Stop VAW hosts community information session on intimate partner violence

Jennifer Olenewa, Stop VAW co-ordinator speaks to IPV survivor Sydney Touzel about her personal experience with IPV at the recent Stop Violence Against Women (Stop VAW) information season at Little Falls Public School in St. Marys

Stop Violence Against Women (Stop VAW) is hosting a series of community information sessions across Perth County. The next session will take place in Stratford at the end of April.

At the Feb. 17 session in St. Marys, host Jennifer Olenewa, Stop VAW co-ordinator, reviewed different types of abuse and how to recognize the signs of intimate partner violence (IPV). Participants also learned what to say to support someone who may be experiencing IPV, as well as about the community resources and programs available throughout Perth County.

In 2019, IPV cost $7.4 billion and has only risen since the pandemic. Rural communities face higher IPV rates, with women experiencing IPV 75 per cent more frequently than urban women.

“More significantly, the rate in rural communities for women is 75 per cent higher than women who live in cities,” said Olenewa. “So there is a way greater risk of experiencing IPV in rural communities, such as Perth County.”

She went on to note that slower response times, caring for pets and livestock, lack of services and resources, the presence of firearms, isolation, lack of autonomy, lack of affordable transit, limited cellphone or internet access and limited safe housing options are all barriers for women living in rural communities.

Sydney Touzel, a survivor, also spoke to attendees about her personal experience with IPV after surviving an attack in St. Marys in 2020. She has since gone on to advocate for survivors and most recently raised almost $13,000 for Optimism Place in Stratford.

Her conversation leaned into the complexities of intimate partner violence, emphasizing that it often starts subtly with financial, emotional and psychological abuse before escalating to physical violence.

“A lot of people assume that it starts physical,” she said. “In my experience, there was financial, emotional, gaslighting and then isolation. It started off very slow, which I think a lot of people don't realize. It started with tiny things like asking for my phone, asking where I was, and then that escalated into arguments, which turned into things being thrown, then holes in walls and then things being thrown at me.”

Touzel also emphasized the importance of recognizing abusive behaviours early and connecting with police when appropriate. She noted that police were called on three occasions; however, officers can only take action when there are legal grounds to proceed.

“You don't necessarily have to disclose every single thing that's happened, but if you just give them one little bit of information that they can act on, that can make a mountain (of) difference, even just a nod when they ask certain questions. If you don't say anything, they can't do anything.”

Const. Darren Fischer, community resource and media relations officer, then spoke about how and when to connect with police. He emphasized the importance of calling 911 in emergencies and the police’s role in safety planning.

Fischer discussed the mandatory charge policy, which was developed in 1986. This law allows police to lay criminal charges in domestic or intimate partner violence incidents when they have reasonable and probable grounds to believe an offence has occurred – even if the victim does not want to press charges.

“Police will come. We provide emergency services and can be called 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If it is three o'clock in the morning on Christmas Day and you need somebody to come and talk to you about the abuse that you’re experiencing, we are there. We will be there as quickly as possible.”

Fischer also noted the goal of having 30 per cent of the Stratford police force be women by 2030.

To learn more or to register for an upcoming session, including the Stratford session, visit stopvaw.ca and click on Events. Registration is required for food and drink planning only; no personal information will be stored. Food and drinks will be provided, and free parking will be available at each location.

Anyone concerned about intimate partner violence can contact Optimism Place’s 24/7 support line at 519-271-5550 or 1-800-265-8598 (toll-free).