Purple Lights Nights Abbotsford & Fraser Valley

Remembering Women and Girls
Killed in Canada by Femicide in 2025

She was somebody’s daughter.
She was somebody’s mother.
She was somebody’s sister.
She was somebody’s friend.

148 women & girls were violently killed in Canada in 2025, involving 116 primary or sole male accused (90%) where accused identified.

Percentage of total
• Ontario: 34.7%
• British Columbia: 20.1%
• Manitoba: 11.1%
• Alberta: 9.7%
• Quebec: 9.7%
• Saskatchewan: 6.9%
• Nova Scotia: 2.8%
• New Brunswick: 2.1%
• Prince Edward Island: 1.4%
• Northwest Territories: 1.4%
No victims noted were from Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, or Nunavut.

Source: Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability (CFOJA)

What is femicide?
Femicide is the intentional killing of women and girls because they are women. It is the most extreme form of gender-based violence and is rooted in sexism, misogyny, discrimination, and unequal power relations.
In Canada, the 1989 Montreal Massacre is often cited as an example of femicide. The attacker specifically targeted women, expressing hatred toward feminists before killing 14 women at École Polytechnique.
Recognizing femicide helps us understand that these deaths are not random acts of violence—they are connected to broader patterns of violence against women and girls. Naming femicide is an important step toward prevention, accountability, and social change.

Closing arguments delayed after accused killer testifies, then parts ways with lawyer

Vitali Stefanski pleaded not guilty last month in the killing of his ex-wife, whose body was found with numerous stab wounds off a B.C. forest road in 2024.

He testified last week that she stabbed herself in his car, and while he denied dumping her body, he said she slipped from his grasp by the road.

Police and prosecutors say Stefanski confessed to killing his ex-wife when he emerged shoeless from the forest and encountered police who were towing away his car a day after the woman’s disappearance.

If the jury finds him guilty, Stefanski faces a minimum sentence of life in prison with no parole for at least 10 years.

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Intimate partner violence continues to claim the lives of women across Canada.
In 2024, approximately 81 women were killed by a current or former intimate partner, contributing to more than 700 intimate partner homicide victims between 2019 and 2024. These deaths highlight the ongoing need for prevention, early intervention, survivor supports, and stronger measures to protect those at risk. (Source- statscan.gc.ca)

Remembering:
• Bailey McCourt (32, BC)
• Laura Gover-Basar (BC)
• Rommelia Asuncion (24, ON) and her infant daughter
• Charlene Shellard (49, ON)
• Joanne Suk-Wah Tse (69, AB)
• Pamela Jarvis (45, BC)
• Lindsay Batts (44, BC)
• Kiara Agnew (23, BC)

Each name represents a life lost and a reminder of the urgent need for prevention, protection, and support for those experiencing intimate partner violence.

🇨🇦 A significant change is coming to Canada’s criminal justice system.
As of Wednesday, a private member’s bill introduced by a Conservative MP has officially become law, strengthening the country’s response to intimate partner violence.
The legislation updates the Criminal Code so that anyone who kills their intimate partner can be charged with first-degree murder, even if prosecutors cannot prove the act was planned or deliberate in advance.
Supporters say the change recognizes the unique and serious nature of intimate partner violence, ensuring harsher penalties and greater accountability for offenders.
The move marks a major shift in how Canada addresses intimate partner violence and reflects growing calls for stronger protections for victims and survivors.

Strangulation is a medical emergency—and it doesn’t always leave visible marks.

Many people mistakenly use the terms choking and strangulation interchangeably, but they are not the same. Strangulation occurs when external pressure is applied to the neck, restricting blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Even a few seconds can cause serious internal injuries, loss of consciousness, brain injury, stroke, or death.

⚠️ Important facts:
• Up to half of strangulation victims may have no visible external injuries.
• Symptoms can appear immediately or develop hours to days later.
• Warning signs include difficulty breathing, neck pain, dizziness, confusion, voice changes, memory loss, and loss of consciousness.
• Survivors of intimate partner strangulation face a significantly increased risk of future lethal violence.

If you or someone you know has experienced strangulation, seek immediate medical attention even if there are no visible signs of injury.

2nd Annual Meet & Greet for Intimate Partner Violence Front-Line Workers ✨

We were grateful to gather with dedicated professionals for a morning of connection, collaboration, and knowledge sharing focused on strengthening support for individuals and families impacted by intimate partner violence.

A special thank you to our guest speakers:
• Christina Simpson, Forensic Nursing Service, Abbotsford Regional Hospital
• Dr. Amanda V. McCormick, University of the Fraser Valley
• Frances de Boer, Archway Community Services

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to meaningful conversations that help build safer, healthier communities. Together, we continue strengthening our community response to intimate partner violence.

"Nearly half of domestic abuse survivors delay leaving dangerous situations because they don’t want to abandon their pets. That’s why actress Mariska Hargitay partnered with the Purple Leash Project, to make sure pets are welcome in shelters so that no one has to choose between their safety and their beloved animals." - via The Female Quotient

The fear the many women in abusive situations have for their pets is well-founded: over 70% of pet owners entering domestic violence shelters report that their abuser had threatened, injured, or killed family pets as a means of control. As of 2024, however, the Domestic Violence Services Network reports that only about 15 percent of domestic violence shelters accept pets.

The Purple Leash Project, a partnership between Purina and RedRover, a non-profit organization that helps people care for their pets during crisis situations, works to make domestic violence shelters pet-friendly so survivors don't have to choose between their safety and their pets. You can help by supporting organizations like RedRover, spreading awareness, or advocating for pet-friendly policies at local shelters.

To learn more or to give to RedRover so more survivors can find safety with their pets, visit https://redrover.org/ways-to-give/

For an excellent book for older teens and adults about the early warning signs of abusive relationships, myths about abusive personalities, and how to get help, we highly recommend "Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men" at https://www.amightygirl.com/why-does-he-do-that

For two excellent books about a tween girls' experience with sexual harassment - both for 10 and up - check out "Maybe He Just Likes You" (https://www.amightygirl.com/maybe-he-just-likes-you) and "That's What Friends Do" (https://www.amightygirl.com/that-s-what-friends-do)

To teach younger children -- girls and boys alike -- about asserting their own boundaries and respecting the boundaries of others, we highly recommend "Let's Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent, and Respect" for ages 4 to 7 (https://www.amightygirl.com/body-boundaries) and "Consent (for Kids!)" for ages 6 to 10 (https://www.amightygirl.com/consent-for-kids)

And if you’re a parent concerned that your daughter may be in an unhealthy relationship, check out the books “But I Love Him: Protecting Your Teen Daughter from Controlling, Abusive Relationships” (https://www.amightygirl.com/but-i-love-him) and “Saving Beauty From The Beast: How to Protect Your Daughter from an Unhealthy Relationship” (https://www.amightygirl.com/saving-beauty-from-the-beast)

Historic ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada: victims of intimate partner violence can now sue abusers under a new legal category called the “tort of intimate partner violence.”
The court recognized that abuse goes beyond physical violence — including coercive control, manipulation, intimidation, isolation, surveillance, economic abuse, and sexual coercion.
The landmark decision came from Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, where the court ruled that existing laws didn’t fully address the harm caused by IPV, especially the loss of autonomy, dignity, and equality experienced by survivors.
Advocates and B.C.’s attorney general are calling the ruling a major step forward for survivors seeking justice.