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Hamilton Spectator
16-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Take care of my baby': Heartfelt ceremony marks anniversary of Midland woman's murder
'Wouldn't it be great if we didn't need a transition house? Isn't that the ultimate objective?' The question was posed by Marion Dutton, the adoptive mother of Midland resident Julia Brady, who was killed on July 15, 2024, a victim of intimate partner violence. She was 23. The question, asked through a wavering voice, was posed Tuesday at a ceremony on the town's harbour docks during the installation of a purple bench and two purple Muskoka chairs, shortly after Dutton and Brady's aunt, Mary Ross, had placed a rose and a sunflower on each chair. 'When Julia was little, and she first came to me, I would rock her in my chair and sing You Are My Sunshine,' explained Dutton, fighting back tears. She had taken in Brady shortly after the death of her own mother as a way to carry her mother's wishes. 'To my mom and my dad, you are my heroes,' said Dutton. Unable to hold back her grief, she added, 'Take care of my baby.' It was a heartfelt ceremony filled with tears and heightened emotions — sadness, memory, and anger with frustration toward inactivity — shared by two dozen attendees. Started in 2015, the purple bench initiative began as a commemoration in Nova Scotia of Barb's Bench to bring attention to the death of Barbara Baillie, murdered in 1990 through intimate partner violence. Haily MacDonald, executive director of Huronia Transition Homes, spoke with passion against gender-based and intimate partner violence at the Midland event. 'We can't just call women who are murdered for the sake of being women another homicide,' she said. 'We have to acknowledge that it was a result of them being a woman. So, every time we use the word femicide, that itself is an act of resistance.' In attendance were representatives of La Maison Rosewood Shelter and the Georgian Bay Native Women's Association, as well as Mayor Bill Gordon and other members of council. 'Words are not actions,' said Gordon. 'We rely on our policing partners when it comes to being the action when it comes to intimate partner violence.' During his remarks, Gordon noted Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) members were not in attendance, despite their being a key element of tackling the epidemic. He cited an 18 per cent increase in intimate partner violence calls for service in Ontario over past year, according to OPP statistics, but noted it was uncertain whether that was from 'more violence being perpetrated, or if people are coming forward now and reporting that. 'The stigma is being broken by efforts like this,' Gordon said. As explained at the ceremony by Desiree Salis, crisis counsellor for La Maison Rosewood, a moment of silence would be followed by the gathering making as much noise as possible to draw attention to Brady and the plight faced by women everywhere. The silence was marked by held hands and soft tears, followed by an eruption of drums, pots, and stir spoons, shouting, clapping, banging and more. Its conclusion resulted in a second moment of unintended silence and hugs. Huronia Transition Homes has been in operation since 1984 in north Simcoe and has a 24/7 county-wide crisis line where community members can access critical support and resources. (In north Simcoe: 1-800-461-1750; in south Simcoe: 1-800-987-0799.) Justus Chester has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Brady, who was his partner. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
16-07-2025
- CTV News
Purple bench honours woman tragically murdered in Midland, Ont.
Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual A purple lumber bench stands along the Midland harbor honouring, Julia Brady, a local woman who was tragically murdered earlier this year. Tuesday's unveiling reflected on all victims of abuse committed by intimate partners. 23-year-old Brady was found dead inside a Seventh Street Midland apartment complex, where police confirmed her boyfriend, Justus Chester, was later taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder. Julia's loved ones told CTV News back in March that she lived in the apartment unit with the accused. The two started dating in the spring after meeting on the dating app Tinder. Two months later she was killed. Julia Brady A purple lumber bench stands along the Midland harbor honouring, Julia Brady, a local woman who was tragically murdered earlier this year. (Supplied) This memorial site is part of a national project that aims to support victims and inspire change. Each bench is placed in a public space within the community. The Purple Bench Program launched back in 2015 all began after the tragic death of Barbara Baillie, who was murdered by her husband in 1990. Huronia Transition Homes made this project entirely possible. Through the 2025 Town Park Bench Program, Midland staff were able to secure purple composite lumber as a pilot to test the feasibility. As part of this tribute, the team also secured two purple Muskoka chairs to accompany the memorial. The project was revealed during a community event where families and supporters came together to raise awareness and show their solidarity. With files from CTV's Mike Arsalides.
