Photo: Erin Lee, Lanark County Interval House
This month marks four years since the CKW Inquest exposed serious gaps in the systems meant to protect people facing intimate partner violence.
The latest episode of *Silence Broken: The IPV Talks* looks back at the inquest into the murders of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam in Renfrew County.
Host Bob Perreault and Lanark County Interval House and Community Support Executive Director Erin Lee speak with Pamela Cross, a Canadian feminist lawyer, women’s advocate, and representative of Luke’s Place.
Cross was an expert witness at the inquest. Lee was also a witness. Both now sit on Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee.
Cross says one recommendation still stands out: Declaring Intimate Partner Violence an epidemic.
That refers to the jury’s first recommendation. Lanark County was the first municipality to make that declaration.
The episode also looks at progress in areas such as privacy rules, community safety planning, restorative justice and changes to the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee.
Cross says the justice system still cannot rely only on punishment if it wants to prevent future violence.
Lee says local communities have used the inquest recommendations to push for change, especially in rural areas.
But both Lee and Cross say major gaps remain, including oversight, accountability and making sure recommendations are actually carried out.
Part two of the conversation will continue next week.
You can listen to the complete podcast below.
