From Tragedy to Action: How Ontario is Arming Citizens with Legal Tools

OTTAWA, ON – July 28, 2026 – A public awareness campaign born from one of Ontario’s darkest chapters of intimate partner violence is entering a new, critical phase. The “See It, Name It, Change It” initiative, already a vital resource in Eastern Ontario, has now expanded to educate communities in Ottawa and Lanark County on the use of Canada's Red Flag laws—a legal mechanism designed to proactively remove weapons from potentially dangerous situations before they turn lethal. This expansion represents a significant strategic shift, moving from post-incident support to pre-emptive community action.

The initiative is a collaborative effort between Ottawa Victim Services (OVS), Lanark County Interval House & Community Support (LCIHCS), and the Victimology Research Centre (VRC) at Algonquin College. By placing information about these powerful legal tools directly into the hands of the public, these organizations are betting on an informed citizenry as the first line of defense against escalating violence.

A Lifeline Forged in Tragedy

The roots of the “See It, Name It, Change It” campaign are deeply embedded in the soil of rural tragedy. It was first launched in 2017 by Lanark County Interval House & Community Support, a direct response to a series of seven murders that shook rural eastern Ontario between September 2015 and February 2016. The campaign's core message was, and remains, starkly simple: you cannot change violence you are unwilling to name.

Its urgency was amplified following the 2022 inquest into the horrific 2015 femicides of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam in nearby Renfrew County, all murdered by the same man with a known history of violence. The inquest laid bare systemic failures and highlighted the desperate need for community-level education to recognize the warning signs of intimate partner violence and coercive control.

Recognizing that violence knows no geographical boundaries, Ottawa Victim Services partnered with LCIHCS in 2024 to adapt the campaign for an urban environment. This move came as the city grappled with its own crisis, with intimate partner violence being declared an “epidemic” in 2023. The urbanized campaign was tailored to meet the needs of a larger, more diverse population while preserving the original focus on education and safe intervention.

“This next phase of our See It, Name It, Change It campaign builds on years of collaboration between rural and urban victim-serving organizations,” said Heidi Illingworth, Executive Director of OVS. “We are helping people recognize risk earlier and understand that there may be legal options available to them before violence becomes lethal.”

Unpacking the 'Red Flag': A Proactive Legal Shield

The campaign's latest evolution is arguably its most potent. Funded by Public Safety Canada, it now aims to demystify Canada’s Red Flag laws, a term for legal orders that can temporarily remove firearms and other weapons from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. This is a critical development, particularly given the stark data on weapons and domestic violence.

“When someone is being harmed by their partner, they’re five times more likely to die if their partner has access to firearms, like guns,” explained Erin Lee, Executive Director of Lanark County Interval House & Community Support. “Weapons also increase the risk that a suicide attempt will end in death.”

The power of these laws lies in their accessibility. Contrary to common belief that only law enforcement can initiate such actions, the campaign emphasizes a crucial fact. “Red flag laws are legal measures that allow judges to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others,” stated Diana McGlinchey, Principal Investigator at the Victimology Research Centre. “Anyone can apply to a court for these emergency orders if they have safety concerns.”

This provision empowers family members, friends, and community service providers to take direct legal action. The process involves applying for an Emergency Prohibition Order or an Emergency Limitations on Access Order. These court orders can create immediate safety by removing weapons from a volatile situation, providing a crucial window for further intervention and support. The campaign provides clear, step-by-step guidance on this process, including information on protections available for applicants.

A Coordinated Strategy Backed by Federal Investment

This local initiative is a key part of a much larger, national strategy. In late 2025, Public Safety Canada announced over $3.7 million in federal funding for 23 organizations across the country to raise awareness of Red Flag laws. The goal was to ensure that those most at risk—including women, individuals with mental health challenges, and Indigenous and racialized communities—and their support networks understand how to use these legal protections.

Ottawa Victim Services was a direct recipient of this federal vision, being awarded nearly $200,000 to specifically integrate Red Flag law education into the “See It, Name It, Change It” framework. This federal backing signals a strategic pivot in Canada’s approach to gun violence, complementing enforcement with community-led prevention and public empowerment.

The timing is critical. According to Ottawa Police Service data from 2025, reports of domestic violence in the first half of the year had already increased by nine percent compared to the same period in 2024. This persistent rise underscores the urgent need for tools that can disrupt the cycle of violence before it escalates.

From Policy to Pavement: Taking the Message to the Public

To ensure the message reaches those who need it most, the campaign is rolling out a multi-pronged outreach strategy. Advertisements are now appearing across Ottawa’s LRT stations, bringing information about Red Flag laws directly into the daily commute of thousands of residents.

The centerpiece of the educational push is a dedicated website, stopviolence.ca/red-flags. This online hub serves as a comprehensive resource, offering clear and accessible information on what Red Flag laws are, who can apply for them, what the application process entails, and how to identify warning signs of weapons-related risk.

The site provides vital context on the intersection of weapons with intimate partner violence, coercive control, and suicide risk. It also serves as a crucial portal, directing visitors to legal information, safety planning resources, and victim support services. By translating complex legal options into an accessible public utility, the campaign is arming communities not with weapons, but with the knowledge to prevent their tragic use.