 15-25 women and their children who access our community-based services such as counselling, support with family court, parenting and other supports associated with experiencing intimate partner violence.

“Every single day, at least one person from Perth East calls our 24-hour support line for support for themselves or someone they know experiencing intimate partner violence.”

Supporters of the declaration say formally recognizing IPV as an epidemic is an important step toward raising awareness, validating survivors and encouraging sustained action.

Forster told council the move is “not just symbolic words on a page” and pointed to the need for education, community awareness and support for those experiencing abuse. It also notes Perth East has signed on to support the Perth County Community Safety and Well-Being Plan for 2025-2035, which identifies gender-based violence and intimate partner violence as one of its top priority areas.

The declaration also comes with a push for residents to learn the signs of intimate partner violence and how to respond when someone may be experiencing it. The materials presented to council included links to local online training resources, support services and information about an upcoming IPV community information session at Milverton Public School on April 13 at 6:30 p.m.

For more information and to register, visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/intimate-partner-violence-101-community-information-session-milverton-tickets-1977610404957?aff=oddtdtcreator.