Intimate partner violence has been declared an epidemic in cities and municipalities across Ontario, including in the City of Stratford.
And through one woman’s courageous retelling of her experience, she hopes to shed light on the topic and to help others find their voice.
The View From Coffin Ridge: A Childhood Exhumed is Gwen Lamont’s retrospective retelling of her trouble-filled teenage years.Â
The memoir reconciled the “years that were buried”, she explained.
Lamont expressed that although her life currently may look picture perfect, there are secrets buried within.
“Nobody knew about this part of my life. When I started to write, it was a compulsion to tell this story,” said Lamont.
The book retells the story of her troubled childhood growing up in Monkton and becoming a child bride at the age of 16, as she was forced into a marriage. Soon after, she fled to Stratford once her husband threatened to kill her. She was 17, uneducated and broke, so in order to save her life she hid in a food cellar for a month to escape the dangerous man.
This and many other harrowing stories can be found in Lamont’s book, which took 14 years to write.
The book’s heavy topics, including that of intimate partner violence has given a voice to those who have previously felt silenced.
“And every launch I have women come to me saying the fact that you broke your silence and that you’ve told your story, means I can tell my story,” said Lamont.
Lamont said the experience of writing her memoir has been liberating and that the reconciliation of her past and present has been healing.
Stratford city council endorsed the recommendation to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic at its April 22 meeting this year, and has added to the growing call for action.
One in three women in Canada have experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner.
On Wednesday night, Lamont will host a book launch at the Stratford Country Club, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online and include a signed copy of the book, an author reading and Q&A as well as a bottle of white wine.
To purchase a ticket for the event or to buy the book, visit gwenlamontauthor.ca.
The book can also be purchased at Fanfare Books in Stratford.
