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February 25, 2024 I am a survivor of domestic violence. It took me a long time to understand the full dynamic of mental, emotional and psychological abuse I endured before the physical abuse. When I was assaulted and took a stand for myself and my unborn child, I lost everything. The person I thought I knew, a home I thought I would grow in with my family, and a huge part of myself. I didn't understand...no one did. I started the YEG Built For Life Foundation to provide women and children experiencing domestic violence with resources, support recommendations and hope for you to know YOU are built for a better life. I have been incredibly blessed to connect with many organizations that have offered me supports and resources as well as making genuine connections and developing relationships with people who understand and have had similar experiences. Support from the right people goes a long way! We are here to help and looking forward to connecting with you. Through Advocating and Empowering other women who have experienced domestic violence, we can find our voice and make it louder together <3 2022 #RaisingAwarenessOfCovertDomesticAbusePetition Link: https://www.change.org/p/petition-for-domestic-violence-deliberation-in-family-court-the-broken-legal-system  Bill S-249: To Develop a National Strategy to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence, Proposed Actions to be Included From a Survivor's Perspective In April 2023, I had the opportunity to attend (virtually) a meeting with Members of the Senate to share my experience as a survivor of domestic violence and make recommendations for changes to current policies and procedures which included training for judges, lawyers and protective agencies regarding domestic violence, coercive control, parental alienation allegations and post-separation abuse. Check out the link below for more information on Bill S-249: https://cdn.fbsbx.com/v/t59.2708-21/433920049_781739150200872_1144387580449423508_n.pdf/Bill-S-249-National-Strategy-for-the-Prevention-of-Intimate-Partner-Violence-IPV.pdf?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=2b0e22&_nc_ohc=YzkXfJnZUxoQ7kNvgHhqzV5&_nc_ht=cdn.fbsbx.com&oh=03_Q7cD1QGVyginIiUB9NX1cM97bM4dYbNMXJBPLtCAvrXNI4DqWw&oe=66472C30&dl=1
January/February 2024 STRONG FITNESS MAGAZINE 2024 MISS QUEEN ALBERTA PAGEANT 2024 SOROPTIMIST CLUB OF EDMONTON AWARD I received an award from Soroptimist International Club of Edmonton as a recipient of their Live Your Dream Award. Over half of the Live Your Dream Awards recipients are survivors of domestic violence, trafficking or sexual assault. Nearly all of the women and families served have overcome enormous obstacles. I’m incredibly thankful to have been selected as one of the top 8 out of 35 applicants. My hope is to inspire victims and survivors of domestic violence that there is hope after leaving an abusive relationship. Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation 5K Run 2024 In memory of Jessica Martel, a women who lost her life to her abuser. RIP Your Legacy lives on through survivors fighting to make a change in the system
 Huge shoutout to Alexandra Park Dental in Leduc for supporting YEG BUILT FOR LIFE FOUNDATION with 100 toothbrushes, toothpaste and teddies for the kids! I am incredibly thankful for the generosity of business such Alexandra Park Dental with Dr. Lee and his incredible team! Dr. Lee also sponsored a $1,500 scholarship for our 1st Annual Scholarship Award Ceremony in September 2025! Congratulations to the recipient, Traci and best of luck with your ongoing studies to become a Nurse!  In recognition of the development of YEG BUILT FOR LIFE FOUNDATION and ongoing advocacy efforts, I have been recognized and nominated for the 33rd Annual RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Presented by Women of Influence! I cannot express my gratitude for this opportunity and will continue to advocate and raise my voice to seek justice, as I encourage others to find their voice and speak their truth. #BreakTheSilenceAgainstDomesticViolence #JusticeForWomen #JusticeForChildren #EndChildAbuse #ReformFamilyCourt #Advocate #ShareYourStory #SpeakYourTruth #TruthAlwaysWins Turning A Painful Experience Into A Powerful Testimony! Check out the Summer Issue 2025 of Life Changes & Divorce Magazine - an opportunity that gave me a voice to share my story with others who experience(d) domestic violence, intimate partner violence and/or abuse. Sharing my story, raising awareness about covert abuse tactics behind closed doors, giving someone hope that they aren't alone in their experience has opened many doors for training opportunities, proposed legislation changes & showing victims of abuse that they can thrive after an abusive relationship! Website: https://divorcemagazinecanada.com/store/p/life-changes-divorce-magazine-summer-2025-issue
July 25, 2025 - Meeting with the Federal Office of Women & Gender Equality Today I had the opportunity to meet with the office of the Federal Minister of Women & Gender Equality to discuss domestic violence and declaring a domestic violence an epidemic in Alberta. Some of the main points we covered included the types of abuse (financial, legal, physical, psychological, reproductive coercion, coercive control, intimidation tactics & Post separation abuse). We stated our case about women and girls being twice as likely to be victims of domestic violence and three times as likely to be victims of intimate partner violence then men. We discussed how strangulation is used as a tactic to in-still fearful compliance in victims and physical abuse. Victims of strangulation are likely to be killed by their perpetrator, increasing the probability by 750%. We discussed the “legal system” at length and how it is “Reactive” and not “Preventative” for women and children when it comes to revictimization as well as “Sanctioned Control” which refers to authority or control that is formally approved, permitted or legitimized by a governing body, organization or system (in cases where children are forced into unsafe situations with abusive fathers despite a history of domestic violence and abuse and where mothers are accused of having parental alienation behaviours for advocating for their child’s safety). Additionally, we talked about how perpetrators of abuse are not going to be less abusive to someone more vulnerable and the stages of “Deviation” according to Interactional Theories in Criminology. Primary Deviation: 1. Early in life children are exposed to violence, abuse or a criminal life, 2. They start with small crimes, 3. They become more willing to do the crimes as they gain adrenaline, 4. The youth are then labelled as (criminal, abuser, thief etc), 5. They “drift” back and forth from the life of crime to being good and continue on the cycle of drifting between these two stages but have enablers encouraging them to do bad things, 6. They make moral rhetorics; justifications for their actions Secondary Deviation: 1. They accept the label of (criminal, abuser, thief), 2. Little to do “drift” occurs, 3. They begin to do larger, more serious crimes, 4. Master status of “Criminal” develops, 5. Continuance Committment to a life of crime because there has been little to no accountability and the punishment or consequence does not match the crime committed. Criminals who are sentenced to time in jail are likely to receive day parole 6 months prior to 1/3 of their sentence and full parole by 1/3 of the sentence. Without accountability to perpetrators of domestic violence and the judicial decision makers, society is teaching youth that they can commit crime withouth little to no repercussions. Victims deserve better and we are not backing down. We will continue to advocate for much needed change and make the appropriate connections with government officials to implement much needed changes. CITY NEWS FEATUREYEG Built For Life Foundation Founder, Sarah Courchesne, was interviewed by CityNews Edmonton following a meeting last week with the office of the Federal Minister of Women & Gender Equality about declaring Domestic Violence against women & children an Epidemic across Alberta. News Link: https://youtu.be/1MWqL-ECfYw?si=nV2rTHo59vORInOC
"Your Voice Matters" Interview with Alberta RadioParental Alienation Petition - House of Commons, May 1, 2026
Government response tabled Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Signed by THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY PATRICIA LATTANZIO (June 15, 2026):
The Government of Canada is committed to making the family justice system as fair and safe as possible for all, including for victims of family violence. Amendments to the Divorce Act came into force on March 1, 2021, through former Bill C-78, An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act and include changes aimed at promoting safe and appropriate responses in cases involving family violence. The amended Divorce Act contains a broad evidence-based definition of family violence, which recognizes its many forms and the significant harm it can cause to both victims and witnesses. The definition also includes a child’s direct or indirect exposure to family violence and clarifies that behaviour does not have to be a criminal offence to be considered family violence under the Divorce Act. The definition also includes conduct that forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour. Along with physical violence, a controlling partner might resort to emotional, psychological, sexual, financial or other forms of abuse, such as litigation abuse. The amended Divorce Act requires the court to consider the impact of any family violence on the best interests of the child when determining parenting arrangements. This includes the impact of family violence on the ability and willingness of any person who engaged in the family violence to care for the child and meet the needs of the child. It also requires the court to consider the appropriateness of making an order requiring parents to cooperate on issues affecting the child. The amended Act sets out a list of specific factors to help judges determine the impact of the family violence, such as the nature and seriousness of the violence and the harm or risk of harm caused by it. When considering the best interests of the child, the court is required to give primary consideration to the child’s physical, emotional, and psychological safety, security, and well-being. Cases where children resist or refuse contact with a parent are often challenging and complex. Abusers may attempt to blame the other parent for the child’s resistance to spending time with them and may make unfounded claims of alienation. Research shows that it is not uncommon for allegations of alienation to be made in family law cases in response to allegations of family violence. Abusers may make such allegations to try to control and harass a former partner through the family justice process. The best interest of the child remains the sole legal test for decisions concerning parenting arrangements. In determining the best interests of the child in a case where there is an allegation that a child is resisting contact with a parent, the court will examine the circumstances of the case to determine whether the child is in fact resisting contact and, if so, why this is occurring. In cases where family violence is also alleged, the court will consider the specific criteria related to family violence in determining the child’s best interests under the Divorce Act. Beyond the courts, the Government of Canada recognizes that education and training on family violence for those working in family law are extremely important. To this end, the Department of Justice released numerous educational materials to support the successful implementation of the previous amendments. In 2022, JUS launched an evidence-based toolkit – the HELP Toolkit – to help legal advisers identify and respond to family violence in their family law cases. It is a tool designed specifically for family law legal advisers to use in identifying and responding to family violence. The HELP Toolkit includes various materials including “Rejection of a Parent by a Child”. The Department of Justice is also providing funding to the Ontario Association for Family Mediation to adapt the HELP Toolkit to apply in mediation practices, with a focus on gender-based violence (GBV) and coercive control. In addition, the Department of Justice offers a free online course called Family Violence and Family Law for Legal Advisers. Both the course and the HELP Toolkit contain information on rejection of a parent by a child, assessing the child’s views and safety planning. Public legal education and information material are also available to assist parents who are divorcing or separating, including in cases involving family violence. In 2022, the National Judicial Institute (NJI), an independent, judge-led organization that provides and coordinates judicial education in Canada, received federal funding to develop a national online course for judges in Canada on intimate partner violence (IPV) and family violence in the family justice system. This bilingual online course on IPV and family violence will be available to all judges in Canada, including provincial court judges. As part of efforts to advance the Federal GBV Strategy, the Government of Canada has invested in initiatives to support survivors and victims of GBV and recognizes it is important to ensure the family justice system responds to the needs of victims of IPV. The Government remains committed to supporting the National Action Plan to End GBV and has renewed funding on an ongoing basis to address GBV in the criminal and family justice systems. The Government of Canada continues to carefully monitor the implementation of the 2021 Divorce Act amendments and to analyze additional proposals to better protect children from the harmful effects of family violence.
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