Intimate partner violence an epidemic, Region of Waterloo councillors declare in motion

Region of Waterloo councillors passed a motion Tuesday to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic.

The motion was brought forward by Coun. Rob Deutschmann.

"When we're seeing friends, neighbours or what have you going through issues and not recognizing the signs or the issues or the concerns that we should be raising because you know we always hear, see something say something. of course we need to know what we're seeing to be able to say something and then we also need to have the courage to say something," he told his fellow councillors during Tuesday's community and health service committee.

The initial motion declared intimate partner violence and violence against woman is an epidemic.

Regional Chair Karen Redman asked for an amendment to have "Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA" added to the motion. That was passed by Redman's fellow councillors.

Coun. Pam Wolf said she supported the motion because it's a growing problem in the community.

"Unfortunately, domestic violence, sexual assault and femicide have been a serious problem in Canada and in this region for many, many years," Wolf said, adding she's "alarmed" by the "rise of extreme injuries victims are receiving."

She said it was important for council to take a stand on the issue.

"Declaring intimate partner violence and epidemic is another tool in increasing this awareness, and if we do not name the problem, it will not begin to be solved," Wolf said.

Cambridge passes similar motion

Other local councils have also declared intimate partner violence an epidemic including Cambridge, which passed it on Tuesday, and Kitchener.

Kim Decker with the YWCA Cambridge spoke to that city's council on Tuesday and said she hopes the passed motion will spark a conversation in the community and bring more funding to local organizations.

"By [councillors] acknowledging that they see intimate partner violence as an epidemic, perhaps that will send a signal to the community that this is an incredibly serious issue and one that we need to focus attention and dollars on," she told CBC News.

In an interview with CBC News earlier this month, Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region CEO Jennifer Hutton said declaring an epidemic "gives some weight to the issue."

In its 2022-23 annual report, Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region said they provided crisis support to 2,412 people through support lines and online chats and provided shelter for 383 people.

"It's a message to survivors to say we're taking this seriously, this is a huge issue and we need action," she said.

Other municipalities such as Peel Region, Hamilton, London, Ottawa and Toronto, which have also declared epidemics. The Region of Waterloo's motion was passed in committee and will still need to be ratified at the Sept. 27 council meeting.