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About Us

The Premier's Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention was appointed by the premier of Prince Edward Island in December 1995.  The mandate of the committee is:

• to coordinate the implementation of the provincial Family Violence Prevention Strategy;
• to ensure integrity of community participation is maintained;
• to ensure an evaluation component is in place;
• to develop a work plan; to promote the importance of resource allocations necessary for implementation of the strategy; and
• to communicate initiatives to ensure a high public profile for family violence prevention is maintained across the province.

Committee Membership (2012)

Committee membership consists of community and government representatives to ensure diversity and collective responsibility.  Members are appointed to serve five year terms.

Dr. Philip Smith - Chair, Member at Large

Dr. Wendy Verhoek-Oftedahl - Resource Person

Rona Smith - Ex-Officio

David O'Brien, Q.C. - Department of Environment, Labour and Justice

Carrie St. Jean - PEI Teachers' Federation

Marilyn Sark - Association of Registered Nurses of PEI and Aboriginal Women's Association of PEI

Dr. Christine MacNearney - Medical Society of PEI

Catherine Freeze - PEI Seniors' Secretariat

Chief Lewie Sutherland - PEI Chiefs of Police Association

Sgt. Andrew Blackadar - Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Phil Matusiewicz - PEI Family Violence Prevention Services

Sigrid Rolfe - PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre

David Daughton - Community Legal Information Association

Debbie Gallant - Actions Femmes I.-P.-E.

Lisa Murphy - PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women

Reverend Dr. Andrew Richardson - Trinity United Church Summerside - Clergy Representative

Andy Lou Somers - East Prince Women's Information Centre

Glenn Younker - Women's Institute of PEI

Peter Mutch - Catholic Family Services Bureau

Susan Maynard - Department of Environment, Labour and Justice

Jody MacLellan - Department of Health and Wellness

Wendy McCourt - Department of Community Services and Seniors

Michelle Harris-Genge - Interministerial Women's Secretariat

Glenn Edison - Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Sarah Henry - Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Ben Smith - Federation of PEI Municipalities

Jane Mallard - Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning

Melissa Coffin - PEI Association of Newcomers to Canada


Our Vision Statement

A society where all individuals are safe, respected and valued; where any form of violence is unacceptable; and where children, women and men have opportunities to reach their full potential and contribute to the overall well-being of families and communities.

Family Violence Statement

Family violence affects, or will affect, all people in Prince Edward Island.  Family violence is connected to abuse of power and control, and to injustice based on sex, race, age, class, sexual orientation, and physical or mental ability.  Individual history, family history, and current circumstances play a role in family violence.

Family violence is known by many names: child maltreatment, child abuse, incest, child exposure to domestic violence, intimate partner violence, spousal violence, woman abuse, domestic violence, sibling abuse, parent abuse, elder abuse, and abuse of older adults.

Family violence can affect anyone, from any demographic: cultural, national and ethnic origin, socio-economic status, education, gender, age and physical or mental ability.

Family violence can take many forms: harassment, verbal abuse, threats, financial abuse, psychological abuse, emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, neglect, damage to property, injury to pets, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and homicide.

Family violence can happen between: current and former intimate partners (married and unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, and dating partners); a legal guardian or parent and child; blood, marriage or adoptive relatives; and a live-in caregiver and care recipient.

Family violence hurts.  It can cause physical and psychological harm.  Family violence violates the victim's rights and freedoms.  Family violence harms the healthy development of children and youth.

Family violence is a public health issue, a criminal justice issue, and a human rights issue.  To address family violence, all of us in Prince Edward Island must work together and share our resources.