Almost 40 years have passed since the group advice program for abusive men called New Leaf began operating in a small office in Westville, NS
In all that time, executive director Russell Borden says that the program has never seen as many “intakes” as the approximately 120 men who began in the program in the last year.
“At this time, we currently have the highest numbers in history,” Borden said in a recent interview.
He worries that four personnel do not have the ability to respond in the way he wants.
A little more than a week ago he put a proposal in front of the provincial government: more than double funds that New Leaf receives, to allow him to hire four more employees and execute more programs.
In its 2025-26 budget, the province broken down approximately $ 100 million in expenses in several existing initiatives related to the intimate violence of the partners.
These included prevention and intervention programs, transition houses and organizations that support the victims.
Borden recognizes that the amount he has received has increased in recent years, but feels that he must be done more in the area of men advice and prevention.
“I am not taking anything from survivors and victims of intimate couple violence. I just want to be clear about that,” he says.
“But the only way to adequately address the problem and work with all involved is to ensure that there is parity when it comes to funds.”
‘We need to talk about our feelings’
New Leaf is also known as Pictou County’s opportunity for Men Association, but its capture area covers the Ctou, Antigonish and Guysborough counties.
Try to make men who have previously gone through the program act as models to follow for new participants.
As Haley Ryan reports, the police are looking for more resources and expect new initiatives to make a difference.
“Men really doubt the door because they think they are the only ones to which this is happening,” says Borden.
“We need to talk about our feelings. We need to talk about what we are happening and not only bottled everything and get angry.”
The group discussions are guided by the staff and occur two nights a week. The rest of the week is dedicated to administration.
The province says that New Leaf received just under $ 359,000 from the province this fiscal year, but Borden says that the changes he proposed would cost $ 440,000.
The idea that abusive men can also change is behind the work that the therapist all Augusta-Scott does at the Bridges Institute in Truro.
Augusta-Scott says he began his “quite cynical” career about that.
But for 30 years he has become more hopeful, and sees other reasons to believe that conversation about the violence of the intimate couple is changing.
The conclusions of the Massas Cascas Commission in 2023 and the recent deaths of six women in what the police say that they were acts of intimate couple violence are feeding what Augusta-Scott calls a “dramatic increase” of interest in prevention.
People in a demonstration in Halifax demanded more provincial funds and support for victims of gender violence after six women in New Scotland were killed by intimate partners in recent months, including Paiyton Pick, 22, whose body was found last month.
Address the roots of violence
Augusta-Scott has it rushes to point out that some men do not stop using violence. There are a part of the abusers who do not respond to interventions. In the worst and most tragic cases, some kill their partners.
However, Augusta-Scott says that most of the cases you see are not considered high risk.
“That is an important part of work, and it is a minority of work,” he said.
“Actually, what characterizes most of the work is emotional abuse, screams and shouts, blow doors,” he says.
It does not minimize the importance of intervening in high -risk situations, or the possibility of intensifying a low risk case.
But, he says, chronic physical violence “is often presented as if it were all the work, and that is not true.”
Augusta-Scott says that most of the men they work begin by being reluctant to assume responsibility.
They are often confused, scared or embarrassed by their own actions. They tend to blame “external factors” or minimize abuse. He finds that you often learn from your childhood or the general culture of expectations for the male gender.
“Usually, their template when someone makes mistakes or makes a bad choice [is] They hit you, “he says.” You know, it’s a punishment. ”
Paiyton Pick’s boyfriend has been accused of second degree murder and fire caused by human life. His family wants more education in schools to recognize and prevent the violence of the intimate couple. Nicola Seguin has the story.
Financing increased since 2020
The Bridges of Augusta-Scott has a waiting list and says that for many of the 30 years he has been working, the funds remained at the same level.
But in the last five years, he says that the province has put “much more funds” in intervention programs.
Augusta-Scott says that it is significant that part of this new financing can be used so that the dissemination workers evaluate men when they enter the Bridges program and connect them with food, housing and employment opportunities.
It also says that although the intimate violence of a couple affects families in all demographic groups, research has shown that poverty and addictions increase risk.
The deaths of six women in the last three months have many rookie scotians wondering how this could happen. Many survivors are staggering, including a woman who appeared to share her story with Shaina Luck of CBC.
The minister says he drives the ‘in our radar’ services
Scott Armstrong, the Minister of Opportunities and Social Development, previously community services, says that expanding services for men and children “definitely in our radar”, although he refused to talk about how much money could be needed.
“They are probably increasing,” he said. “And we are going to take each and every one of the applications that we obtain for the extended services under advice. And we will seriously think about a serious thought and calculation and do what we can.”
Armstrong said he plans to visit New Leaf and expects to “solve an association that expands the services in that area.”
Plans in process if financing is increased
Borden says that he has not yet received a response from the province about his proposal.
New Scotland companion Natalie Brown posted intimate images of her online without her consent. She was convicted, and she is talking about how her experience is a form of intimate couple violence.
You do not see a way of making that happen at this time.
“And I think it is now the time when the government and all departments need to take this seriously and take a look at the root cause,” he said.
“The root cause of gender violence, the violence of the intimate couple, are men.”
If you or someone you know are fighting, this is where to get help:
