DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & ABUSE (DVA) is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, bullying, intimidating, isolation, demeaning, violent behavour, including sexual violence against an intimate partner.

DVA includes, but is not limited to the following:

Psychological and/or emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, harassment, stalking, online or digital abuse and spiritual abuse.

When people think of domestic abuse, they often focus on domestic violence. However, domestic abuse occurs whenever one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to control the other person by gaining and maintaining total control over you. Abusers use fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under him/her.

DVA does not discriminate. Abuse happens among heterosexual couples and in same-sex partnerships. It occurs within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and economic levels. Although women are more commonly victimized, men are also abused especially verbally and emotionally. ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR is never acceptable, whether it’s coming from a man, a woman, a teenager, or an older adult. We all deserve to feel valued, respected, and safe.

Her mission is to Educate, Empower and Prevent the rise of Domestic Abuse.

LaVerne is a…

• Wife and mother of a blended family of 8 children and 10 grandchildren
• Author of “Overcoming the Darkness: Surviving Domestic Violence”
• Founder of “LaVerne’s Let’s Talk”
• Domestic abuse advocate
• Women’s empowerment supporter
• Inspirational & motivational speaker
• Public speaker
• Graduate of Concordia University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management & Human Resource Management
• Producer / Director: Short film “How did I get here?”
• Last but not least, a Domestic Violence SURVIVOR!