Gender-based violence is widespread throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Rates are increasing, affecting individuals, families and communities. In response to the ongoing and devastating impacts, today the Honourable Tony Wakeham, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Lela Evans, Minister of Women and Gender Equality, officially declared gender-based violence an epidemic and announced the establishment of a task force.

This epidemic impacts people of all backgrounds, with women, girls, Indigenous Peoples, members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, and marginalized populations being disproportionately affected. The impacts are far-reaching, affecting physical safety, mental health, housing stability, economic security and overall community well-being.

Regardless of age, socioeconomic background, or geographic location, gender-based violence remains a deeply rooted issue that requires a unified and comprehensive response to eliminate it from society.

The establishment of a Task Force to End Gender-Based Violence brings together individuals with lived experience, Indigenous representatives, frontline service providers, and other key community partners. Central to the work of the task force will be ensuring that the voices of survivors and those directly impacted by violence are not only heard but meaningfully included in decision-making processes.

The task force is composed of 12 members, including six from outside government, and six individuals representing the Office of Women and Gender Equality, Education and Early Childhood Development, Health and Community Services, Justice and Public Safety, Social Supports and Well-Being, and the NL Housing Corporation.

The six non-government members include:

• Georgina McGrath and Lisa Brenton-Lake – two individuals with lived experience who have long advocated for change.
• Dr. Elder Odelle Pike and Elder Charlotte Wolfrey, Co-chairs of the Provincial Indigenous Women’s Reconciliation Council.
• Stacey Hoffe of the Mokami Status of Women Centre and Chair of the Provincial Action Network on the Status of Women.
• Mary Walsh, Executive Director of End Sexual Violence NL.

The task force will guide the Office of Women and Gender Equality in conducting research, analysis and interdepartmental coordination or support as required to undertake its work and will review and analyze the results of that work. The task force will also lead and participate in engagement and consultation and ultimately propose recommendations to government that support ending gender-based violence.

Quotes
“Declaring gender-based violence an epidemic demonstrates the severity of this persistent, growing threat – one that affects far too many people throughout our province. We are taking immediate action, declaring this an epidemic and establishing a task force with expertise and lived experience. Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador have the right to live in society free of violence and discrimination. We continue to stand united in our commitment to end gender-based violence for all of us.”
Honourable Tony Wakeham
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Gender-based violence is not an isolated issue and declaring it an epidemic acknowledges the urgency of this issue and the need for collective action. We all have a role to play in addressing and preventing gender-based violence in all its forms. Our government joins in that commitment and remains focused on building a future where everyone can live free from violence, fear and harm. I welcome the members of the task force and look forward to their input as we work to end gender-based violence.”
Honourable Lela Evans
Minister of Women and Gender Equality

-30-

Learn more
Office of Women and Gender Equality

Follow us on X @GovNL and @WGE_GovNL

Like us on Facebook

BACKGROUNDER

Task Force to End Gender-Based Violence Membership Biographies

Dr. Elder Odelle Pike is Indigenous co-chair of the Provincial Indigenous Women’s Reconciliation Council, is a respected advocate for Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities, dedicated to addressing gender-based violence and advancing economic development and entrepreneurship. She serves in leadership roles with several Indigenous organizations, including the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network and the Provincial Indigenous Women’s Reconciliation Council. Dr. Pike has received numerous honours, including the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Governor General’s Sovereign Award for Indigenous Leadership, and holds an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Memorial University.

Elder Charlotte Wolfrey (Pottle), born on the land in the Rigolet area of Nunatsiavut, is a respected Inuit leader and advocate for women, children, and families. She has held leadership roles in health care, municipal administration, and Indigenous organizations at provincial, national, and international levels. Elder Charlotte is Indigenous Co-chair of the Provincial Indigenous Women’s Reconciliation Council, serves on the board of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, and is currently the AngajukKâk (Mayor) of Rigolet. Her many honours include Pauktuutit’s Inuit Woman of the Year, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and being named an Honorary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Mary Walsh brings over a decade of experience in community work, both frontline and research, with a focus on centering the voices of lived and living expertise within marginalized populations. Her approach is grounded in trauma-informed practice, harm reduction, and intersectional feminism. Mary holds a Master of Science in Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology) from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador and is Executive Director of End Sexual Violence NL.

Stacey Hoffe, Chair of the Provincial Advisory Network for the Status of Women (PANSOW) and Executive Director of the Mokami Status of Women Council, brings a wealth of expertise to her role as a counsellor, trainer, educator, and community leader. Based in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, on the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Innu and Inuit, Stacey has been deeply influenced by the individuals she has worked with and supported, drawing inspiration and wisdom from their resilience and experiences. In her decade of experience across government, health, and community agencies, Stacey continues to be an advocate for gender-based needs and accessible therapeutic services.

Georgina McGrath is a survivor of intimate partner violence and one of Canada’s leading advocates for domestic-violence prevention. A driving force behind Georgina’s Law, developed with Newfoundland and Labrador Senator Fabian Manning, she has pushed for national action on intimate partner violence and greater awareness of the dangers of strangulation, through improved training for police, medical professionals, and the justice system. Following a near-fatal assault in 2014, McGrath turned her experiences into advocacy, sharing her story nationally and testifying before Senate committees to support survivors and promote systemic change.

Lisa Brenton-Lake has become a strong advocate for families affected by gender-based violence. Through public speaking engagements and provincial awareness campaigns, including the annual Purple Ribbon Campaign, she shares her daughter Cortney’s story to raise awareness about intimate partner violence and the risks faced by women leaving abusive relationships. Her advocacy emphasizes the importance of community support, systemic change, and speaking out against violence. Lisa has also supported ongoing search efforts for her daughter and continues to encourage anyone with information to come forward.