Three N.S. women killed in 3 weeks by intimate partner violence
The recent tragic deaths of a man and a woman in Yarmouth, N.S., have been confirmed by the RCMP as another case of fatal intimate partner violence. This heartbreaking incident marks the third such occurrence in just three weeks in the province, shedding light on the urgent need to address this pervasive issue.
According to RCMP statements, the 58-year-old man took the life of his 49-year-old partner before ending his own life. Their bodies were discovered in a residence on a quiet cul-de-sac in Yarmouth last Friday. These devastating events follow similar cases in Enfield on October 18, where retired Mountie Mike Burke fatally harmed his wife, Brenda Tatlock-Burke, and in Cole Harbour on November 4, where a 71-year-old woman fell victim to her partner, a 72-year-old man who later succumbed to self-inflicted wounds.
In response to these tragedies, Ann de Ste Croix, the executive director of Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS), emphasized the critical need for action to address intimate partner violence. THANS has been engaging with politicians during the current Nova Scotia election campaign to push for concrete measures to tackle this issue.
While the provincial legislature recently passed a motion recognizing the problem, de Ste Croix believes that more substantial efforts are required. Although there was a positive increase in core funding for transition houses and women’s centers in the latest provincial budget, she advocates for further investment in community-based organizations that provide direct support to women impacted by violence.
Political leaders have also weighed in on the matter, with Liberal Leader Zach Churchill pledging to establish a dedicated office in the Health Department to support women affected by violence. The NDP Leader Claudia Chender stressed the need for decisive action beyond mere acknowledgment of the epidemic, while PC Leader Tim Houston emphasized the government’s commitment to implementing recommendations from the Mass Casualty Commission report on the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia, which highlighted the role of domestic violence in the tragedy.
De Ste Croix highlighted the disparity in support services between urban and rural areas in the province, calling for politicians to address this issue. In addition to their advocacy efforts, THANS has launched a public awareness campaign by illuminating Nova Scotia landmarks with purple lights to mark November as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
As Nova Scotia grapples with the devastating consequences of intimate partner violence, it is clear that a concerted and comprehensive approach is needed to prevent further tragedies and support those affected by such violence.
