Grade 11 students at Tecumseh Vista Academy heard a sobering message about healthy relationships today.
Dawn Novak shared the story of her daughter Natalie who was murdered in 2006 by an abusive boyfriend while away for school in Toronto.
"It was tough seeing someone so close to our age experience something like that," says Grade 11 student Mila Stupar. "It's not something we think could happen to us but it definitely happens in every day life."
Novak says her daughter was naive about how abuse can escalate and wants to make sure other students are aware of the signs.
"She left, I understand now, with very little understanding of relationship violence, cycles of violence. She underestimated, she minimized, she was naive and it cost her her life," says Novak.
Students were encouraged to not become bystanders when friends are in difficult situations and to reach out to services available in the community.
"For Natalie knowledge and information was greatly lacking and that's something I really hope to bring to young people particularly before they go away from their homes and their communities," says Novak.
Novak has talked to thousands of students across the province in hopes of keeping young people out of abusive relationships.