About Us

The Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children (CREVAWC) was founded in 1992 as a collaborative venture between The University of Western Ontario, Fanshawe College and the London Coordinating Committee to End Women Abuse (a large organization comprised of violence against women service providers). The Centre was established in response to a federal study on the problem of violence against women, triggered by the 1989 murder of 14 women at École Polytechnique in Montreal.

CREVAWC joined the Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario in 2001.

Development of It’s Not Right! Neighbours, Friends and Families for Older Adults (INR-NFF):

In 2009, CREVAWC was asked by the Public Health Agency of Canada to adapt the Ontario domestic violence public education campaign, Neighbours, Friends and Families for abuse of older adults. The Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA), as well as professionals and advocates from all over the country, contributed to the development of the materials through a highly collaborative process over a year-long period. The resulting INR-NFF materials represent the very best collective thinking in Canada for public education on abuse and neglect of older adults.

New Horizons: It's Not Right! Changing Social Norms of Bystanders on Abuse of Older Adults

In 2012, CREVAWC submitted a successful proposal to HRSDC’s New Horizons grant program for a three-year project to develop a pan-Canadian approach on engaging bystanders on the issue of older adult abuse and neglect. As with the development of the initial materials, CNPEA served as the Advisory Committee on the first year of the project. During the second year, the advisory group was expanded to include a larger group of advisors, practitioners and advocates that reached into all provinces and territories in Canada. A Community of Practice was formed to provide a vehicle for ongoing learning and knowledge sharing that informed the project through to the end in June 2015.

The project produced a one-day workshop designed to educate and engage bystanders everywhere. The emphasis in the workshops is on teaching neighbours, friends and family members of seniors experiencing abuse to recognize the warning signs and then to take small practical steps to help that are safe and respectful. Scenarios taken from life, with a range of possible responses, will be produced to support the learning objectives. The project included a national training for elder abuse leaders and experts so that they were prepared to hold intervention workshops in their own regions and communities. A comprehensive trainer’s manual was developed to support the pan Canadian implementation.

Since the project completion in 2015, a number of provinces and territories have continued to invest in the INR project. They keep the vision alive of a national movement to educate and engage all citizens across the country. CREVAWC continues to look for federal funding that will support the next steps of the pan-Canadian model.