Northern Ontario Woman Starts Program for Abuse Survivors

Joanne Ferland, an intimate partner violence (IPV) survivor from North Bay, Ont., rebuilt her life with her parents’ support after escaping an abusive relationship. She founded the Leap Into Financial Empowerment (LIFE) program to help IPV survivors manage their finances, offering private chequing accounts and financial advice. With a $50,000 grant from Equitable Bank, the program aims to expand across northeastern Ontario. Statistics reveal the staggering prevalence of IPV, with 44% of women reporting abuse and a woman murdered every six days by an intimate partner in Canada.

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