Over half of Calgary homicides this year domestic related: CPS

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Numbers provided by Calgary Police Service show that domestic-related homicides account for 54 per cent of the total homicides in the city as we approach 2019’s halfway mark.

In the past two months alone there have been three incidents including the explosion in Kincora that killed 22-year-old Dorsa Dehdari, the murders of Jasmine Lovett and her 22-month-old daughter Aliyah Sanderson, and the murder of a man in Rundle. By definition, domestic homicides include, but are not limited to, murders committed by a partner or family member.

The string of incidents reflects a broader issue of domestic violence across Calgary as local organizations try to keep up with the increased demand for services. Although they are facing heavy workloads and shelters can fill up quickly, YW Calgary and the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association are working around the clock to deliver services to prevent and respond to domestic violence.

“What we are seeing right now is an increase but also a lot of prevention as well,” Rekha Gadhia, career services manager with CIWA, said. The non-profit specializes in settlement and integration of refugees and immigrants into the community.

As Gadhia explains, integration can be a source of tension within a family, especially for men, that can lead to domestic violence, “When they come to a new country their qualifications are not recognized and often there is a role reversal that happens.”

READ MORE: Father deliberately set fire that killed both his daughter and himself: police

The loss of control over their circumstances, combined with challenges integrating into a new culture can lead to their masculinity and religious beliefs being challenged, which is why CIWA focuses on engaging men in dialogue to reduce stigma and help them adjust. It’s important to point out that while immigrant populations face a unique set of challenges that can make them vulnerable to domestic violence, it can affect anyone.

Leaving a relationship is not a single event, it’s a process, according to Lana Bentley, who runs program operations for YW Calgary.

However when women decide to end a relationship “they are at the greatest risk after they leave,” she said. “So after they leave the shelter, it is imperative that they receive support from someone who can help them create a safety plan [for] outside a secure physical facility.”

The advice is particularly poignant as the parents of Dorsa Dehdari were in the middle of a divorce at the time that Heidar Dehdari killed Dorsa and injured her younger sister. YW Calgary offers temporary shelter to women and their children fleeing domestic abuse or violence.

“For those who are unable to access a shelter bed, either because one isn’t available or they may not be ready to leave the relationship, we offer those folks support through our domestic violence outreach team,” Bentley added. The team is able to meet with clients at a location of their choosing to avoid tipping off their abusers.

READ MORE: Victims of domestic abuse face danger when trying to leave: experts

A new community-based model for responding to domestic violence is being developed in partnership with CPS and community agencies including CIWA and YW Calgary that will strengthen how frontline workers respond and address domestic abuse and violence to stop domestic-related murders from happening.