We Remember
Together we honour, remember, reflect and act.
January 3, 2017, marks a tragic loss of life that continues to impact family members, African Nova Scotian communities, and Nova Scotia as a whole. We are committed to working towards lasting change in memory of the lives lost.
January 3, 2017
Aaliyah Desmond • Shanna Desmond • Brenda Desmond • Corporal Lionel Desmond
Our Approach
The Province is taking a whole-of-government approach to address recommendations of the Desmond Fatality Inquiry. This website shares how the provincial government is responding and implementing the recommendations. This work is ongoing and grounded in accountability, transparency, and an understanding of the importance of being culturally responsive to meet the needs of those most affected.
The Desmond Fatality Inquiry was initiated under the provincial Fatality Investigations Act. For this reason, all the recommendations are directed at the Province of Nova Scotia, and at times will require federal action and collaboration. The Province is committed to working with our federal partners to achieve results.
The Desmond family first asked government to conduct this inquiry in 2017 and examine the systemic issues that resulted in this tragic loss of life. From the beginning, the work was known as the Desmond Fatality Inquiry and the name holds deep meaning to the family and community. At the family's request, and with deep respect to their wishes, the Province continues to use this name to honour the lives lost and as a call to accountability.
Actions
Based on the recommendations, the Province is working to strengthen safety and resilience across the province, in three interconnected areas:
- Community Safety, Well-Being and Health - Provide support to help Nova Scotians stay healthy and feel safe in their own communities. This can include culturally responsive healthcare and improved access to programs and services in rural and remote communities.
- Gender-Based Violence, Intimate Partner Violence - Reduce gender-based and intimate partner violence by understanding why it happens, finding better ways to prevent it, and offering more help to people who have been affected.
- Public Safety and Policing Reform - Make communities safer by strengthening firearms regulation and improving pathways for information sharing across systems to better identify risks to safety.
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Collaborated with multiple departments and Dalhousie School of Social Work to develop Afrocentric Bachelor of Social Work cohort program which launched in September 2024. As of January 2026, there are 36 students enrolled in the cohort. |
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A new awareness campaign, focused on youth aged 12 to 20, highlights the warning signs of gender-based violence in relationships. The campaign includes a website dedicated to identifying these "red flags” in unhealthy relationships and resources and supports available. |
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Launched the One Person One Record clinical information system at IWK. The system will be rolled out provincewide in 2026 and help improve timely and secure access to health records between healthcare providers. |
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Twenty-five Nova Scotians have been named to the new Ministers’ Table on Gender-Based Violence to work with the government on prevention and better supporting those affected. |
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The Province has extended the length of time Criminal Injuries Counselling can be accessed and is offering more flexibility for those who need extra support. Counselling is now available to victims of gender-based violence and hate crimes. |
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Extended the operation of the “Black Community Support Line”, a service that provides tailored support, resources and navigation for African Nova Scotian and Black individuals, addressing social determinants of health. |
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GuysWork is a school-based program where young men examine how traditional masculinity norms can impact their health, and the health of their peers. GuysWork has been expanded to over 76 schools with 56 more staff trained since the beginning of the 2025/2026 school year. |
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Kids in the Know is the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s national safety education program. It engages students interactively to build skills that increase their personal safety and reduce their risk of victimization online and offline. All Nova Scotia teachers now have access to the program and its resources to support their students. |
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Status of Women Office and the Department for Labour Skills and Immigration are co-leading the development of training on GBV/IPV for public sector staff, supported by the Public Service Commission. The training will provide basic education on GBV and IPV, how to identify the signs, and how to intervene appropriately if any employee encounters or experiences GBV/IPV in the workplace (referred to as ‘bystander intervention’). |
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The Rapid Access Stabilization Program has been launched as a pilot in Eastern Zone (July 14, 2025), Northern Zone (August 15, 2025), and Western Zone (August 25, 2025). The program began with Adult Psychiatry and has since expanded to also include Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. |
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