Ophea’s Sector Spotlight aims to illuminate the bright spots within the education sector through recognizing the critical work being done by community members and value-aligned organizations, and its impact on student and staff well-being. This initiative also aims to strengthen connections between the Ontario education sector and organizations serving equity-deserving groups through raising awareness of the resources and services available to Ontario educators.
We are excited to uplift the work of internationally recognized gender-based violence prevention educator and advocate, Julie S. Lalonde. Julie’s work, guidance, and feedback have heavily influenced Ophea’s suite of Gender-Based Violence Prevention Education resources. A franco-ontarienne originally from Northern Ontario, she is based in Ottawa. Julie works with various feminist organizations dedicated to ending gender-based violence, engaging bystanders, and building communities of support. In 2011, she created Draw the Line, a province-wide campaign to engage bystanders in ending gender-based violence. Julie has won numerous awards for her work including the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case. Julie travels across Canada and internationally delivering trainings to elementary and secondary students, educators, and professionals from many sectors including law, politics, and medicine.
In 2024, Julie founded the Canadian Anti-Stalking Association, the first organization in Canada dedicated to addressing stalking. CASA is a non-profit organization focused on education and advocacy initiatives that support survivors/victims of stalking and their allies in the fight for a world free from all forms of gender-based violence. Read on to learn about Julie S. Lalonde and the Canadian Anti-Stalking Association (CASA).
What’s one thing you would want our audience to know about you?
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said it best “I have never had to face anything that could overwhelm the native optimism and stubborn perseverance I was blessed with.”
What motivates you?
I am motivated by results! I’ve been doing this work since 2003 and in those 20+ years, I’ve seen us move the marker closer and closer to a just world.
Tell us about your organization.
The Canadian Anti-Stalking Association (CASA) is Canada’s first and only advocacy organization dedicated to stalking.
What are some guiding principles that are important to your organization?
We believe that survivors/victims of stalking deserve a seat at the tables of power in Canada. We believe that survivors/victims of stalking deserve representation in the feminist movement. We also believe a world free from violence is possible.
What is a recent initiative that you are proud of?
Launching! Stalking has only been a crime in Canada since 1993. CASA is long overdue!
What is an upcoming initiative that you are excited about?
We are aiming to change Canada’s stalking laws to make them more reflective of the reality of stalking in the twenty-first century.
How can our audience support your organization’s goals?
Join our newsletter at Stalking.ca to stay informed about our various initiatives and to find out more about how you can help change Canada’s criminal justice response to stalking.
What is one thing you wish people knew about your organization?
It is run by experts on gender-based violence who also have personal experience of being stalked. For survivors, by survivors!
For more information visit Stalking.ca or email info@stalking.ca. To stay connected and up-to-date on the CASA supports subscribe to their e-newsletter and follow them on Instagram and BlueSky.
