For those experiencing domestic violence, the holidays can be a dangerous time, experts say

Though the holidays are a time of connection and celebration for many people, for those experiencing intimate partner violence, it can be a dangerous time of year where there is no escape from their abuser, front-line service providers say. 

While research on exact numbers is limited, some organizations that work with domestic violence survivors in the Greater Toronto Area say they see a rise in calls and requests for help during the holidays year after year. 

Last year, Victim Services Toronto saw a 20 per cent increase in calls for service in December compared to November, said Jasminder Sekhon, director of community engagement with the service provider. 

That's partly because people are typically spending more time indoors, and more time with their abusers, during the holidays — and have fewer opportunities to get away, Sekhon said. 

"People aren't going to work as often themselves, and so there's really no reprieve, no escape, and so that's the challenge for people experiencing violence."

Lisa Manuel, clinical services director at Family Service Toronto, which provides a variety of supports for families, said their requests for service doubled between November and December this year. 

"We know that the stress on families increases during the holiday season, as families come together," she said in an email. 

"Families are already feeling the pressures to meet their basic needs, and this become compounded at this time of year as people try to live up to expectations and want to provide for their children." 

A report from the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) that analyzed police data and media stories found there were 42 confirmed femicides in Ontario between November 2023 and July 2024, up from 38 during the same time period a year prior. 

Femicide is defined as "the killing of one or more females, primarily by males, because they are female," according to the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice.

In November, the Ontario NDP called on the province to declare intimate partner violence (IPV) an epidemic, something Toronto and the Peel Region did last year. 

WATCH | Advocates call for Ontario to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic: 

At the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, which offers legal counsel and other services for women experiencing abuse, executive director Deepa Mattoo said they often see more clients approaching them for help in early December.

Many of those clients say they are anxious about a possible escalation of violence over the holidays, Mattoo said.