An anti-violence organization says B.C. is taking small steps to better protect women from abusive men. The incremental progress follows meetings earlier this year between women’s protection agencies, police leaders and government officials. “We’re hopeful and grateful for those baby steps. We’ve got a whole lot of baby steps to go,” said Marlene Goley, manager of the Cridge Transition House for Women in Victoria. Dangerous gaps in B.C.’s legal system were highlighted in the media earlier this year by a coalition of anti-violence organizations. They came together following the death of a Saanich woman, Laura Gover, in January. Her ex-husband is charged with second-degree murder. “We’re continuing to meet and we’re continuing to identify those areas where we really want to see some change,” Goley said. So far, she said, they’ve had productive conversations with police leaders about the enforcement of protection orders, which are also known as restraining or no-contact orders. Anti-violence organizations have said frontline police officers regularly fail to realize they can enforce restraining orders made in family law court, not just those made in criminal court. “We’ve been able to help police get some clarity that an order is an order and it’s enforceable, whether there’s a police-enforceable clause or not,” Goley said. She said efforts are also underway to streamline communication between service providers within the Ministry of Children and Family Development. “Government moves slowly,” Goley said. “There was some good momentum in the spring. It seems to feel like there’s been a bit of a lull in the summer.” A season of attention While improved protections percolate, community members are working to help women now. The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation is fundraising for the Cridge to help pay for costs that aren’t covered by its core government funding. The donations help pay for women’s moving expenses, child-care fees, gas and groceries, all of which can be prohibitively expensive when leaving an abusive home in the middle of a housing crisis. “We want to shed light and not forget about these situations that sometimes have a season of attention and then it sort of fades away,” said Michelle Kientopp, Royal LePage brokerage operations manager. On Oct. 22, Royal LePage is hosting its fourth annual Night Light Walk around Esquimalt Gorge Park, which supports the Cridge’s transitional homes. Kientopp is encouraging people to sign up and fundraise ahead of the walk. “When we hear stories of our donations going to help women find a new outfit to meet lawyers or go to an appointment or even to afford dentistry, you know, that is just so impactful to all of us,” she said. Between 2014 and 2024, the B.C. Coroners Service said 152 homicides were the result of intimate partner violence. VictimLink B.C. can connect you with local support services if you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence. Call or text 1-800-563-0808.
