Somebody Must Say These Things

To wrap up this season, we reflect on post-2020 mass shooting challenges linked to gender-based violence. Despite a recommended $25.6 million funding increase, transition houses still struggle with inadequate funding, affecting staff retention and service quality. While grassroots efforts provide some support, as well as some funding from the government, there is not as nearly enough to sustain th...

In this episode of Somebody Must Say These Things, we explore the importance of building a future free of violence against women, focusing on proactive measures to educate and empower our children, the next generation. Expert guests like Rhonda Fraser, Safety Outcome Advisor at the Nova Scotia Highest Risk Domestic Violence Table, Professor Suzie Dunn, and Dr. Katie Mendez, highlight the role of t...

We are often inundated with the lists of uses for technology in society. From how it can make our lives easier, to more comfortable, and even luxurious. In the same vein, technology can create community around the personal hardships that women endure as gender-based violence survivors. The opposite should also be considered. This episode explores how social media surveillance, perpetuates intimate...

In this week's episode, we hear the story of Mary, a survivor of intimate partner violence, who courageously shares her journey of escaping abuse and navigating the justice system. Like many gender-based violence survivors, in rural areas of Nova Scotia, trapped in isolation, Mary's quest for safety led her to confront the grim reality of a system ill-equipped to protect victims of gender-based vi...

There is a critical intersection of healthcare and intimate partner violence, and in this episode we explore the challenges faced by victims seeking care. Through firsthand accounts and expert insights, we take a look at the gaps in healthcare training, and resources for addressing gender-based violence, emphasizing the need for better education and structure within the system. Testimonials from s...

Host, and Director of the Chrysalis Transition House Association, Ginger MacPhee is back in this episode; delving into the complex issue of safety, as it relates to the stark realities of gender-based violence survivors. We hear from survivors and experts who provide insight into the various forms of abuse, and the lasting impact it has on mental and emotional well-being. The fear of post-separati...

This episode's focus is on the housing crisis, specifically its impact on survivors of intimate partner violence. The housing crisis in Nova Scotia was particularly exacerbated by COVID-19, especially in rural areas where the challenges of finding affordable housing are even more dire due to the lack of public tent communities, and the prevalence of derelict buildings, and un-winterized structures...

In this episode, we look into these changes and the increasing demand for support services during post-pandemic economic hardship. "The Silent Depression" is a term used to describe the observed increase of people seeking help for basic needs like food and shelter post COVID-19. The effects of this depression has exasperated the existing shortage of resources aimed to support survivors of gender-b...

Chapter 8 - In this final episode of Somebody Must Say These Things, we can see the tremendous role the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia plays to ensure a safer society for women and children. However, they need our help to secure stable funding. With less time devoted to lobbying for funding, THANS can dedicate themselves to assisting Nova Scotian women and children and building a brig...

Chapter 7 - In 1978, the first transition house opened in Nova Scotia. In 1989, the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia was incorporated. While this organization has done so much for women and children in this province, the instability of funding means they are always in jeopardy. In this episode, we spoke with survivors of abuse, Brenda, Flo, and Ginger, who can remember a time before tra...

Chapter 6 - “Success” is difficult to define for abuse survivors. It looks different for everyone. In this episode, we spoke with workers of transition houses to understand the different forms success takes and how shelters help women work toward these goals. This podcast was made possible by the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia. THANS exists to eliminate violence against women in Nova...

Chapter 5 - Violence can happen to any woman. However, some demographics are targeted more than others. This episode is dedicated to understanding just one of those demographics - indigenous women. After centuries of colonization and assimilation, indigenous women in Nova Scotia fight to overcome the systematic oppression and generational trauma that has been put upon them. The Mi’kmaw Healing Cen...

Chapter 4 - Violence Against Women is different across the province. In this episode, we wanted to highlight the specific challenges transition houses face when operating in rural communities - from the logistical to the societal. In a largely rural province, what does best practice look like? This podcast was made possible by the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia. THANS exists to elimin...

Chapter 3 - While many victims of abuse feel isolated alone, oftentimes they do not leave their abusers alone. Many women who escape to transition house bring with them the most important people in their lives: their children. In this episode, we spoke with Ginger and her daughter Jordan, who fled to a transition house together when Jordan was a baby. They recount their experiences and how they re...

Leaving an abusive partner is not as straightforward a decision as it may appear. The manipulation of victims and the threats made toward them make leaving the most dangerous time for women and children in abusive situations. In this episode, we spoke with transition house employees to understand what goes into leaving for a shelter safely and what women can expect upon arrival. This podcast was m...

Chapter 1 - Violence Against Women is a complex issue that is difficult to understand if you have not lived it. But it is all of our responsibility to learn so we can recognize the signs and help the women around us who may not be able to advocate for themselves. In this first episode, we break down what exactly Violence Against Women means, what causes it, and the systemic issues we face in tryin...

Somebody Must Say These Things is an 8-part series that fully investigates Violence Against Women in Nova Scotia. By speaking with survivors and the women who make it their mission to end the issue for good, this podcast casts a stark, unapologetic light on our society’s continued insufficient acknowledgement of Violence Against Women. We follow the stories of survivors and examine the critical, u...