In the Centre of the Storm: Durham Speaks Out

In September 1997, a Community Coalition was initiated by the Durham Family Court Clinic to begin dialogue around custody and access issues. A primary concern raised during the initial meetings was the treatment and safety of women and children in the custody and access proceedings when woman abuse was involved.

A decision was made to apply for funding for a research and community response project to explore this issue with women who had survived abusive relationships and experienced custody and access proceedings.
 
A Steering Committee was established to oversee and organize this community response project when initial funding was obtained from the Ontario Women's Directorate. As the project developed, additional funding was obtained from Status of Women Canada.
 
 The original objectives of the Custody and Access Project were:

• To continue to explore avenues for systemic change in order to help ensure the safety of women and children who have left an abusive relationship and are dealing with custody and access issues.

• To develop action plans in consultation with survivors and key stakeholders to develop commitments for change in areas such as social development, policy effectiveness, encouraging legislative change, increasing national networking and public education.

• To provide a forum offering woman abuse survivors the opportunity to come together to generate social support and development as a united group.

To view the project report entitled, "In the Centre of the Storm: Durham Speaks Out" click here

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In May 2000, funding was obtained from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to assist with the development of a seamless system in Durham Region that promotes the safety and well being of woman abuse survivors and their children.

The outcome being aimed for is the production of a five-year plan and proposal for Durham Region to create a "pilot community."

The Trillium Planning Group was formed to lead this process and consists of two representatives from each of the partners:
• the Steering Committee overseeing the "Custody and Access Issues affecting Abused Women and the Children" project
• the Violence Prevention Council, as well as two project staff members.

Durham (Ontario) Region Info

Durham Region is located immediately east of Toronto in the Golden Horseshoe that stretches from Oshawa to Niagara Falls. Highway 401 is the major east west artery. The Municipality of Durham is comprised of 1,000 sq miles and is one of the fastest growing centres in North America.
www.region.durham.on.ca

The single most significant economic factor for the region has been the dramatic increase of residential development. A recent report by the Durham Planning Department estimates that the population of the Region of Durham was 531,000 in May 2001. A target of 760,000 people has been estimated for the number of people living in the Region by the year 2011, and a target of 970,000 people by the year 2021 - more than double the 1991 population.

The Region is made up of 8 municipalities including the city of Oshawa, the towns of Ajax, Pickering and Whitby, the townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge, and the Municipality of Clarington.

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