15 women killed in Quebec so far this year: advocates urge action on femicides

If you need help, reach out. Call SOS violence conjugale 24/7 at 1-800-363-9010.

If you fear you may become violent towards your partner, call PRO-GAM for an appointment at 514-270-8462.

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Since January 1st, 2025, 15 women have been killed in Quebec. Nine in the context of intimate partner or post-separation violence.

In addition, in just five weeks this year, five suspected femicides were reported across the province, a pace that has advocacy groups sounding the alarm.

“The moment that a person makes the decision to leave the relationship is actually one of the most dangerous moments for that person,” said Anuradha Dugal, the executive director of Women’s Shelters Canada.

Advocates say urgent action is needed to prevent further tragedy.

“Why didn’t I step out of this relationship on purpose? Well, that’s because I was addict to his presence in my life,” said Amandine Grocaut, who is a survivor and author of Violente Tendresse.

“From the moment that he stopped hitting me and the police women came to my place, I knew that I could not get back up without help.”

She says sharing her story is part of her healing, and a way to help others recognize the signs before it’s too late.

“And so what led me to ask for help? I think it was realizing that I was lucky enough to stay alive because that was brutal,” she explained.

Experts say the long-term impact of violence often goes unseen. Many survivors experience serious trauma, including brain injuries from repeated abuse.

“Survivors are coming into services with traumatic brain injury harm… not just from impact to the head, but also from what we’re seeing as an increased number of cases of strangulation and choking,” said Dugal.

And the threat doesn’t always end when the relationship does.

“He’s going out of jail in late February 2026. So I’m preparing myself mentally to know that he’s going to be out there,” said Grocaut.

Dugal adding, “In Quebec, there are important supports and legal recourse available… such as police orders, peace bonds.”

Support services are struggling to keep up – weighed down by rising demand, housing instability, and economic pressure.

Co-leader of Québec Solidaire Ruba Ghazal called out the CAQ government this week demanding a national action plan to prevent further femicides.

“The CAQ today to prevent murder of women should put in place more financial resources to make sure that no woman will say would be at risk to be killed. And this should be done right now,” said Ghazal.

CityNews reached out to the CAQ for a response but did not hear back in time for filing.

“67 per cent of people in Canada know somebody who is a survivor,” said Dugal

While survivors are often told how to protect themselves, advocates say far less attention is placed on those causing the harm.

“There is a lot of education that is given to victims, but not enough to the perpetrators. And people who commit violence, domestic or otherwise, you know, people who commit crimes are really often lacking emotional regulation themselves,” said Grocaut.