Community where N.S. woman was killed calls for action against domestic violence

Friends, family and neighbours of a woman who was killed by her partner earlier this year are calling for more to be done to address intimate partner violence in Nova Scotia.

Dozens of people participated in a walk on Friday in Enfield, N.S., where Brenda Tatlock-Burke was killed by her husband in October.

Her death was one of three fatal cases of intimate partner violence in Nova Scotia over a three-week period. 

"We knew Brenda and we had no idea she was living in silence," said Noreen Corkum, the walk organizer and a friend of Tatlock-Burke.

Corkum and her daughter, Natacha Provost, said they wanted to put on the event to support everyone suffering from intimate partner violence, encourage people to talk about it and highlight the need for more help for individuals in these situations. 

"We need more programs," Corkum said. "We need more voices coming out and saying, 'This is what I've lived through and these are the steps that we need to take in order to get the help that people need.'"

Some people who showed up only knew Tatlock-Burke through others, but wanted to participate in the walk because of their own experiences with intimate partner violence.

Caet Moir said she's a longtime friend of Tatlock-Burke's sister. She said she's had several family members affected by domestic violence and it's typically someone you don't expect who is being hurt by a loved one. 

"I want to see us get away from the idea that victims have to prove themselves," Moir said.

"The very idea that you have to prove that [you're a victim] puts you in danger. It's the very reason people don't say anything."

Nova Scotia politicians passed a bill in September declaring domestic violence an epidemic in the province.

The Mass Casualty Commission report said intimate partner violence played a role in the April 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia. 

The head of the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia said she canvassed political parties during last month's provincial election campaign to see what they would do to address intimate partner violence.

Premier Tim Houston said during the campaign that government and organizations have been working to implement recommendations from the commission's report. 

"Domestic and gender-based violence is an issue our government takes very seriously," Houston said in a statement at the time.