Femicide inquest hears from survivors about importance of bystander intervention
Heather Imming considers herself to be fortunate.
Despite an imprint on her shoulder of the tire iron her late husband used to violently attack her at her Ottawa Valley home in 1994 and a brain injury she sustained in the attack, affecting her memory and ability to work to this day, Imming counts her blessings.
"One thing I really want people to understand is I was a fortunate one. I'm so fortunate because I've been able to continue to live life and I have seen my daughter grow up and become a really responsible, warm-hearted, giving young woman," she told a coroner's inquest Monday.
"I only survived because of everyone who was helping me."
The inquest is examining the deaths of three women killed by their former partner on Sept. 22, 2015 in the Ottawa Valley -- Carol Culleton, Nathalie Warmerdam and Anastasia Kuzyk -- and considering ways to protect victims of intimate partner violence, particularly in rural communities.
While emphasizing the importance for victims of intimate partner violence to have access to resources -- like the women's shelter she leaned on in Lanark County -- and support from neighbours, friends and community members, Imming took a moment to reflect on the deaths of Culleton, Warmerdam and Kuzyk.
"I wish, wish these women had had the level of support that I had," she said.
"It breaks my heart that they didn't."
Imming said as she was navigating her abusive relationship, workers from the Lanark County Interval House and Community Support shelter supported her through court proceedings and drove her to appointments related to her brain injury. They would even stop by her home on random occasions to bring her prepared meals, Imming added.
Members of her community banded together and dedicated themselves to watching her home every night to make sure she was safe after the violent attack with the tire iron, she said.
"When you have the supports of the police, of the Crown attorney's office, of your health-care system, of your community, of friends and neighbours, you can do it," Imming said. "But if any one of those parts are missing, there is a lapse. There really is a lapse."
Julie Lalonde, a women's rights advocate and public educator, also told the inquest that it's crucial for victims of intimate partner violence to have people and community resources they can count on.
But while many people know what intimate partner violence is and want to help others, Lalonde said they don't know how to respond to it, which is something that needs to change.
She recommended "robust" funding for public education initiatives to train Canadians on how to detect intimate partner violence and to adequately intervene, while noting that many people have misconceptions of intimate partner violence.
"People do care, but they're frozen, because they don't feel equipped," said Lalonde, who has lived experience of being stalked by a former partner.
"And so I think it's our job to put those tools in their hands."
Lalonde shared examples of some ways that people can help victims of intimate partner violence, such as helping them to document instances where they have been abused so that they have those details ready if they choose to pursue criminal charges against a perpetrator, and directly intervening to help a victim get out of a situation safely.
Increased funding for rural and remote sexual assault centres and shelters would also go a long way in supporting victims, she said.
Lalonde noted that these centres and shelters in rural communities have limited funds to work with, so workers are often stretched thin and unable to adequately support victims and get training on things like technology used by stalkers.
The inquest is set to resume Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2022.
------
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.