What is the Violence Link?
The relationship between violence against people and animals is commonly known as the Violence Link. Research shows that violence toward people (interpersonal violence) and violence toward animals (animal cruelty) are part of a larger pattern of violent crimes that co-exist. Cases of inter partner violence, sexual abuse and child abuse (including child sexual abuse), gang violence, youth crime, organized crime, assault, homicide, weapons and illicit drugs also commonly involve animal abuse.
The Canadian Violence Link Coalition
The Canadian Violence Link Coalition (CVLC) was formed in 2018 as a result of issues brought forward at Humane Canada’s 2017 Canadian Violence Link Conference.
The Canadian Violence Link Coalition recognizes the link between interpersonal abuse and animal abuse as well as the intersection of vulnerabilities in both populations. Despite evidence illustrating that better outcomes are achieved when a cross sectoral approach is adopted, animal abuse and human abuse are legislated for and dealt with separately. Further, lack of awareness, education and training on the Violence Link inhibits collaboration between sectors.
The CVLC’s purpose is to bring together stakeholders who are interested in confronting the human-animal Violence Link in order to bring about systemic, lasting change by:
- Engaging with law and policy makers on relevant legislative and policy developments that recognize the Violence Link
- Advancing awareness about the Violence Link among stakeholders through educational and awareness campaigns, conferences, workshops and other similar initiatives
- Advancing awareness of the Violence Link and available resources among the Canadian public, for example with respect to specific Violence Link cases
- Encouraging a cross-sectoral approach by providing resources and tools for regional coalitions and networks which address the Violence Link on a community basis such as cross reporting tools
If you are interested in learning more about the work of the CVLC and/or in joining the CVLC, please contact Humane Canada’s Director, National Programs, Kathy Duncan at kathy@humanecanada.ca
CVLC Newsletter
New for 2021, we are pleased to bring you the Canadian Violence Link Coalition Newsletter:
Violence Link Projects Underway
- The National Violence Link Conference
- Regional Violence Link Workshops
- Violence Link Training for police officers across the country
- An amendment to section 160 of the Criminal Code of Canada (bestiality)
- Adding training on the Violence Link into Bill C-3 on judicial training
- Amending ViCLAS book to add animal abuse questions
- Amending threat assessment questionnaires to add animal abuse questions
- The National Centre for the Prosecution of Animal Cruelty (NCPAC) including the annual prosecution of animal abuse conference
- Judicial training on the Violence Link, spearheaded by The Honourable Michael A. Kelen, Retired Justice of the Federal Court of Canada
- Tracking the reporting and prosecution of animal abuse and violence link crimes (via Humane Canada’s Measuring Progress Toward a Humane Canada legal keystones)
- The ACT (Awareness, Collaboration, Tools) Project
Resources
- 2021 Survey on Awareness of the Violence Link Across 10 Key Sectors – Survey Results and Summary
- 2017 Canadian Violence Link Conference Final Report
- 2019 Canadian Violence Link Conference Final Report
- The Violence Link – Review of the Literature
- Incorporating the LINK into Social Work & Violence Against Women Shelters including intake questions
- Saskatchewan SPCA’s Violence Link Website
- Animal and Interpersonal Abuse Research Group (AIPARG) Website
- National Link Coalition Website (Violence Link Coalition in the USA)
- Community Veterinary Outreach’s Animal Care Guidelines for Emergency Co-Sheltering
- CVLC Speaker’s Bureau – we have a list of Violence Link experts available to present to your organization. Most of these speakers will present for free or for a small honorarium. Please get in touch: kathy@humanecanada.ca to arrange
Members of the Canadian Violence Link Coalition Steering Committee
- Destiny Bedwell – Communications and Marketing Coordinator, Ontario 211 Service
- Rhianydd Bellis – BC Crown Counsel
- Sarah Bernardi – Clinical Counsellor, Ontario Veterinary College Health Sciences Centre
- Barbara Cartwright – Chief Executive Officer, Humane Canada
- Dr. Kendra Coulter – Professor in Management and Organizational Studies, Huron University College at Western University
- Constable Ilka Cunningham – Animal Cruelty Investigation Unit, Edmonton Police Service
- Tara Dobec – Assistant Crown Attorney, Ontario
- Dr. Margaret Doyle – Veterinarian, VCA Canada
- Kathy Duncan – Director, National Programs, Humane Canada
- Constable Ted Dyck – Animal Cruelty Investigation Unit, Edmonton Police Service
- Dr. Amy Fitzgerald – Professor, University of Windsor
- Crystal Giesbrecht – Director of Research and Communications, Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS)
- Inspector Leslie Hadfield, Instructor, Atlantic Police Academy
- Christine Hartig – Strategic Support Officer, By-law and Regulatory Services, City of Ottawa
- Hanif Karim – Human Rights, Equity and Health Policy Officer, British Columbia Nurses’ Union
- The Hon. Michael A. Kelen – Retired Justice of the Federal Court of Canada
- Sierra Kortenbach – Regional Mental Health & Wellness Liaison, Fraser-Salish Region First Nations Health Authority
- Louise Lathey (Acting Chair), Independent Consultant – Animal Cruelty & Violence Prevention (Currently representing BC SPCA)
- Heidi Libesman – Founder, CEO and Chair, One Health Partners
- Dallas Mack – Ontario Crown Counsel
- Jenny Mason – Lawyer and Policy Advisor, PEI
- Celeste Morales – Lead Researcher, Vancouver Humane Society
- Brad Nichols – Director of Operations and Enforcement, Calgary Humane Society
- Dr. Norah Nixon, Faculty, Algonquin College
- Kathy Powelson – Executive Director, Paws for Hope Animal Foundation
- Cassie Preston – No Pet Left Behind Coordinator, Paws for Hope Animal Foundation
- Michelle Seaman – Lead, Victims of Crime Section, Vulnerable Persons Unit, RCMP
- Cst. Dennis Smithson – Community Resource Officer, Animal Abuse Investigator, Patrol Training Officer Coordinator, District 7, Calgary Police Service
- Dr. Andrew Sparling, DVM – Board Member, Ontario Veterinary Medical Association
- Dr. Rochelle Stevenson – Assistant Professor, Thompson Rivers University
- Frances Wach – Executive Director, Saskatchewan SPCA
- Donna Watson-Elliott, RSW – Manager, Victim Support Unit, Ottawa Police Service
- Erin Whitmore – Executive Director, Ending Violence Association of Canada
- Dr. Jane Young – Chair, Women for Humane Canada
- Laura Zmud – Family Ties Coordinator, Saskatchewan SPCA
The Canadian Violence Link Coalition is part of Humane Canada’s groundbreaking Criminal Justice System Reform Program. For more details on this program, click here.