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A new Statistics Canada report is putting a spotlight on firearm-related intimate partner violence in rural communities.
The report, released in July and examining cases between 2020 and 2024, found rates of firearm-related intimate partner violence were three times higher in rural areas than in urban communities, with Regina being the exception.
Amber Wardell, Executive Director of Haldimand Norfolk Women’s Services, said the numbers are concerning for communities like Haldimand and Norfolk.
Wardell said one misconception is that firearm-related violence always means someone has been shot. A gun can also be used to threaten, intimidate or control someone without being fired.
That could include having a firearm present during an argument, making a verbal threat involving a gun or threatening suicide.
Wardell also cautioned against assuming the rural numbers are simply connected to the greater availability of hunting firearms. She said the report shows handguns are increasingly involved in intimate partner violence.
Another major concern is the period surrounding a separation.
While the first few months after leaving can be particularly dangerous, Wardell said the risk does not disappear after a certain amount of time. Events such as a court decision involving child custody can increase the danger months or even years after a separation.
She said there are also options for people concerned about access to firearms.
Haldimand Norfolk Women’s Services can help people understand those options and navigate the court system through its transitional support program. Wardell stressed the organization provides much more than emergency shelter, with programs covering counselling, housing, income, child care, health and other needs.
She said the broader community also has an important role to play, particularly in rural areas where people may face additional barriers to accessing services.
Wardell said friends, neighbours, relatives and co-workers do not have to become experts. Instead, they can learn the warning signs, know what services are available and help connect someone at risk with people who can provide professional support.
Haldimand Norfolk Women’s Services also offers free training for workplaces and community groups.
Anyone looking for support can anonymously contact the organization’s 24-hour support line at 1-800-265-8076.
Written by Jeremy Hall
