Those are the words of Colette Martin, a survivor of intimate partner violence.

In 1997 she was almost murdered by a man she’d been in a relationship with. 

He stabbed her 37 times.

The shame and stigma surrounding domestic violence can make it difficult to talk about, but this won’t change unless we have difficult conversations.

Listen to her story here (7:33).

Content warning: This documentary includes a discussion of domestic violence and femicide. Please take care of yourself and reach out for support if you need it.



Colette not only survived, she:

• Shares her incredible story as a means to increase awareness and advocate for survivors.
• Is changing the narrative surrounding domestic violence.
• Was the subject in She Is Your Neighbour; an awareness project and storytelling series which explores the realities and complexities of domestic violence.
• Watched Bill 17 become law in 2023; a bill she fought for! Bill 17 gives police forces the legal authority to tell someone in a relationship that their partner has a history of inflicting intimate partner violence. The legislation is based on a British statute known as Clare's Law, passed in 2014.

"My ex had a previous charge … He had broken the jaw of his ex-girlfriend, and he was from Montreal, so I had no way of knowing, and I didn't know his background. If this law would have been in then, I would have been able to get the information I would have needed to make an informed decision about my relationship."