Intimate partner violence an epidemic in Canada, say experts – Winnipeg [Video]

The alleged murder of five family members at the hands of one of the victim’s common-law partner has intimate partner violence experts sounding the alarm.

On Feb. 11, 30-year-old Amanda Clearwater, her children Bethany Manoakeesick, 6, Jayven Manoakeesick, 4, and Isabella Manoakeesick, 2 months, and Clearwater’s niece Myah-Lee Gratton, 17, were allegedly killed by 29-year-old Ryan Manoakeesick. He faces 5 first-degree murder charges and remains in custody.

“This situation that happened is an absolute tragedy,” Andrea Gunraj with the Canadian Women’s Foundation told Global News.

“I’m hoping that we will have an all-of-Canada solution and a really community-grounded solution to gender-based violence and intimate partner abuse, because these tragedies just can’t happen anymore.”

According to Statistics Canada, between 2009 and 2022, 18 per cent of solved homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner.

Forty-six per cent of solved homicides of women and girls were perpetrated by an intimate partner, …