Help her stay safe this holiday season

Thanks to you, Luke’s Place responded quickly to the pandemic. Help us continue!

Toronto Star article: ‘We haven’t come very far’ – YWCA Toronto and women’s shelters call on government to address root causes of Polytechnique massacre anniversary

Luke’s Place Legal Director, Pamela Cross, was interviewed for a Toronto Star article on the anniversary of the Polytechnique massacre. The article reflects on the massacre and highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and their safety.

“There were a whole lot of factors that combined when the pandemic first hit that put women still living with their abuser in a very vulnerable position,” said Pamela Cross,

Ontario’s family law takes a step forward in protecting the vulnerable: Toronto Star op-ed

Luke’s Place Legal Director, Pamela Cross, published an opinion piece in The Toronto Star about the passing of Bill 207: An Act to amend the Children’s Law Reform Act, the Courts of Justice Act, the Family Law Act and other Acts respecting various family law matters.

Last week’s passage of Bill 207,

TVO article: ‘Vagueness is a gift to an abuser’: What the Tories got right — and wrong — on Bill 207

Journalist Jane Gerster interviewed Luke’s Place and other women’s advocates/services about Bill 207 and its impact on women, as well as the importance of programs like the Family Court Support Worker Program in supporting women through the complex family law system.

Advocates such as Pamela Cross, legal director at Luke’s Place,

CTV’s W5 article: ‘Why does he keep abusing?’ Changing the question about intimate partner violence

As part of CTV’s W5 episode Unrestrained, host Avery Haines interviewed Luke’s Place Legal Director, Pamela Cross. Unrestrained aired at 7:00pm EST on November 14, 2020.

Pamela spoke about the complex family law system and described how restraining orders don’t do enough to protect women in abusive relationships.

When law does not equal justice: Family law and violence against women

Legal Director Pamela Cross delivered the keynote address to the Promoting Access to Justice for Survivors (PATHS) Conference on Monday November 9, 2020.

Good morning! I am really happy to be with all of you today, and thank PATHS for all the work it took to turn this in-person conference into an online event.

Brief on Bill 207: An Act to amend the Children’s Law Reform Act, the Courts of Justice Act, the Family Law Act and other Acts respecting various family law matters

Updated endorsements – Brief by Luke’s Place Support and Resource Centre, Durham Region, Ontario
Presented by Pamela Cross, October 5, 2020

This brief responds to Bill 207: An Act to amend the Children’s Law Reform Act, the Courts of Justice Act, the Family Law Act and other Acts respecting various family law matters.

Ontario’s Fall 2020 Budget Consultation Submission: Family Court Support Worker Program

Ontario’s Family Court Support Worker Program provides invaluable supports to increasing numbers of domestic violence survivors who are involved in the family court process. It has done so with no funding enhancement since its inception in 2011.

The following are speaking notes from a presentation to Honourable Rod Phillips, Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy,

Pamela Cross celebrated with Queen’s University award

Our Legal Director, Pamela Cross, has been recognized with a Queen’s Law alumni award. Pam receives the J.A. (Alec) Corry Distinguished Alumni Award for excelling in a career outside the traditional practice of law.
Described as “a warrior for victims of domestic violence”, Pam was chosen by the Dean’s Council Awards Committee.