North Bay’s police board declares intimate partner violence an 'epidemic'

Following frustrations an advocacy group has had with North Bay city council in regards to sending a delegation to present and request that intimate partner violence (IPV) declared an “epidemic,” the police services board formally did so.

The Nipissing Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee has been calling on northern Ontario municipalities to make the declaration, based on recommendations made following a coroner's inquest in 2022.

“We are really looking for our community at all levels to declare this as an urgent crisis,” said the group’s executive director Kathleen Jodouin.

Jodouin, on behalf of the committee, lectured the board on the matter Tuesday morning. The board then unanimously voted to declare IPV as an epidemic.

Police chief Scott Todd said that in his eyes it was an easy vote.

“Through the police, we support the initiatives of our victim services team,” he said.

“It’s one of the most underfunded agencies in the City of North Bay that provides the greatest amount of services.”

REASON FOR THE REQUEST

The request for declaration follows the 2022 Renfrew Inquest, which investigated the deaths of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam, who were murdered in 2015. The jury adjudicating the inquest made 86 recommendations, the first of which was for the province to declare intimate partner violence an “epidemic”.

The committee has made presentations to several neighbouring municipalities. East Ferris, Bonfield, West Nipissing and Mattawa all agreed to make that declaration.

BYLAW FRUSTRATIONS

Jodouin’s frustrations lie with North Bay city council. A procedural bylaw currently in place won’t allow the group to present on the issue. The bylaw states council presentations limit themselves to what is described as “municipal issues.”

“The procedural bylaw limits those to things that we have direct control over,” said North Bay Mayor Peter Chirico.

Jodouin argues IPV is both a provincial and local because of the impact it has on municipal services, such as the capacity of police officers and paramedics that are dispatched to domestic violence calls.

“They have said they could raise a flag or declare a proclamation,” said Jodouin.

“We found that very disappointing because we need more than just a flag raising. We need transformative action.”

The committee believes council support shows survivors they are not alone which can help victims come forward and report.

Both Mayor Peter Chirico and Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield sit on the police board and voted to declare IPV as an epidemic during the meeting.

Peter Chirico at North Bay Police Service Board meeting on Oct. 17/23. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)“Recognizing the severity of it, I think this is the proper venue and the proper place to express those concerns that we have,” Chirico told reporters after the meeting.

When asked about whether he would support a motion to make amendments to the bylaw, Chirico put it bluntly.

“That’s up to council,” he said.

THE NUMBERS

Newly released police statistics show domestic violence soared in the months of July and August by an average of 10-15 per cent. On average, North Bay police officers receive between 100-110 calls for domestic violence a month. In July, police responded to 143 calls for service, while 138 calls for service were recorded.

Every year in Canada, police make over 40,000 arrests related to domestic violence, which accounts for approximately 12 per cent of all violent crime committed. Over 6,000 women and children sleep in shelters every night because their home is not safe. One-third of women and one-quarter of men in Canada over the age of 15 will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

In 2022, Victim Services of Nipissing District received 475 calls for service related to intimate partner violence. They supported 400 women victims and 39 children who were harmed by or witnessed intimate partner violence.

The Children’s Aid Society had close to 150 investigations open related to children’s exposure to intimate partner violence (13 per cent of their total call volume). 400 survivors and victims of intimate partner violence accessed support services offered by the Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing.

31 per cent of admissions to the North Bay Jail had an active domestic violence alert and 7.8 per cent had an active sex offence charge.

“We want victims to report. As we know, it’s the most underreported crimes in our community,” said Todd.

The committee will next be sending a delegation to the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board for a presentation.  

HELP AVAILABLE

There are many organizations dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, including Victim Services of Nipissing District.

Anastasia Kuzyk, Nathalie Warmerdam and Carol Culleton are pictures in this composite photo. (Point2 Homes, Genevieve Way, Facebook)