Ontario Nurses’ Association Marks Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

TORONTO, Ont., December 6, 2021 – The Ontario Nurses’ Association’s (ONA) 68,000 front-line registered nurses (RNs) and health-care professionals are pausing today to mark Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

“As front-line health-care workers, RNs and health-care professionals not only see the impact of violence against women – treating those who have suffered injuries and abuse – but face violence on the job every day from patients, their families and sometimes coworkers,” says ONA President Vicki McKenna, RN. She adds that ONA member Lori Dupont, RN, was murdered at work in Windsor in 2005 by a physician with whom she had been personally involved with. In addition, two other nurses have lost their lives by domestic violence, ONA says.

“Statistics have shown that violence against women has skyrocketed during the pandemic, as people experience more isolation and risk-factors increase,” says McKenna. “We will not be silent as Indigenous women, racialized women, women living with disabilities, trans women and non-binary people continue to experience higher rates of violence. We vow to continue our efforts to end violence.”

ONA is the union representing more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as more than 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.

For more information: 

Katherine Russo
cell: (647) 539-1925;
katheriner@ona.org