The Ontario Rural Woman Abuse Study (ORWAS), final report

2. AREAS UNDER STUDY

2. AREAS UNDER STUDY

A unique aspect of ORWAS was the partnering of the Department of Justice Canada with CAPRO, a community-based organisation.  CAPRO’s mandate is to work with people throughout rural Ontario to raise awareness of domestic abuse in their communities.  With CAPRO’s established community contacts in rural areas across Ontario, six research sites were selected to represent the vastness of Ontario.

2.1 Vermilion Bay

Vermilion Bay is one of three communities including Eagle River and Minitaki that form the municipality of Machin in north-western Ontario.  With a stable population of approximately 1,200 people, Machin is situated on the north shore of Eagle Lake.  Some services are local, however, many are provided by neighbouring communities.  The surrounding waters are major resources.  Sport and commercial fishing provide a wide range of recreational employment and tourist opportunities.  The region’s most important resource is the Boreal Forest.  It provides its main industry in addition to recreational activities.  Additional key employers include a boat factory and a granite quarry.  As well, some residents are employed in the next largest community, Dryden.  Some farming and cold weather crops are also in operation.

2.2 Cochrane

Located in Northern Ontario, the population of Cochrane, Glackmeyer Township (including Clute, Leitch and Blount Townships) and the unorganised townships is estimated at 7,000 to 8,000 people.  The majority of residents have French, English or Aboriginal ancestry.  A large source of employment for the area had traditionally been Ontario government jobs, however with cutbacks in the late 1990’s, many residents who occupied those jobs have chosen to transfer, retire or open a small business.  Other primary employers include two local wood mills and a mine.  Seasonal employment exists during the tourist season.  The town of Cochrane covers 757 hectares.  Glackmeyer township encompasses 124 kilometres.  It is uncertain how much land lies in the unorganised areas.

2.3 Espanola

The town of Espanola has a population of 5,400 people.  It is situated on the Spanish River, just one mile south of the TransCanada highway, approximately 100 kilometres west of Sudbury.  Espanola is a one-industry town surrounded by lakes and forest.  The largest employer is a pulp and paper operation.  Many small surrounding communities -- Webbwood, Massey, Mckerrow, and Nairn Centre -- are also sustained by the pulp and paper industry.  Espanola is the service and shopping centre of the area, with a range of social and health services, including a hospital, a long term care facility, a public health unit, Victoria Order of Nurses and a mental health clinic.  Tourism offers seasonal employment.

2.4 Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry

The Eastern Ontario united counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry are located north of the St. Lawrence River, south of Ottawa, in an area locally known as the Ottawa Valley.  The population is approximately 56,000 people.  The counties are primarily rural and agricultural, with a number of dairy and cash crop farms.  Manufacturing plants for the food industry are also large employers.  Some residents are employed in the city of Cornwall, located to the far east of the counties.  There is fairly high unemployment in the area.

2.5 Grey-Bruce County

Central Ontario’s Grey-Bruce counties are located on the north side of Georgian Bay and Nottawasaga Bay, and east of Lake Huron.  The areas include Queen’s Bush, the Bruce Peninsula and Blue Mountain.  Grey-Bruce counties are mainly rural and offer a wide range of opportunities for education, services, faith communities, industrial and farming communities, as well as recreation, tourism and the arts.  Bruce County includes over 24,000 households with 600 kilometres of county roads.  Grey County includes over 31,000 households and approximately 750 kilometres of county roads.  Owen Sound is the closest city that offers services and employment opportunities.

2.6 Oxford County

Located in the midst of south-western Ontario, Oxford County includes eight area municipalities.  Rural Oxford is rich in natural resources, including open-pit limestone quarries, sand and gravel-pit operations.  Farming employs 12 per cent of the labour market (6,000 people).  The county’s very rich soil also offers opportunities for new agri-businesses.  Produce includes the mainstays of dairies, hogs, cash crops, poultry and beef, as well as specialities such as tobacco, ginseng, emu, fruits and vegetables.  Oxford County has a growing population.  From 1981 to 1996, it grew from 81,000 to 97,000.  Neighbouring urban communities include Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Woodstock.  Urban employers include industry, transportation and manufacturing.