One in four Canadian women suffer some form of abuse by their partners.
Women are at the greatest risk of increased violence – or murder – at the hands of their partner during the time just before or after they leave an abusive relationship.
Spousal homicide accounts for 15% of all homicides in Canada. In the 10-year period between 1979 and 1998, 1,901 people were killed by a spouse: 1,468 women and 433 men. A woman is nine times more likely to be murdered by an intimate partner than by a stranger.
Close to 1 in 5 or 17% of Canadians said they had experienced some form of emotional or financial abuse.
6% of Canadians reported that they were physically or sexually victimized.
Domestic abuse remains an immensely under-reported crime: it is estimated that just 25% of domestic violence incidents are reported.
Approximately 40% of wife assault incidents begin during a woman's first pregnancy.
Children are present and witness the abuse in 80% of domestic violence cases.
Children and adolescents who see their mother being abused can experience emotional and behavioural problems similar to children who are physically abused.
Children who witness woman abuse frequently experience post traumatic stress disorder.
The costs associated with physical and sexual violence against women in Canada totals over $4.2 billion each year. This includes medical fees, police services, social agencies, income assistance, unemployment, the justice system, educational support and temporary housing.
The costs of operating women's shelters in Canada total more than $135 million each year.
Last year, (January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010) Nova Vita provided emergency shelter for 299 people: 132 women, and 141 children.
Nova Vita also served 1,034 women, children and men in our community through counselling programs, transitional housing and other services.
The average occupancy rate for the 2009/2010 fiscal year was 117%. Simply put, we are always full.
The preceding information is a compilation of data and reports from several sources including Statistics Canada, the Ministry of the Solicitor General, Education Wife Assault, Toronto, the Ontario Women's Directorate, the Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children, and Nova Vita service statistics.
