Barbara Mills

Barbara Mills

Barbara Mills is a Toronto based independent victim’s advocate, consultant, lecturer, lobbyist and symposium facilitator.  She is recognized as a subject matter expert in the field of domestic violence and victim protection with over 20 years experience.

Her speaking engagements address intimate partner violence and relationship terrorism by revealing the impact the various forms of abuse has on victims directly and indirectly.

The founder acknowledges the intimate family violence can be perpetrated by either gender, but statistically women and children are the most vulnerable and the most likely to become victims and domestic related homicides.

Barbara's website may be found here.​

LOBBYING EFFORTS:

  • Independently lobbied for the DVERS (Domestic Violence Emergency Response System) for Toronto.  Ms. Mills acted as the project coordinator until its launch in 1999.
  • Lobbied successfully for reinstatement of Court Process Servers in the Family Court Structure.
  • Advocated successfully for language specific to Domestic Violence be incorporated into the CUPE Local 79 Collective Agreement that represents over 20,000 City of Toronto employees.
  • Introduced the first ‘Domestic Free By-Law’ in Canada that was incorporated into a non-profit housing co-op prior to construction.

FOUNDED:

  • Founded Sisters in Solidarity, a not-for-profit and non funded self help and support group that has assisted over 700 women through various means such as advocacy,  counseling, court support, housing and safety planning. 

KEY NOTE SPEAKER:

  • In excess of 2,000 City of Toronto (Employment and Social Services) front line staff.
  • Approximately 1,000 Probation and Parole Officers at the Provincial Bell Cairns Training Centre
  • Estimated 500 police officers at Toronto’s C.O. Bick College – Policing and Diversity Training Program.
  • Various other speaking engagements in both Canada and the United States which include but are not specific to:
    • Ryerson University
    • Western University
    • Humber College
    • Ontario Women’s Directorate
    • Fort Wayne IND. Police Services
    • Ministry of Public Safety and Security

RESOURCE TO:

  • Various media
  • Lawyers
  • Probation Officers
  • Victims
  • Survivors

CURRENT APPOINTMENTS:

  • Member of the Toronto College Park Domestic Courts Advisory Panel as an independent victims advocate.
  • Trauma Counsellor for Toronto’s Victim Services- ‘Victim Quick Response Program’ provided by the Ontario Government
  • Advisor to the Remember Our Sisters Everywhere and the Global Women’s Memorial Projects.

AWARDED:

  • 2005 - City of Toronto – Above and Beyond Achievement Award
  • 2003 -  Y.W.C.A. Peace Medallion
  • 2003 -  S.L.N.A Community Award
  • 2000-  Canada Day Achievement Award
  • Nominee: 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 women of Distinction Award