This is the first time I've seen the monument. It is a powerful, strong message for the community, as well as a message to the public. I sent the kids, and they took some photos for me. Violence against women has been of particular concern to me, my first year teaching my JK student disclosed that 'Daddy hit mommy in the stomach last night.' This was in a small community south of Ottawa in 1989.
I went on to write an article, The White Ribbon Campaign, after the 14 young women who were murdered at l’Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal on Dec. 6, 1989 and a group of men got together to speak up against domestic violence. Sadly, the Perth monument was cluttered when I tried to take photos. (You can read about that below.)
The monument is a project of the Survivor Engagement Group, a group of women survivors of abuse who reside in Lanark County. The monument was unveiled last December, 2015, as part of the National Day of Remembrance and Action to End Violence Against Women. The group remembered the 14 young women who were murdered at l’Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal on Dec. 6, 1989 and the three women who were recently murdered in the Wilno area.
· Supported 550 women via their shelter and outreach services.
· Helped 118 children via shelter and outreach services.
· Handled 1,575 crisis calls.
· Offered 1,200 plus hours of direct counselling support.
The Drone at Stewart Park Festival
From our seat at our lunch table on Saturday, taking a break from visiting vendors at the Perth Market, after visiting the Stewart Park Music Festival 2016, I spotted someone unpacking a drone. Little did I know that he was at the site of the monument dedicated to Lanark Country women who have been murdered by violence. I'd never visited it, although I have seen the photos.
A lot of people worked long and hard on this memorial. We have a terrible number of victims of violence in our county.
I went over and spoke to him. Apparently, Perth Chamber hired this man to take drone videos of the Stewart Park Music Festival. Now, I'm not sure the efficacy of such a project, the festival's locale has large trees, and he was several streets away, beside the canal. I thought you were supposed to be within sight of the target of your video footage. He was behind Coutts Coffee, while the festival was across the road.
Sadly, he had unpacked his baggage on top of the monument dedicated to woman who have died arising from domestic violence. I suggested that the monument wasn't the right place for his bags. He said, "I suppose not," and carried on with his work, ignoring me. I didn't want a confrontation, and felt rebuffed. He used the podium, with its carved dedication, to rev up his drone operating system. I moved the smaller bag, in order to take photos. It was terribly disrespectful of him. I am so very angry.
People like this give drones a bad name. They used one while fighting the recent fire in and near Perth: Fire in Lanark County Highway #43, they can be invaluable. There are many who abuse them, however. I don't think the legislation is strong enough. At the HUGE Fort McMurray fire, they had to stop fighting the fire from the air, since there were citizens trying to capture fire footage for fun or profit.
I read a tough book [Moroney; Through The Glass (Autobiography, 2013)], which illustrates the complexity, the various departments involved, and stakeholders in sexual violences and domestic assault cases. We have made progress: less domestic violence now than in the past.In 2010, the rate of intimate partner homicide committed against females increased by 19%, the third increase in four years. Once a case goes to trial and someone is convicted, the government department and, therefore, responsibility changes. It is highly complicated by the Charter of Rights, the rights of victims and legal rights of perpetrators.
Parliament
I know it's a bee, but you get the message!
All parties and all levels of government are guilty of posturing and obfuscation, right down to community boards and regional councils, as well as school board trustees (Prime examples: OCDSB & Trillium Lakelands DSB trustees in the news). No one seems to be able to work together for a good cause. They should come to agreements in the best non-partisan interests of the public.
My MPP, Randy Hillier, presented a 15-minute monologue in parliament on Monday, March 7th, which he posted to Facebook: Watch Hillier's full speech here. (You can read his back story below.)
"We've met with all the agencies, all the police enforcement, the Crown, to find ways to help my family ... not to live in fear. But if he's not out tomorrow, he'll be out soon from now," Hillier said.
There are many failings in our system, Speaker; many, many failings. And this bill does little to address those failings.
The Premier stated she wouldn't take lessons from me, but is it in her DNA to take lessons from the experts at Interval House? Show your family and friends and join the discussion, is the Premier failing women and their families?"
He claims it isn't money they need, but new laws. I disagree. it takes accountability, and communication between departments. It does take money to build and sustain women's shelters, to have decent staffing levels, and his party is all for cutting taxes, not paying for services. (Which is what many of his constituents are demanding! No one wants to pay for the services they feel they are entitled.)
After his speech, Premier Wynne's response: "I will not take lessons from this member on how to invest in and support the women of this province...It is a decades old issue." (There is a history of ill-will between these politicians.)
Thing is, Hillier sat on the committee to work on this issue. Why didn't he use HIS expertise to "fix the system?!" I wish Hiller had spoken about solutions, not laid all the blame on the Premier! (That is, of course, politicking!) Hillier is a member of the select committee on sexual violence and harassment, which presented its final report to the Legislature in December. He said he's anticipating working on the government's proposed Bill 132, the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act.
What could be done –specifically– regarding domestic and sexual violence and the court system?
(My two cents worth!)
Corrections Office: Stop plea bargaining, or build in checks and balances. To agree to a placement in a facility, when we know there isn't a bed? Make details in court orders, with reports to the victims.
Accounting for paroled individuals, including physical and social tracking by parole boards, with police involvement, reporting to all direct stakeholder. More staff to do so.
Treatment: More treatment programs for violent offenders, including anger management treatments. More treatment programs for addicts. Random drug testing, with reports to the parole system.
More support for Victim Servicesprograms and women's shelters. (Although they are doing a great job with little.)
More enforcement to reduce access to alcohol and drugs. (Lanark County has a terrible time with drugs and drug abuse. Mother and brother charged in drug bust)
System Navigator for Victims. Someone to stand with and for the victims, with access to the prosecution, the judicial system, the parole office.
Which would lead to: Better communication between departments: The legal system: judges, lawyers, and parole officers, as well as victims, well beyond victims impact statements.
CWF says that while domestic violence is lower, rates of intimate partner murders are up. Why is this?
This decline is partly due to increased social equality and financial freedom for women, which makes it easier for them to leave abusive relationships at earlier stages. It is also due to years of effort by groups who are working to end domestic violence. Their achievements include improved public awareness, more treatment programs for violent men, improved training for police officers and Crown attorneys, having the police lay charges rather than the victim, more co-ordination of community services, and the creation of domestic violence legislation in some areas of Canada.19
This story began in October 4th, 2015. Randy Hillier's family had a crisis when his daughter's ex-partner followed her to Hillier's farm, and engaged in some horrific, violent acts. He was throwing about diesel fuel, and was going at the doors and/or windows, in (we can infer) a drunken rage, as addictions counseling was part of the plea bargain. It isn't an unusual story, sadly. They went into hiding, as a family, for a week. He was arrested and a trial ensued in December, with 16 charges, 4 with max. charge of life in prison. The Crown agreed his year was best spent in a treatment facility. However, there was no room at the facilities. Instead, he was sent to another facility. The Crown expected treatment, and didn't know if there was room or not. There is no feedback from the Crown to the courts.
The Court asked them to give the court documents to the crown attorney. Probation won't do this, despite them being public documents.
The police are excluded from having influence in the plea bargaining. The judge should demand a pre-sentence report, before the bargain is made.
Hillier is upset that the court and corrections didn't talk to him about his victim impact statement and didn't ask for clarification on his statement.
Sentenced to a year, the offender came before the parole board last week. There is no information about its result. Wynne's been an MPP since 2003, premier since 2013. Hillier has been an MPP since 2007.
For the most part, MPP Hillier spends his time and energy ranting against government involvement. He wants lower (or no) taxes. He is against protecting Lanark County, such as the Tay Valley legislation intended to protect the land from exploiting landowners.
Hillier's Facebook account is full of acidic remarks and pejorative claims, the free throwing knives of blame, anger and hostile comments. He has a history of civil disobedience, disrespect for fellow politicians, and those who disagree with him (including me), beginning with illegal protests and flaunting the laws of the land. [His son went overseas to fight Da'esh (ISIS) as a solo volunteer.]
BTW
I am blocked from reading and following Randy Hillier's tweets. THAT system is broken! He is my legal, publicly-paid MPP ($ six digits) and he won't tolerate my queries. Heaven forbid we disagree with politicians!
Like all violent crime in Canada, rates of domestic violence have fallen in recent years.18 This decline is partly due to increased social equality and financial freedom for women, which makes it easier for them to leave abusive relationships at earlier stages. It is also due to years of effort by groups who are working to end domestic violence. Their achievements include improved public awareness, more treatment programs for violent men, improved training for police officers and Crown attorneys, having the police lay charges rather than the victim, more co-ordination of community services, and the creation of domestic violence legislation in some areas of Canada.19
In a new book, Dr. Lance Dodes concludes that the success rate for Alcoholics Anonymous is between 5 and 10 per cent, which he calls one of the worst in all of medicine.
“The model has been so popular, so widely disseminated, that people believe it should be something that works,” says Dr. Bernard LeFoll, head of Alcohol Research and Treatment Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. But at this point, he says, we have neither definitive data supporting that it works nor studies about whom it most benefits.
As many individuals and families have learned the hard way, addiction treatment programs are not created equal. There are no mandatory regulations or provincial standards that facilities or their employees must adhere to; it is a buyer beware environment.
Use a multi-faceted approach (biopsychosocially-based treatments); treat the family; treat the addictions, as well as mental and physical issues, consult physicians; monitor as lapses occur; rule out infectious diseases.
Police said Thursday’s bust was centred on a 28-year-old man they allege was supplying cocaine to street-level dealers in Lanark County.
Investigators searched Matthew Fillipoff’s 2009 Mercedes after a pursuit by tactical officers in Lanark Highlands along with four houses... They seized nearly a kilogram of cocaine, Fentanyl patches, more than 500 grams of MDMA, marijuana and hashish. Also charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking are six other Perth residents ages 19 to 59, charged with possession of cocaine. All were released pending court appearances.
I spent some time as a Victim Services Volunteer. 'Vickers' many call it. We were trained in handling emergency situations of many types. Called to support victims of crime, threats, trauma, accidents, suicide, we support the professionals by being a supportive person. Some of the work I did involved attending to a woman whose neighbour committed suicide. In another situation, I drove a woman to make a complaint at the detachment about a violent ex-boyfriend.
Playing happily with mommy
We were taught about the various services offered to victims of threats, domestic abuse or violence. Many agencies offer counselling, and practical advice for protecting themselves from those who show signs of escalating violent behaviour. Our provincial law enforcement agency (OPP) take the time to support those who are victimized. There is much research on this issue, and many participate in local and regional conferences to understand the impact of violence on the victims, as well as the children involved. We know that more women were murdered by former partners (500) than all those killed in Afghanistan (101) between 2000 and 2006. (Read this post for more information).
Turns out, one woman ('Jennifer') who was getting help from police in her domestic abuse situation, has now had her children taken away from her by the Children's Aid Society (CAS).
In the past there were 40 cases per year of 'alienation of affection'. These cases, CBC News tells us, have jumped to 120 cases. I understand that some families choose this method of payback, but it isn't the norm. Two years ago Jennifer pressed assault charges against her husband. He has counteracted the charges by going to the CAS and charging her with alienation of affection. CAS has taken custody from the mother, and sent the daughter to a supervised custody arrangement with the abusive father.
Children deserve to feel safe
What are they thinking? Do they not talk to the OPP? Of course a mother is going to protect her child from an abusive father. Whether the child is abused or not, they are susceptible to PTSD from witnessing the abuse. Naturally a child will be afraid of an abusive man, father or no, and a mother will do anything to protect her child. Women at risk are being given training in creating a Safety Plan, and an Escape Plan, for themselves and their children.
I am so shocked. Jennifer has gone to the media to state her case. She regrets calling in the justice system in the first place. Yet, her child, traumatized by a violent father, is now traumatized by CAS by being removed from her protective mother's care.
The May/Iles Inquest 1998, was one that laid down the rules for identification of protocol, mandatory charge policies, specialized courses for OPP, and other improvements to this system:
On this day, the 21st anniversary of the 14 women murdered in École Polytechnique massacre in Quebec. The December 6th story is a sad one.
Women have fought so hard for equality, for maternity leave, and the right to attend university, to vote (USA: Victoria Park, 1919; 1927 in Canada), to be declared 'persons' .
Christina Long - murdered by Internet Luring
In 1989, a male anti-feminist murdered 14 female engineering students. Targeting women, it was the first time that this type of random violence was directed at women. He entered a classroom and told the men to leave. His rant, obviously a seriously disturbed man, who blamed women for his issues. This man was rejected by the army for irrational behaviour. He screamed out at the victims that he hated feminists, they "ruined his life", he wrote in his suicide letter. Nathalie Provost survived, and graduated engineering. She spoke out.
41 % of female victims were murdered by rifles and shotguns
5.8% were murdered with handguns.
There is much coverage accorded our precious soldiers who have died in battle. Little about these abused women, and often their children, who die at the hands of their former partners, all angry men. Restraining orders are not widely upheld.
Despite such horrific inquests, inadequate restraining orders, and continued stories of abuse, the May/Iles Inquest 1998, was one that laid down the rules for identification of protocol, mandatory charge policies, specialized courses for OPP, and other improvements to this system:
On this day, the 20th anniversary of the 14 women murdered in École Polytechnique massacre in Quebec. The December 6th story is a sad one.
Hatred of feminists was a new issue 20 years ago. - Women's Rights - not so. Women have fought so hard for equality and the right to attend university, to vote (1920 in the US; 1927 in Canada), to be declared 'persons' .
In 1989, a male anti-feminist murdered 14 female engineering students. Targeting women, it was the first time that such violence was directed at women. He entered a classroom and told the men to leave. His rant, obviously a seriously disturbed man, who blamed women for his issues. This man was rejected by the army for irrational behaviour. He screamed out at the victims that he hated feminists, they "ruined his life", he wrote in his suicide letter. Nathalie Provost survived, and graduated engineering. She speaks out.
YET THE VIOLENCE CONTINUES. Christina Long, May 21, 2002, pictured above, right, was murdered by a man she met on the Internet. The Natalia Novak murder, is another recent story, or the beloved Toronto real estate agent, Susan Ryan, murdered by her former Toronto police officer husband. They need to have their stories told. Most are murdered by men whom they know, not strangers, although not all. You can read my Internet Safety PPT for teachers and parents. Protect your children.
41 % of female victims were murdered by rifles and shotguns
5.8% were murdered with handguns.
There is much coverage accorded our precious soldiers who have died in battle. Little about these abused women, and often their children, who die at the hands of their former partners, all angry men. Restraining orders are not widely upheld.
Adequate, affordable and accessible housing is a safety issue… it is part of protecting women from the cycle of violence. (YWCA 2009)
In the 12 months between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008 – 101, 000 women and children – entered shelters in Canada – 75% were fleeing abuse.
Brian Vallée writes in War On Women, of domestic assaults and inappropriate convictions, with woman who were seldom believed, or changed from victims to those being interrogated by defense attornies.
The statistics often are not reflected in media coverage. The Highway of Heroes is well-lauded. Canadians publicly mourn 133 soldiers dying in Afghanistan, yet...
Between 2000 and 2006
The US lost 8000 women to domestic violence.
Canada lost 101 soldiers, and 500 women to domestic violence.
More than half of Canadian women have been victims of at least one act of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16 (Status of Women -Canada)
Every year, about 25 women are killed by their intimate partners in Ontario.
Almost 40% of women assaulted by spouses said their children witnessed the event, which can lead to PTSD.
In sexual assault cases 80% know their abusers and 90% of incidents take place at home.
I leave you with hope. Despite such horrific inquests, inadequate restraining orders, and continued stories of abuse, the May/Iles Inquest 1998, was one that laid down the rules for identification of protocol, mandatory charge policies, specialized courses for OPP, and other improvements to this system:
Increased cooperation with justice sector partners; service providers.
My article published in 1992, under my married name: Martin, J. (1992).The White Ribbon Campaign, Ontario Public School Teachers' Federation Newsletter, December 1992.
The myths of Muskoka Housing This is a region of extremes. Some choose to summer in mansions. They are the folks who get all the media attention, and draw its ire. For many, this is not their reality of Muskoka.
As with any settlement, there are haves and have nots. There are 57,563 (StatCan, 2006) full-time residents, and it is estimated that this population doubles with seasonal residents. Many seasonal residents are converting cottages to homes, and this has resulted in other housing issues.
Vacancy Rates
In the spring of 2009, vacancy rates for Muskoka were 2.8%. Industry standards say that 3% is considered a “healthy” vacancy rate. There are approximately 450 households waiting for rent-geared-to income housing in Muskoka.
In 2005, Muskoka’s average monthly cost for renters was $750 and $735 for owners. At that time, 1,665 renters were paying 30 – 50% of their income for shelter, and 705 renters were paying over 50%.
Homeowners (3,670 of them) were paying 30 – 50% of their income for shelter, and 1,510 owners were paying over 50%.
Affordability target is 30% of gross household income for shelter. To pay these average rates, households would have required:
1 BR - $27,400 2 BR - $33,300 3 BR - $34,900.
Minimum Wage is $9.50 per hour. An employee who works 40 hours per week for a full year earns $19,760, affordability targets would mean paying $494 per month for shelter. Average rents for Muskoka are: 1 BR - $685, 2 BR - $832, 3 BR - $873 (2008 Rental Market Survey, CMHC).
Heating, maintenance, and other utility costs are another issue. Some seniors simply cannot manage to keep their homes in order. The Muskoka economy depends upon tourism, with over 11,000 people employed in the Tourism and Service sector. This represents 43% of the labour force.
Muskoka Incomes - low, with gender biases, single parent issues
Many households in Muskoka earn less than poverty wages.
In 2006, the median income for families in Muskoka was $61,159, which is 12% behind the Provincial average.
Women in Muskoka earn 36% less per year than men in Muskoka, on average.
In 2006, Muskoka had over 2,000 single parent families, and over 80% of those were headed by women.
Emergency Shelters
The Landlord and Tenant Board received 85 applications from Muskoka’s landlordsfor eviction in 2008. Over 400 households received assistance from The District Municipality of Muskoka’s Community Workerfor Homelessness in 2008. In 2008, 60 households received assistance from The District Municipality of Muskoka’s Emergency Shelter Fund for over $60,000.
Food Banks
When a household pays too much for shelter, there is not enough money left for food. In 2008, 1,300 families accessed the Salvation Army food banks. Manna food bank, in Bracebridge, continues to ask for donations. You can make a donation through www.CanadaHelps.org
This is the first time I've seen the monument. It is a powerful, strong message for the community, as well as a message to the public. I sent the kids, and they took some photos for me. Violence against women has been of particular concern to me, my first year teaching my JK student disclosed that 'Daddy hit mommy in the stomach last night.' This was in a small community south of Ottawa in 1989. 
On this day, the 21st anniversary of the 14 women murdered in
