Since 1990, more than 80 Nova Scotia women have lost their lives due to violence. For 62 women, their deaths came at the hands of their intimate partners, forever silencing their voices.

Silent Witness Nova Scotia has as its mission, to honour these women who have lost their lives due to partner, spousal or common-law violence by raising awareness in Nova Scotia about domestic violence in our communities. Through education and information sharing our goal is to continue pro-actively until there is no longer a need.

Through community involvement and support, freestanding, life-sized, red, wooden silhouettes, each one bearing the name of a woman whose life ended violently as a result of domestic violence, are created. Because these women no longer have a voice, the silhouettes are called “Silent Witnesses”. These women are a focal point in our education programs given across the province.

Silent Witness Nova Scotia now has the Barb's Bench Program in place. With the 25th anniversary of their mother’s death approaching, Barbara Baillie’s five children wanted to find a way to honor their mother in a way that may help other women and start a conversation about domestic violence.

With the help of their local MLA they decided to dedicate a purple bench in the place their mother would flee to find peace and solace away from the violence that was taking over her home.

Barbara used to bring her dog to Long Lake Park in Spryfield, not far from her home and spend as much time with nature as she could. Sit, overlooking the calm and peace of the water.

When the MLA introduced the project to the then sitting Minister of Community of Services, he didn’t know that she was a founding member of an organization called Silent Witness Nova Scotia in 2004. Immediately she wanted to introduce the Baillie children to the organizers and through the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women funded four benches and created a partnership with SWNS.

The following year the newly created Barb’s Bench Program Committee would be placing the second Barb’s Bench in Nova Scotia, at Shubie Park in Dartmouth. A Silhouette of Barbara Baillie was created and in October during the 2nd Annual Remember Me Walk, Barb’s Bench was unveiled!

The following year the committee would select the Pictou County Chapter of SWNS to be the recipient of a bench and a Remember Me Walk was hosted in New Glasgow where another bench was installed in the park in memory of another woman Honey Wright who was murdered in her community.

Kingston Nova Scotia would be the site of the third bench, a bench in memory of ALL women who died at the hands of their partners, and those living with the violence now.