July 24th marks International Self-Care Day, a time to recognize and reaffirm the importance of taking care of ourselves.
As we shared during Mental Health Awareness Week, self-care can be an act of preservation, resistance and rest. For many survivors, the legal systems they must navigate are often complex and may not always support their safety and healing,
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Celebrating 22 years of Leadership, Advocacy, and Transformation
It is with deep gratitude that I reflect on this past fiscal year at Luke’s Place, my final year as Executive Director.
This year, our team supported more women than ever before, helping them to navigate the complexities of the family law system with compassion,
On a recent episode of CBC Radio’s Just Asking with Saroja Coelho, feminist lawyer and advocate Pamela Cross joined the conversation to talk about a form of abuse that’s all around us, but still largely invisible: coercive control.
Pamela Cross brings decades of experience to this issue. She’s a member of Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee,
July marks Disability Pride Month. A time to celebrate the resilience, diversity, and contributions of people with disabilities, while also confronting the systemic ableism that persists in our communities. At Luke’s Place, we recognize that disability justice is deeply intertwined with gender justice, especially for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV).
This month marks three years since the conclusion of the inquest into the tragic femicides of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam. In the wake of this violence, the 2022 inquest resulted in 86 urgent recommendations aimed at preventing intimate partner violence (IPV) and femicide across Ontario.
Led by the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, Luke’s Place has joined other VAW organizations in raising urgent concerns about the implications of Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act. As a strong leader in advocating for the rights and safety of survivors of gender based violence, the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic has raised significant concerns about how this legislation risks undermining Canada’s commitments to those it is meant to protect.
June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to reflect on the histories, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Turtle Island. It’s also a moment to acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonialism and systemic violence that continue to affect Indigenous communities today.
Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit,
June is 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Month, a time to celebrate the diversity, resilience, and contributions of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other gender and sexually diverse individuals. While Pride is a celebration, it’s also a reminder of the ongoing struggles against discrimination, violence, and systemic barriers faced by the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
(Durham Region, ON) – On Thursday, May 22nd, the team at Luke’s Place met with MPP Lorne Coe to speak about the impact that their two-year, $199,800 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation has had since receiving it in 2023. Since then, Luke’s Place has been successful in strengthening its internal capacity,
We are excited to announce a significant leadership transition at Luke’s Place.
Following a thoughtful and thorough search process, The Board of Directors are thrilled to welcome Lily Pourzand as the incoming Executive Director of Luke’s Place.
Lily is a first-generation immigrant woman who came to Canada for political safety and personal freedom in 1999 after graduating from law school in Tehran,
