The AVA team is comprised of 203+ members and growing, including 69 academic partners and 85 community partners across Canada.
AVA also has key partnerships with:
- UNICEF (L. Wolff)
- Families Canada (Z.Salih)
- Ending Violence Association of Canada (E. Whitmore)
- Federal Minister of Women and Gender Equality’s Advisory Council on Gender-Based Violence (L. Wells)
- Seven Support for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) networks across Canada
- Four women with lived experience of violence and adversity to ensure collaborative and meaningful patient engagement.
- Sixteen outstanding “named” mentors

Over the course of the AVA Training Platform, additional academic and community agency team members will be added for succession planning and address emergent training needs.
See below for a comprehensive list of our partners by region
National
Community Agency Collaborators/ Knowledge Users/ Community Partners |
CAAN (Communities, Alliances & Networks) Leads: Patrick Brownlee & Cassie Hill Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion Lead: Steve Leong Canadian Centre on Substance use and Addiction (CCSA) Lead: Doris Payer Ending Violence Association of Canada (EVA) Lead: Erin Whitmore & Stephanie Lanthier Families Canada Leads: Rebecca Balcerzak & Zindu Salih Family and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Policy Team Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Lead: Anaïs Bertrand-Dansereau Partnership for Women’s Health Research Canada (PWHR) Lead: Tamil Kendall UNICEF Canada Lead: Lisa Wolff |
International
Community Agency Collaborators/Knowledge Users/Community Partners |
InsightFormation Inc. Lead: Bill Barberg |
British Columbia
Principal Applicants/Partners | Margaret Jackson Simon Fraser University, School of Criminology; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres |
Co-Applicants/Academic Partners | Shirley Chau University of British Columbia, School of Social Work Ranjit Dhari University of British Columbia, School of Nursing Jackie Gruber British Columbia Institute of Technology; AVA EDI Champion Balbir Gurm Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Faculty of Health Jennifer Marchbank Simon Fraser University, Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Sarah Merrill University of British Columbia, Department of Medical Genetics Sarah Yercich Capilano University, School of Social Sciences, Women’s and Gender Studies; Simon Fraser University, School of Criminology |
Community Agency Collaborators & Knowledge Users/Community Partners | Atira Women’s Resource Society Leads: Hajar Masoud & Janice Abbott Alliance of Canadian Research Centres on Gender-Based Violence (ACRC) Lead: Devinder Chatta BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, Provincial Health Services Authority Lead: Ann Pederson Dixon Transition Society Lead: Monika Verma, Director Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver Lead: Vera LeFranc Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC) Lead: Kate Rossiter FREDA Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children Lead: Sarah Yercich Engaged Communities Canada Society Lead: Upkar Tatlay Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships Leads: Balbir Gurm & Jim Cessford WINGS Lead: Lorrie Wasyliw, Director Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI) Lead: Lori Brotto & Nicole Prestley |
Alberta
Principal Applicants/Partners | Jennifer Leason University of Calgary, Department of Anthropology Nicole Letourneau University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres Kharah Ross Athabasca University, Department of Psychology |
Co-Applicants/Academic Partners | Lubna Anis University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing Kelsey Berg University of Lethbridge, Population Studies in Health Carla Bertsch University of Calgary; AVA EDI Champion Deborah Dewey University of Calgary, Department of Psychology Aliyah Dosani Mount Royal University, School of Nursing and Midwifery Deinera Exner-Cortens University of Calgary, Department of Psychology William (Bill) Ghali University of Calgary, Department of Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences Gerald Giesbrecht University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, Pediatrics Susan Graham University of Calgary, Department of Psychology Cari Gulbrandsen University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work Rebecca Hudson Breen University of Alberta, Department of Educational Psychology Angelique Jenny University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work Regine King University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work Dawn McBride University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education Sheila McDonald Alberta Health Services, Department of Research and Innovation Stephanie Montesanti University of Alberta, School of Public Health Sarah Moore University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing Brent Oliver Mount Royal University, Department of Child Studies and Social Work Maria Jose Parrilla-Lopez (Santana) University of Calgary, Public Health Sciences J. David Patterson University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing Penny Pexman University of Calgary, Department of Psychology Peter Silverstone University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine Gwendolyn Villebrun University of Alberta, Faculty of Education Lana Wells University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work |
Community Agency Collaborators & Knowledge Users/Community Partners | Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters Lead: Miranda Pilipchuk Alberta Health Services Leads: Carolyn Pada Alberta Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) Patient Engagement Team Lead: Paul Fairie Alberta Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) & Canadian Primary Care Research Network Lead: Cliff Lindeman Alberta Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) SUPPORT Unit Lead: Denise Thomson & Gabrielle Zimmermann Awo Taan Healing Lodge Lead: Josie Nepinak, Carolyn Woodroffe, Raquel Marquez Calgary Counselling Centre Lead: Robbie Babins-Wagner CHILD Studies Lead: Martha Hart Children’s Cottage Society Lead: Danielle Ladouceur CUPS Calgary Leads: Carlene Donnelly, Gwen Moncayo & Nicole Williams Discovery House Leads: Leslie Hill Elizabeth House Lead: Michelle Haywood Fear Is Not Love Lead: Gillian Weaver-Dunlop & Komal Jafri HelpSeeker Technologies Lead: Alina Turner HomeFront Leads: Justin Dafoe & Joy Steppacher Hull Services Leads: Emily Wang, Nicole Berggren, Phil Herman & Tiffany Beks Kindred Leads: Jessica Cope Williams & Melanie Grylls Palix Foundation Lead: Nancy Mannix Radiance Family Society Leads: Susan Herman, Marvolyn Johnson & Lisa Congo Reforming the Family Justice System Lead: Diana Lowe Ruth’s House Lead: Dee Adekugbe (Mama Dee) Rural Development Network Lead: Mary McGuire Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation Lead: Nicole Eshkakogan Sagesse Leads: Carrie McManus & Amy Munroe Stardale Women’s Group Inc. Lead: Helen McPhaden Starlings Community Inc. Lead: Agnes Chen United Way of Calgary and Area Lead: Susan Brooke University of Calgary, GradSkills Lead: Tara Christie Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI) Lead: Tanya Voth |
Saskatchewan
Principal Applicants/Partners | Jorden Cummings University of Saskatchewan, Department of Psychology and Health Studies; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres |
Co-Applicants/Academic Partners | Pamela Downe University of Saskatchewan, Faculty of Archaeology & Anthropology Alexandra King University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine Malcom King University of Saskatchewan; Community Health and Epidemiology Stephanie Martin University of Saskatchewan, Department of Educational Psychology & Special Education Lise Milne University of Regina, Faculty of Social Work Nathalie Reid University of Regina, Child Trauma Research Centre |
Community Agency Collaborators & Knowledge Users/Community Partners | Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS) Leads: Crystal Giesbrecht & Jo-Anne Dusel Family Service Regina Lead: Shellie Pociuk Family Service Saskatoon Lead: Janine Baumann Regina Transition House Lead: Meghan Gould SOFIA House Lead: Tmira Marchment STOPS to Violence Lead: Tracey Knutson |
Manitoba
Principal Applicants/Partners | Kendra Nixon University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres Ashley Stewart-Tufescu University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work |
Co-Applicants/Academic Partners | Tracie Afifi University of Manitoba, Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry Christine Ateah University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Diane Hiebert-Murphy University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work Terry Klassen Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba Javier Mignone University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Caroline Piotrowski University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Leslie Roos Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba Lorna Turnbull University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law |
Community Agency Collaborators & Knowledge Users/Community Partners | ChezRachel Lead: Sonia Grmela Centre for Social Science Research and Policy (CSSRP) Lead: Shayna Plaut Manitoba Association of Women Shelters (MAWS) Lead: Deena Brock Manitoba SPOR & PIHCIN Lead: Alanna Baldwin & Gayle Halas Marymound Inc. Leads: Nancy Parker & Dawn Isaac Mosaic – Newcomer Family Resource Network Leads: Maisa’a Haj Ahmad, Val Cavers & Jean Tinling Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting Lead: Joan Durrant Willow Place Lead: Marcie Wood |
Ontario
Principal Applicants/Partners | Francine Darroch Carleton University, Department of Health Sciences Peter George Jaffe Western University, Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women & Children Katreena Scott Western University, Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres |
Co-Applicants/Academic Partners | Ramona Alaggia University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work Linda Baker Western University, Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women & Children Tara Black University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work Dillon Browne University of Waterloo, Department of Psychology Karen Campbell York University, Faculty of Health, School of Nursing Cindy-Lee Dennis University of Toronto, Faculty of Nursing Ian Graham University of Ottawa, School of Epidemiology Lyndsay Hayhurst York University, Faculty of Health Susan Jack McMaster University, School of Nursing Kim Jackson Western University, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing Simon Lapierre University of Ottawa, School of Social Work Tara Mantler Western University, School of Health Sciences Debbie Sheppard-Lemoine University of Windsor, Faculty of Nursing Panagiota Tryphonopoulos Western University, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing Mark Wade University of Toronto, Applied Psychology and Human Development |
Community Agency Collaborators & Knowledge Users/Community Partners | Anova Lead: Annalise Trudell Child Welfare Institute, Children’s Aid Society of Toronto Lead: Deborah Goodman Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario Leads: Marta Hajek & Raeann Rideout Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa Leads: Diane Serré & Zoe West Jean Tweed Leads: Julia Bloomenfeld & Susy Cannon Jewish Family & Child Service of Greater Toronto Lead: Pamela James & Sharyn Feldman LOFT Community Service Lead: Connie Cheung Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration Lead: Mohammed Baobaid Parent Resource Centre Lead: Mariama Aregbesola Vesta Social Innovation Technologies Lead: Lucrezia Spagnolo |
Quebec
Principal Applicants/Partners | Geneviève Lessard Laval University, Faculty of Social Sciences; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres |
Co-Applicants/Academic Partners | Geneviève Belleville Université Laval, Ecole de psychologie Kathrine Larose-Hébert Université TÉLUQ, Department of Human Sciences Annie Leblanc Université Laval, Département de médecine de famille et de médecine d’urgence Sylvie Lévesque Université du Québec à Montréal, Department of Sexology |
Community Agency Collaborators & Knowledge Users/Community Partners | Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale Lead: Alexandre Parent Regroupement des organismes ESPACE du Québec Lead: Janie Bergeron Viol-Secours Lead: Julie Tremblay |
Maritimes
Principal Applicants/Partners | Cathy Holtmann University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Nursing; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres Tracey Rickards University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Nursing Matt Rogers University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Arts |
Co-Applicants/Academic Partners | Alyson Campbell University of Prince Edward Island, Faculty of Nursing Jennifer Collins Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Nursing Shelley Doucet University of New Brunswick, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences Rosann Edwards University of New Brunswick, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences Carmen Gill University of New Brunswick, Department of Sociology Heather Helpard St. Francis Xavier University, Rankin School of Nursing Megan Huckins Horizon Health Network Alison Luke University of New Brunswick, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences Lillian MacNeill University of New Brunswick, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences Ted (James) McDonald University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Political Science Holly Richardson St. Francis Xavier University, Rankin School of Nursing |
Community Agency Collaborators & Knowledge Users/Community Partners | Liberty Lane Inc. Lead: Alyson Pizzey New Brunswick Social Pediatrics Leads: Ted (James) McDonald & Elizabeth Lappin PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre (PEIRSAC) Lead: Rachel Cowder PEI Alliance for Mental Well-Being Lead: Karen Cumberland Tri County Women’s Centre Lead: Trish McCourt |
Northwest Territories
Principal Applicants/Partners | Heather Fikowski Aurora College, Health Research Programs |
Community Agency Collaborators & Knowledge Users/Community Partners | YWCA NWT Lead: Hawa Dumbuya-Sesay |