Council of Atlantic Premiers Releases Report on Preventing Domestic Homicides in Atlantic Canada

December 11, 2025

News Release

Council of Atlantic Premiers Releases Report on Preventing Domestic Homicides in Atlantic Canada 

The Council of Atlantic Premiers (CAP) has released a new report, Preventing Domestic Homicides in Atlantic Canada: Looking Back to See Our Way Forward, which provides a decade-long analysis of domestic homicides across the region and outlines opportunities for stronger prevention, data collection, and collaboration. 

The report was commissioned by the Atlantic Domestic Homicide Review Network (ADHRN), established by CAP in 2020 to strengthen regional efforts to prevent domestic homicide. The ADHRN brings together government officials from all four Atlantic provinces to share expertise, analyze data, and recommend system improvements that help save lives. 

“The loss of life due to domestic homicide is devastating for families and communities,” said New Brunswick Premier and CAP Chair Susan Holt. “By working together across the Atlantic region, we can better understand the factors that lead to these tragedies and take meaningful action to prevent them.” 

The ADHRN commissioned the Centre for the Study of Social and Legal Responses to Violence, led by Dr. Myrna Dawson at the University of Guelph, to conduct a 10-year retrospective study (2012–2022) on domestic homicides in Atlantic Canada. The project, which was funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada, began in April 2022 and concluded in August 2025. 

The study highlights both strengths and limitations in how information on domestic homicides is collected and analyzed across the region. It identifies 14 recommendations to enhance data collection, strengthen investigative processes, and improve service responses to those affected by gender-based violence. 

The report will help inform ADHRN’s ongoing activities and future work, including: 

  • Improving systemic responses and informing approaches to case reviews within each province; 
  • Promoting collaboration across government and with community partners, including individuals with lived experience; 
  • Increasing transparency and public confidence in domestic homicide reviews; and 
  • Expanding the evidence base on domestic homicide in the Atlantic region. 

Each Atlantic province will build on the report’s findings to strengthen prevention and response efforts. Jurisdictions will be expected to return to the Council of Atlantic Premiers in the fall of 2026 with a workplan outlining the next phase of the ADHRN’s work. 

The information included in the report addresses domestic homicide and may be difficult to read, particularly for the families of the victims of domestic homicide whose deaths were part of the research project, and for Atlantic Canadians experiencing gender-based violence. For support or information on available services, please visit Find family violence resources and services in your area – Canada.ca.  

Read the report here

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