Effective Communication
Communication between people who have separated is often challenging. When there has been abuse, it can be especially difficult and may raise safety concerns.
In these situations, communication is not always just about parenting. An abusive ex-partner may use contact to continue patterns of control, including pressure, blame, intimidation,
Read more
Last summer, Luke’s Place heard from frontline workers across Ontario about their experiences supporting survivors in family court and helping them find a lawyer. A total of 104 frontline workers responded to our online survey, and 24 workers participated in our focus groups. What we heard from nearly all these workers was how challenging it is for survivors to find a family law lawyer to represent them.
Each year, Mental Health Awareness (May 4-10) invites us to pause and reflect on how we care for ourselves and one another. For those working on the frontlines of intimate partner violence (IPV), this week carries a deeper weight.
At Luke’s Place we see every day how the family law system intersects with trauma.
May is recognized as Sexual Violence Prevention Month in Ontario and across Canada. This is an important time to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual violence and to strengthen efforts to support survivors and prevent harm.
Sexual violence is deeply gendered. Women, girls, and gender-diverse people are far more likely to experience sexual violence than men.
Understanding how survivors experience the family law system is essential to improving access to safety and justice.
Over the past three years, Luke’s Place has partnered with Dr. Mavis Morton from the University of Guelph to conduct a province-wide research project exploring the family law experiences of women and gender-diverse survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) with intersecting identities.
March marks National Social Work Month, a time to recognize the dedication, compassion, and expertise of social workers everywhere. At Luke’s Place, we are incredibly fortunate to work alongside talented and committed social workers who support women and children navigating the family court system after experiencing intimate partner violence.
Their work is complex, emotionally demanding,
In December 2025, the federal government introduced Bill C-16: Protecting Victims Act, which proposes significant changes to various laws, including the Criminal Code. The stated purpose of this Bill is “to better protect survivors of gender-based violence, sexual violence and intimate partner violence and keep kids safe from predators.”
A key component of Bill C-16 is the criminalization of
January is Stalking Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about a form of abuse that is often hidden, minimized, or misunderstood. Stalking is about control, fear, and ongoing harm. In today’s world, technology has made stalking easier to carry out and harder to escape.
What is Stalking?
Stalking is a pattern of repeated,
Technology is part of our daily lives, and it changes fast. These changes can help people stay safe, but they can also be used to cause harm. New apps, devices, and websites can give survivors more control, but they also bring risks like spying, pretending to be someone else, harassment, and breaking into accounts.
November 4–5, 2025
In early November, Luke’s Place proudly hosted its 13th Annual Family Court Support Worker (FCSW) Gathering, a two-day, in-person training event that brought together more than 60 FCSWs from 38 organizations across the province.
This year, the Gathering introduced interactive workshops, presentations, and panel discussions, designed to equip FCSWs with practical tools and innovative approaches that can be applied in their work.
