These parents turned agony of losing daughters to intimate partner violence into missions to help others

WARNING: This story contains discussion of intimate partner violence.

Brett Broadfoot never imagined fighting against intimate partner violence would become such a focal point in his life. 

The London, Ont., father admits he didn’t know much about the issue and its prevalence until his daughter was killed last month. Now, Broadfoot and his family have made it their purpose to advocate for survivors and victims. 

“Everybody in this situation needs a voice and I don’t think there’s been a loud enough voice out there to protect people experiencing intimate partner violence,” Broadfoot told CBC News.

“We want to get that stigma away and help anybody that we can so they don’t have to feel what our family feels.”

Breanna, 17, died in hospital on July 18 — two days after she was stabbed at a home in east London in a case police linked to domestic violence. An 18-year-old was shot by police, who say he had confronted them with a knife, and later died in hospital.

Since her death, Broadfoot said, the family has worked at learning more about the signs of intimate partner violence and resources available to those looking for support or to leave their relationships. The family has also started a foundation in Breanna’s name to raise funds for victims services and women’s shelters. 

“We’ve learned that a lot of people experiencing intimate partner violence are embarrassed. They don’t know who to go to and our community doesn’t recognize the signs because it’s not being taught or talked about enough,” said Broadfoot. 

He said advocacy is also a way for the family to cope with the grief.  

“It gives you a focus and something to keep your mind on so you’re not just constantly mourning every single moment. It’s been an outlet that has been a little positive in such tragic times.”

If I’m going to share my story, I want it to be for a reason, and that is to change people’s lives. It allows me to get out some of my anger but it’s also very healing.– Dan Jennings of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

It’s a similar situation for Dan Jennings, whose daughter Caitlin, 23, was allegedly killed by her boyfriend in London in July 2023. The case is before the courts and is still awaiting trial. 

Jennings said he’s become a voice for other families impacted by this violence and it allows him to keep his daughter’s memory alive as more than just a statistic, he said.

“If I’m going to share my story, I want it to be for a reason, and that is to change people’s lives. It allows me to get out some of my anger but it’s also very healing,” said Jennings, who lives in Sault Ste. Marie. 

“The more people who talk about what the problem is, takes away power from the abusers and shifts it onto the people who are in that bad circumstance.”

Jennings has become a part of many community organizations working to end domestic violence, including Angie’s Angels — comprised of friends and family of Angie Sweeney, who was shot dead in Sault Ste. Marie by her ex-boyfriend in October 2023.

WATCH | Warning: This video contains distressing details on the death of Angie Sweeney:

Murdered by her ex. How it could’ve been prevented

This video contains distressing details | Angie Sweeney’s ex-boyfriend shot and killed her in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., shortly after she broke up with him last October. CBC’s Katie Nicholson breaks down what happened before her murder and what Sweeney’s friends, family and the police say could’ve helped prevent her death and help other victims of intimate partner violence.

Jennings started his own group, Caitlin’s Herd, and has travelled to Queens Park in Toronto to push the Ontario government to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. Jennings, along with Angie’s Angels, were also present when Bill C-332 — which criminalizes coercive control in intimate partner relationships — unanimously passed in the House of Commons in June. 

The need to prevent other families from losing their loved ones to domestic violence has created a camaraderie among families who’ve experienced such loss, said Jennings, who spoke at the vigil for Breanna Broadfoot in July. 

“Nobody else can really understand what we’re going through as people who are in the same situation and we’ve become a nationwide army,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that our numbers are growing this much because that just shows there’s still so much work to do.”    

Linda Davidson’s 30-year-old daughter, Tiffany Gates, was killed by her boyfriend, who then killed himself, in September 2023.

Last week, Davidson expressed relief that after a year of her consistent advocacy, London police have vowed to be more transparent when releasing information about intimate partner violence cases and naming offenders in such incidents. 

Davidson, who lives in Niagara Falls, Ont., said that since Gates’s death, many people in abusive relationships have reached out to her and shared their stories.

Davidson wants to see education on relationships be taught in school curriculums. She believes this can teach young people about what is and isn’t acceptable in relationships and how to recognize signs of abuse.

“I could honestly say because of Tiff that a few people got out of violent situations with their partners, so it does give me a sense of justice,” she said. “Even if I saved one girl, it’s so worth it.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where to get help:

For anyone affected by family or intimate partner violence, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services. ​​If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.

In London, support is also available through Anova, Atlosha Native Family Healing Services, London Abused Women’s Centre, Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centre, and Victim Services of Middlesex-London.