Last year, on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, I had the privilege of viewing a powerful documentary by Nicole Bedford, documentary filmmaker & owner, at an Ontario Bar Association event. The film highlights the remarkable resilience of courageous women who have fought tirelessly for their rights while facing unimaginable tragedies in Canadian history, such as the tragic killing of 14 women at École Polytechnique in Montreal in 1989, where the perpetrator infamously declared he was "fighting feminism."
A significant milestone in the fight for women's rights was achieved on October 18, 1929, with the ground-breaking Persons Case, which established that women were eligible to sit in the Canadian Senate and were recognized in the legal definition of "persons." This decision paved the way for greater gender equality in Canada. In 1973, the establishment of the first feminist shelter in Hamilton marked another crucial turning point, providing a safe place for individuals experiencing domestic and intimate partner violence. This shelter not only offered refuge but also symbolized a commitment to addressing the pervasive issue of violence against women.
Despite these advancements and the ongoing activism of brave women throughout history, the current statistics are both alarming and on the rise, worldwide. According to the United Nations, approximately 87,000 women were killed globally in 2018, with 58% of those murders committed by intimate partners or family members. Statistics Canada reported that 187 women were killed in 2024, translating to one woman every two days.