Experts say rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to protecting and supporting domestic violence survivors

The inquest into the deaths of three women from the Renfrew County area in 2015 continues, with experts on domestic violence set to speak.

Five jurors from the county have been tasked with providing recommendations on ways that rural communities can better protect and support survivors of domestic violence.

Nathalie Warmerdam, Anastasia Kuzyk and Carol Culleton were killed on September 22, 2015 by Basil Borutski, who is currently behind bars, serving life in prison. 

There are three parties of standing, which allows them to question any witnesses. They include Valerie Warmerdam (Nathalie Warmerdam's daughter), the Ontario government, and the End Violence Against Women Renfrew County, who detailed to CityNews some of the challenges that rural communities face when it comes to domestic violence.

“Just the vast distances between places and the lack of transportation infrastructure,” explained Kirsten Mercer, a Toronto-based-lawyer representing the coalition of organizations and stakeholders focused on intimate partner violence. “If you're living with intimate partner violence on a farm and your partner takes the vehicle, you are a long way from help.”

She said that leads to isolation, which is a critical ingredient that leaves women in fear of speaking up.

Another aspect is the sense of community one typically finds in a small town.

“That's a real strength in rural communities, but it can make it really hard to come forward, you know if the person who runs the women's shelter also coaches your kid's little league team it can feel very intimidating to come forward and seek out their help,” added Mercer. 

Women also deal with a lack of housing infrastructure and options to go to when they leave an abuser, along with a higher prevalence of firearms in rural communities, compared to more urban ones.

“When firearms are present, even if they're never used, it creates an environment of fear and terror, it's an implicit threat,” stated Mercer, adding that this is the case whether or not the gun has ever been used before. “If they sit across the kitchen table from you and slowly clean their weapon while berating you about something, there is a level of terror that's associated with that that can't be overlooked.”

Mercer noted to CityNews that there was a reference in Basil Borutski's record of a domestic violence arrest when he was in his 20s, and wonders about the missed opportunity.

“Maybe it was better intervention at that stage, because by the time we get to 2015 and the years leading up to 2015, in a lot of ways there wasn't a lot that could have been done to change this perpetrators outlook.”

The Lawyer with Goldblatt Partners LLP explains that's one of the things she'd like to see come out of the 15-day long inquest, determine how best to prevent intimate partner violence, rather than respond to it.

She'd also like to see people treat offenders with IPV histories like the 'real danger that they are', and provide better protections and supports for women.

The inquest is taking place at the Best Western Hotel in Pembroke.