We are absolutely heartbroken to hear the news out of St Albert yesterday of the death of 23-year old Ayla Egotik-Learn and that her nine-month-old daughter is missing and presumed dead. Our hearts and thoughts are with Ayla and Braylee’s loved ones, the St. Albert community, and our frontline partners who are also grieving and responding in the wake of this tragedy.
This tragedy hits very close to home and the work that we do every day to provide safety and hope for survivors of gender‑based violence. It echoes our own story of losing Jessica Martel. This is the whole reason we are here – to prevent tragedies like this from happening.
When survivors reach out for help, we are the ones who answer that call. We advocate every day for changes to the systems that are meant to protect them. It is unbearable to see the truth so clearly again: our systems have once more failed to keep two members of our community safe. This was not inevitable. Ayla’s life, and Braylee’s life, could and should have been protected.
We need to do better. The system needs to do better. What does that mean in practice?
- Stable, adequate funding for domestic violence shelters, second‑stage housing, and prevention efforts.
- A robust social system of care for survivors and their families, including affordable housing, food security, income support, mental health and addictions treatment, and services that keep survivors and their children at the center of all decisions.
- Access to timely, trauma‑informed justice and legal supports that do not place the burden of staying safe on survivors alone but instead require coordinated action and accountability from the systems around them.
- Timely intervention in escalating violence and supports for people who cause harm, informed by research on perpetrator histories and trajectories, which shows clear opportunities to disrupt violence earlier
If you need help
If you are experiencing domestic violence, we are here 24 hours a day at 1-866-939-2850.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
Look for the helpers
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘look for helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” – Fred Rogers
As we strive for better, we know that our community is reeling from this tragedy and may want to help us in our quest for a future free of domestic violence. We are taking some time to process this tragedy, but we will have concrete actions available in the coming days. Please follow us on our social media for updates about what you can do to help.
