On September 22, 2015, the Take Back the Night march in Renfrew County faced an unexpected cancellation. This annual event, observed globally to raise awareness about violence against women, was overshadowed by a tragic incident that night. Three properties in Ottawa Valley were cordoned off with police tape following the rampage of a local man who took the lives of three women: Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam.
The revelation of the perpetrator’s history of abusing women, a fact known to the community, law enforcement, and the judicial system, added to the shock and demands for change. Lori Norwood, the organizer of the 2025 Take Back the Night march in Killaloe, expressed that the wounds from that incident still feel fresh, with many individuals feeling scared and protective, as if the tragedy occurred recently.
While a decade has passed since the tragic killings, efforts to enhance women’s safety gained momentum three years ago following an inquest that produced 86 recommendations. Much of the progress has been driven at the grassroots level, with advocates like Malcolm Warmerdam, who lost his mother in the tragedy, becoming activists to push for necessary changes and address systemic failures.
The recommendations from the inquest stressed accountability, systemic improvements, better collaboration among service providers, education, training, intervention, and safety enhancements. Progress has been noticeable at the local level, with 106 municipalities in Ontario, including Kapuskasing and Toronto, declaring intimate partner violence as an epidemic, as the first step recommended by the inquest.
The efforts to implement the recommendations have largely been community-driven rather than top-down, fostering collaborative initiatives across different sectors. While some positive changes have been witnessed, there is a call for more government involvement in addressing the epidemic of intimate partner violence, which remains a pressing issue.
In Renfrew County, positive developments have been noted, including improved coordination between Victim Services and law enforcement agencies. The Ontario Provincial Police have also taken steps to enhance victim-centered approaches by deploying specialized “abuse issues investigators” across the province.
Advocates like Julianna Morin emphasize the need for survivor-centric spaces and streamlined access to essential services without unnecessary barriers. Recent shifts in language by police services to label murders as “femicides” reflect improved relationships between advocacy movements and justice sector partners, demonstrating progress in enhancing community safety.
While there is cautious optimism about the reduction in femicides in Ontario and the proposed legislation to address intimate partner violence, the focus remains on prevention as a crucial element. Pamela Cross, a prominent advocate, highlights the importance of exploring alternative approaches like restorative or transformative justice models to complement existing criminal laws in combating abusive behavior effectively.
For individuals impacted by family or intimate partner violence, crisis lines and local support services offer assistance. In cases of immediate danger, calling 911 is crucial for swift intervention and protection.
