The Supreme Court of Canada Recognizes a New Tort of Intimate Partner Violence
Understanding the Landmark Decision in Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia
Date: Friday, June 5, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM PST
Where: Online Webinar, Free Registration
The Supreme Court of Canada has recognized a new tort of intimate partner violence for the first time in Canadian history.
In Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, the Court acknowledged that intimate partner violence is not simply a series of isolated incidents, but can involve ongoing patterns of coercion, intimidation, surveillance, deprivation, threats, and control that undermine a person’s autonomy, dignity, and freedom.
Join Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) for a timely discussion on this landmark decision and what it means for survivors, legal systems, family law, civil litigation, and access to justice in Canada.
the Supreme Court’s reasoning and legal findings;
how the Court recognized coercive control within civil law;
the implications for survivors and legal advocates;
what this may mean for future family and civil litigation;
the relationship between intimate partner violence, autonomy, and cumulative harm;
and the broader systems implications moving forward.
BWSS intervened before the Supreme Court of Canada in Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia.
Invited Panelists
Caitlin Ohama-Darcus
Lawyer, Darcus Law LLP
Counsel representing BWSS in its intervention before the Supreme Court of Canada in Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia.
Agnes Huang
Lawyer, Saltwater Law
Feminist legal advocate and practitioner focused on gender-based violence, coercive control, and survivor-centred legal analysis.
About BWSS
Located in Vancouver, Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) works to end violence against women and gender-based violence through direct services, training and education, systemic change, and law reform. BWSS provides crisis support, advocacy, counselling, violence prevention, and operates the Justice Centre at BWSS, a Metro Vancouver community-based legal advocacy program supporting survivors navigating family law, immigration, child protection, and related legal systems.
Registration
Registration is free but required.
