These parents turned agony of losing daughters to intimate partner violence into missions to help others

WARNING: This story contains discussion of intimate partner violence.

Brett Broadfoot never imagined fighting against intimate partner violence would become such a focal point in his life. 

The London, Ont., father admits he didn't know much about the issue and its prevalence until his daughter was killed last month. Now, Broadfoot and his family have made it their purpose to advocate for survivors and victims. 

"Everybody in this situation needs a voice and I don't think there's been a loud enough voice out there to protect people experiencing intimate partner violence," Broadfoot told CBC News.

"We want to get that stigma away and help anybody that we can so they don't have to feel what our family feels."

Breanna, 17, died in hospital on July 18 — two days after she was stabbed at a home in east London in a case police linked to domestic violence. An 18-year-old was shot by police, who say he had confronted them with a knife, and later died in hospital.

Since her death, Broadfoot said, the family has worked at learning more about the signs of intimate partner violence and resources available to those looking for support or to leave their relationships. The family has also started a foundation in Breanna's name to raise funds for victims' services and women's shelters. 

"We've learned that a lot of people experiencing intimate partner violence are embarrassed. They don't know who to go to and our community doesn't recognize the signs because it's not being taught or talked about enough," said Broadfoot. 

He said advocacy is also a way for the family to cope with the grief.  

"It gives you a focus and something to keep your mind on so you're not just constantly mourning every single moment. It's been an outlet that has been a little positive in such tragic times."

It's a similar situation for Dan Jennings, whose daughter Caitlin, 23, was allegedly killed by her boyfriend in London in July 2023. The case is before the courts and is still awaiting trial. 

Jennings said he's become a voice for other families impacted by this violence and it allows him to keep his daughter's memory alive as more than just a statistic, he said.

"If I'm going to share my story, I want it to be for a reason, and that is to change people's lives. It allows me to get out some of my anger but it's also very healing," said Jennings, who lives in Sault Ste. Marie. 

"The more people who talk about what the problem is, takes away power from the abusers and shifts it onto the people who are in that bad circumstance."