Soar Project Canada

Learn more about brain injury caused by intimate partner violence. SOAR offers free tools & training for frontline workers, survivors & advocates—in English & French. Explore our resources page: soarproject.ca/resources/ #IPVBI #SOARProject

WAGE funding has helped make SOAR’s growth and sustainability possible. Losing it would devastate orgs supporting women and gender-diverse folx. We’ve signed the joint letter urging the gov’t to protect WAGE. 📢 www.criaw-icref.ca/statements/s...

A history of intimate partner violence against women is the primary risk factor for intimate partner homicide. In Canada, 60% of spousal homicides involve past family violence.

#EndGenderBasedViolence #ViolencePrevention #SupportSurvivors #CallItFemicide

🧠 July’s Research Roundup features a study that examines head trauma caused by intimate partner violence done by the Esopenko Brain Health Lab.

Check out the link at the end to read the full study.

#IPV #GBV #BrainInjury #SOARProject #ResearchRoundup

Bailey McCourt’s death has renewed urgent calls for legal reform. Her mother advocates for “Bailey’s Law” to better protect women. As SOAR’s ED Karen Mason wrote: “Bailey’s death is not isolated—it reflects a disturbing pattern.”
Read more at the link: www.castanet.net/edition/news...

#BaileysLaw

We at SOAR are devastated by the closure of a vital clinic. This life-saving program supported survivors in a region with extreme rates of violence. Its shutdown is deeply troubling.

Read more: ca.news.yahoo.com/where-now-pr...

#IPV #BrainInjury #Nunavut #HealthEquity #ClinicClosure

In the wake of Bailey McCourt’s tragic femicide in Kelowna, SOAR co-founders met with MP Stephen Fuhr to call for urgent legal reform.

We’ve now followed up with a letter to Justice Minister Sean Fraser calling for immediate action.

Find the full letter here soarproject.ca/in-the-news/

More than 90,000 Canadians report domestic violence to police each year. Eight in 10 of those victims are women.

Despite their scope, those numbers still don’t capture the full picture. Many more cases go unreported, leaving countless survivors without support.

#IPVBI #EndViolenceAgainstWomen

Check out this article from the University of Manitoba! Dr. Kendra Nixon and Elder Marilyn Hart Murdock lead a new initiative uniting survivors, Indigenous leaders, & experts to support those with brain injuries from intimate partner violence.

Read more here: news.umanitoba.ca/thousands-of...

Four days ago, Bailey McCourt was fatally attacked in Kelowna by someone wielding a hammer. Her ex-partner faces a charge of second-degree murder. The red flags were many. Little was done. Our @kmason10.bsky.social spoke to @chriswalkercbc.bsky.social about why B.C. must declare GBV an epidemic.

Concussions are often misunderstood and misrepresented, making it crucial to raise awareness about how they occur and the impact they can have on individuals. #ConcussionAwareness #InjuryPrevention #ConcussionRecovery #IPV-BI

This July, SOAR's Spotlight proudly features Kathleen Monahan, a leader in the field of Intimate Partner Violence caused Brain Injury (IPV-BI) research and education!

Support the work at SOAR, your donation helps us explore the impacts, educate frontline workers, and empower survivors through targeted resources and advocacy.

Follow the link in our bio to donate!

#IntimatePartnerViolence #SurvivorSupport #Donate

Strangulation is a common tactic used in intimate partner violence, and it's far more dangerous than many realize. It takes just 33 lbs of pressure to close off the windpipe, barely more than the 20 lbs needed to open a can of pop.

#IPV #BrainInjury #StrangulationAwareness #WomensHealth #GBV

Brain injuries from intimate partner violence (IPV) can seriously affect a survivor’s ability to seek help.
Test your knowledge with this quick quiz!
Want to learn more? Visit the SOAR Resources page — link attached here: soarproject.ca/resources/

#IPV #BrainInjury #SupportSurvivors

This June, we’re excited to highlight Stephanie Bechelet (she/her) and the incredible work she and her team at Brainkind are doing in the United Kingdom!

Amazing overview of @soarproject.bsky.social work over the last ~9 years presented by @kmason10.bsky.social at the @ccn-rcc.bsky.social conference today.

SOAR, with @injuryresearchbc.bsky.social, created a CATT course for women’s support workers to better recognize & manage brain injuries from IPV. It’s free, 40 min, in English & French. Find it under ‘Resources’ on our site – link in bio! #IPV #BrainInjury #CATT

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Thousands of Canadian women suffer brain injuries from partner violence, often invisible and untreated. This month aims to raise awareness of this hidden public health crisis. #WomensHealth #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth #DV

This month’s SOAR Spotlight features Dr. Brian Christie from UVic! His research focuses on brain plasticity and sex differences in brain health, aiming to improve recovery from injury, especially in IPV survivors, through care, environment, and support.

SOAR offers training on recognizing and responding IPV-BI. Whether you're organizing a conference, educational session, or workplace training, our team delivers impactful webinars, workshops, and presentations tailored to your needs!
Check out this link! soarproject.ca/trainings-pr...

To learn more about resources, training, and workshops on recognizing and responding to brain injuries from intimate partner violence, follow this link to SOAR's website: soarproject.ca/resources/

🎉 Huge congratulations to Karen Mason, SOAR's incredible co-founder and executive director, on being named a 2025 Top 40 Over 40 Honouree by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce⁠! 🎉

April 20–26 is Prevention of Violence Against Women Week in BC. IPV is a public health crisis—1 in 3 police-reported violent crimes in Canada are IPV-related. Learn more and access resources: soarproject.ca/resources/

This month’s #SOARSpotlight features Sgt. Jon Cawsey from Saanich PD’s Regional Domestic Violence Unit, who manages high-risk IPV cases, supporting victims, addressing offender behavior, and working toward meaningful systemic change.

SOAR is dedicated to better supporting and empowering women who have experienced violence, by exploring the intersection of IPV and brain injury (BI), and building education and awareness on how to recognize, respond, and refer.
#IPV-BI #SOAR #EndViolenceAgainstWomen

Join us for a free, 3-part webinar series on brain injury from intimate partner violence (IPV-BI), hosted by SOAR, YWCA Canada, Royal LePage, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Learn to identify signs and use trauma-informed support.

March 31st is #TransDayOfVisibility, honouring the transgender community’s resilience and challenges. Trans people face higher rates of intimate partner violence, with trans women of color at greatest risk. Visit our website for more resources: soarproject.ca/resources/.
#transrightsarehumanrights

This month's Research Roundup is on intimate partner violence-caused brain injuries and their impact on mental health. For more information on the study, follow the reference on the last slide!

#IntimatePartnerViolence #ResearchRoundup #IPV-BI

Each month, we take the opportunity to recognize and celebrate our colleagues, community partners, and team members who care about IPV-BI as much as we do. Janelle Breese Biagioni, a clinical counsellor and CEO/Founder of CGB Centre for Traumatic Life Losses is one of them!