‘Fear Windows’ campaign to raise awareness for intimate partner violence

In an effort to raise awareness and donations towards their support services for victims of intimate partner violence, La Maison Grise, a Quebec-based non-profit organization, “is reimagining Halloween décor to depict these alarming acts.”

Called ‘Fear Windows,’ the campaign sees homes throughout Montreal outfitted with vignettes of domestic violence, with a message driving the viewer’s attention to La Maison Grise.

(CREDIT: La Maison Grise)

(CREDIT: La Maison Grise)

Acts of family and intimate partner violence in Canada have been on the rise for the last five years, said the organization in a press release.

“According to a recent report by Statistics Canada, over 127,000 acts of police-reported domestic violence took place within the country in 2021, with women and girls representing 69 per cent of the victims. These statistics are compounded by the fact that generally only one in five victims of domestic violence actually report the acts to the police. In many cases, these acts of violence turned deadly. 154 of the 788 acts of homicide reported in Canada in 2021 were committed by a family member.”

“In Quebec specifically, one quarter of all crimes against individuals are linked to intimate partner violence and like trends seen throughout the rest of Canada, women bear the disproportionate brunt of this abuse– they’re the victims nearly 78 per cent of the time.”

According to the organization SOS Violence Conjugale, 12 women and six children within the province of Quebec lost their lives to acts of intimate partner violence since the beginning of 2022.

Statistics Canada says that acts of intimate partner violence go unreported nearly 80 per cent of the time. Often, these violent acts only become public knowledge when things turn deadly, at which point it’s tragically too late to provide help.

“This is why we must double our efforts to meet the sorely growing needs of victims. Unfortunately, many of the femicides could have been avoided,” says Nathalie Lamarche, General Manager of La Maison Grise. “By juxtaposing these scenes of domestic violence with terrifying Halloween decorations, we hope to draw public attention to the real horrors that go unmentioned. Donations will help provide support to more women, children and families affected by domestic violence. It is also imperative that men who commit violent acts have access to adequate resources before doing something irreparable.”

About La Maison Grise

Founded in 1990, La Maison Grise was established to provide longer-term accommodations for women who are experiencing domestic violence, homelessness or financial difficulties. Recognized for its approach to social reintegration and its quality of services, La Maison Grise has provided support to hundreds of women and their families across Quebec.