The growing volume of domestic abuse cases in both Lanark and Renfrew counties in rural eastern Ontario is alarmingly high, according to community agencies and police data.
“We’re seeing an increase in our crisis calls, and so what we’re finding is that people are calling about acts of violence. They’re not calling to say, ‘I’m a little bit concerned’. They’re calling when they’re in it,” said Erin Lee, executive director of Lanark County Interval House.
Lee, who for more than three decades has worked in shelters for women fleeing abuse in Carleton Place and Ottawa, said last year the crisis line at the Lanark County shelter received 3,000 calls — hundreds more than the agency received in the years before COVID.
The volume is rising across the province.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say reports of intimate partner violence were up by 18.1 per cent in Ontario in 2024, with 6,289 compared to 5,326 in 2023. And that was 13.5 per cent higher than in 2022.
Statistics released July 7 by the Ottawa Police Service show a nine per cent rise in reports in the past six months.
“Is there a reality that there are more incidents? Yes. Is there a reality that the incidents are more volatile? Yes. And is there an increased awareness and more discussion happening about it? Absolutely,” said Lee.
That discussion and new-found co-ordination with law enforcement is the only bright spot in this situation, she added.
Historically, the relationship between women’s shelters and police was complicated and somewhat detached. That’s starting to change, said Lee, who notes they now get calls from the OPP to “mobilize a team” when victims contact police.
But most cases of domestic abuse still go unreported.
In fact in 2019, 80 per cent of those who experienced intimate partner violence did not report to police, and according to the Canadian government, cases were more likely to come to the attention of police when there was a higher frequency of abuse.
In Lanark County, a woman who has experienced violence is now helping inform and train police officers on how to handle domestic situations.
“Police need to know that when women decide to leave, they’re most at risk. I give them insight into that journey and open their eyes to what women face,” said the trainer, whose name CBC is withholding to protect her safety.
A key factor in her own survival was that police immediately put her in touch with community agencies that provide a safe place to stay, counselling and group therapy, she said.
“On the day of the attack, an officer attended. She sat with me for hours on my front porch. I was scared and worried, in shock. My whole life had blown up,” she said.
This more victim-centred approach is welcome, says Lee.
“Who would have thought that you would have a survivor in a rural community going in and educating your OPP members on how they conduct business?” she asked, adding there’s still room for improvement.
“If the OPP has 500 calls for service, we would imagine that 500 calls should be referred. We’re not at that place yet.”
No one can say exactly why the domestic violence calls are climbing, although OPP have a theory.
“I think a lot of the effort that the OPP is putting into properly investigating intimate partner violence is paying off,” said acting Det. Staff Sgt. Nick Cloutier.
“Victims throughout all of our communities are more comfortable with police, have more trust in police, and are more comfortable coming forward.”
The murders of three women in Renfrew County in September 2015 is never far from the minds of community workers there. An inquest into the deadly rampage in 2022 produced 86 recommendations for agencies and police.
“Good things have come out of that inquest. We had various townships and the county itself declared intimate partner violence an epidemic, which opened up opportunities for supports,” said Mary Leigh Elliot, executive director of Victim Services of Renfrew County.
Coming out of the inquest, the OPP’s Cloutier said the force has introduced 70 “abuse issues investigators” across the province, hired to ensure their police work takes a victim-centred, trauma-informed approach.
“We have two in Upper Ottawa Valley, one in Renfrew and one in Lanark,” said Cloutier.
Those officers often refer survivors to Victim Services of Renfrew County for emotional and practical support, says Elliot. When it comes to intimate partner violence, sexual assaults and human trafficking, those calls have all gone up.
“[Comparing] … the 2023-2024 year to the 2024-2025 year … we had a 24 per cent increase in our referrals in those types of crimes,” said Elliot.
As in neighbouring Lanark County, Elliot says the co-ordination with police is improving. As to whether there have been more calls to police or more incidents, Elliot says it’s a little bit of both.
What’s really needed is prevention, she said.
“Education is key, and starting young,” said Elliot. “Teaching at a young age what a healthy relationship is and also providing support not only for victims, but I think perpetrators of intimate partner violence.”
