York region organizations unite to confront intimate partner violence

Southlake Health in Newmarket joined with the Women’s Centre of York Region on Tuesday to mark Women Abuse Prevention Month by raising a purple ribbon flag outside the hospital’s emergency department. The event highlighted the ongoing impacts of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the need for stronger, long-term support systems.

Niv Bala, executive director of the Women’s Centre, emphasized that IPV is not limited to isolated incidents — it often results in lasting physical and mental health effects, including traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain, depression and PTSD. Without early intervention and sustained support, those consequences can carry forward for decades.She pointed to national Statistics Canada data showing more than 128,000 reported victims of IPV last year, nearly 80 per cent of whom were women and girls. In 2024 alone, 187 women and girls in Canada were killed as a result of gender-based violence.

At Southlake Health, emergency department director Alyson McQueen noted that hospitals are often where survivors first seek help. Staff are trained to identify signs of abuse, respond with sensitivity and connect patients to necessary resources. Supporting survivors, she said, requires compassion as much as medical care. York Regional Police also raised the purple ribbon flag, reaffirming their commitment to preventing and responding to IPV. Meanwhile, the York Region Centre for Community Safety in Markham launched a new campaign calling attention to chronic underfunding in violence support services, despite a rise in cases since the pandemic.

The Centre provides survivors with coordinated access to housing, legal support, counselling and safety planning — aiming to help people rebuild their lives with dignity and security.
Across York Region, organizations are stressing the same message: ending gender-based violence requires awareness, collaboration and ongoing community commitment.