Members of an eastern Ontario community shaken by the deaths of three women at the hands of a former domestic partner did more than just grieve for the victims during a recent forensic inquest—they rallied with participants to help them through it.
As witnesses to the investigation shared harrowing details about the ravages of intimate partner violence during the month of June and detailed how it contributed to the death of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam, supporters from Renfrew County and beyond came forward. each day in an attempt to limit the emotional cost of the process.
The women were murdered on their local properties on September 22, 2015 by Basil Borutski, a man with a long history of violence against women, with whom the three had a previous relationship.
As witnesses testified in a Pembroke, Ontario hotel conference room, a very different scene unfolded at a similar facility nearby.
“They booked a room at the hotel across the street where there was always food, drink and human company for anyone who needed a break from the investigation,” reads a blog post by Pamela Cross, a lawyer and expert on violence against women who testified. . in the query “They made sure allies were in the room every day of the proceedings, even as they kept their own services running as well.”
Read more:
A coordinated approach to intimate partner violence is needed, experts say in the wake of research
Such actions by the allies, as well as the nature of the investigation itself, made Cross feel that the process was as hopeful as it was solemn.
“There were a lot of people who were cynical about the possibility of the investigation, and I’m not an idiot. We’ve seen recommendations before, hundreds if not thousands of them, and often very few of them are implemented,” Cross, who conducted community consultations before the investigation, said in an interview.
“It’s hard not to be cynical, but the way this research was organized in such a collaborative way and with so much input from the community from day one, I also felt hope. And I never lost that hope.”
The local advocacy organization Ending Violence Against Women: Renfrew County decorated the Inquiry Room with peace lilies and handed out magic wands with messages of hope. Community members brought homemade treats for those who witnessed the process, and mental health support was available for anyone in need.
Lisa Oegema of Victim Services of Renfrew County, one of the many organizations that make up the EVA – Renfrew County coalition, said these little touches filled the room with “positive, caring and nurturing energy.”
“With all of that coming together, all of those pieces, the energy in the room, … the hope for change, it’s what got you through every day,” said Oegema, who gave testimony and personally attended the investigation several other times. . .
Read more:
‘Much remains to be done’: Lawyers, murder victim’s daughter share proposals in investigation
When he first approached the Renfrew County community about the possibility of an investigation three years ago, Oegema said people were clear about what they wanted from the start.
“Please don’t come in and rip the band-aid off of our community unless there’s a change,” he recalled residents saying as he pondered the 86 recommendations the five-member jury came up with last Tuesday.
They included one for the Ontario government to formally declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General has said “it will take time to properly review and consider” the recommendations.
Oegema said the investigation did not disappoint.
“Although the days were long and there was great anguish listening to many of the witness testimonies, I believe it was for the greater good. And I really believe that change will happen,” she said.
Many witnesses told the jury that Borutski had writing on the wall. A review of the case found that the perpetrator had been involved in the criminal and family justice system for 40 years, with repeatedly documented concerns about domestic violence and threats to harm others.
Culleton, Kuzyk and Warmerdam had all been abused by the perpetrator and told multiple people that they lived in fear of him. They told friends, family, or people who work in the criminal justice system about the depth of those fears.
Read more:
Ontario should declare intimate partner violence an epidemic, says grand jury
Oegema said EVA – Renfrew County will meet again in September to review the jury’s recommendations and identify areas for improvement to continue the fight to end violence against women.
“When we sit down to review these recommendations, we’ll be able to say, ‘Yes, our agency can do that,’” he said.
Erin Lee, executive director of Lanark County Interval House and Community Support, also testified at the inquest and brought her staff there in solidarity.
He said it was refreshing to see the investigation into the deaths of Culleton, Kuzyk and Warmerdam focus specifically on intimate partner violence in rural communities.
The research heard that support service providers in more remote areas tend to have limited financial resources to support their work, while victims in those communities face numerous barriers when trying to seek support.
Although some of the recommendations stemming from the research will require “political will,” Lee said anti-violence agencies in Ontario will continue to “lean in and work to create ongoing change” within their communities.
“We will not give up. We will continue to fight the good fight. We will adopt the recommendations and try to move them forward,” he said. “Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam will not be forgotten. They will be remembered and their names will be said.”
© 2022 The Canadian Press