Lisa Banfield, a survivor of 19 years of abuse from her partner Gabriel Wortman, has finally shared her story six years after he killed 22 people in Nova Scotia in April 2020. In her book, *The First Survivor: Life With Canada’s Deadliest Mass Shooter*, she discusses the link between domestic violence and societal violence, emphasizing the need for public awareness of domestic abuse as a public health issue. Despite criticism from victims’ families, Banfield’s narrative has inspired others to seek help, highlighting the importance of early intervention in preventing violence. Her experiences reveal the complexities of coercive control and the lasting impact of childhood trauma on relationships, urging society to address gender-based violence more effectively.
