The federal government is trying to crack down on family violence, with this latest effort coming in the form of a $750,000 contribution to various community programs throughout B.C.
One of the agencies that received a chunk of this funding was Abbotsford’s Archway Community Services for its Abby Dads program.
This support service aims to help dads achieve healthier relationships with their loved ones and better process their emotions through things like support meetings and other drop-in activities.
Domestic abuse continues to be a major problem in Canada, with the rate of family violence rising each year since 2016.
According to Statistics Canada, there were approximately 350 victims of family violence per every 100,000 Canadians in 2023, which is a significant jump from the 2016 rate of 286 victims.
This is just the cases that are actually reported to police, with some sources estimating that around 70 per cent of domestic abuse is never reported at all.
So the continually increasing rate of family violence in Canada is likely just the tip of the iceberg, with the true rate of this violence largely unknown.
Women and Gender Equality Minister Rechie Valdez said that reducing this type of violence is about being proactive rather than reactive.
“Preventing gender-based violence means reaching people before harm begins, and that includes working with men to build healthier relationships and stronger families,” Valdez said.
“Through the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, the federal government is proud to support British Columbia in expanding access to proven, community-led programs that help create safer homes across the province.”
In comparison to the rest of the country, B.C. has a fairly low rate of family violence.
As of 2023, there were 277 victims of family violence per 100,000 B.C. residents, which is the second-lowest in Canada.
To help bring this number even lower, the government distributed thousands of dollars to 16 different B.C. domestic violence intervention programs, six of which are located in the Lower Mainland.
Abby Dads alone was given $32,000 to continue offering its various services.
B.C. parliamentary secretary for gender equity Jennifer Blatherwick said that this funding is a crucial part of the fight against family violence because it helps keep programs like Abby Dads afloat.
“Domestic-violence intervention programs help disrupt cycles of abuse and equip people with the tools they need to build safe and supportive family environments,” Blatherwick said.