Erasing Family, a Documentary Film Co-Produced by CCMF

Public Policy

CONTACT

Justin Trottier, Executive Director
Canadian Centre for Men and Families
jtrottier@menandfamilies.org
416-402-8856

ACTION ITEMS:

Watch the film.

Learn more about parental alienation in order to reduce its prevalence.

Contact us and Get More Involved:

1. Organize your own screening.

2. Join or start a support group for alienated parents

3. Advance public policies that makes separation and divorce healthier for children.

Donate to support the film screening and policy work, receive charity receipt

Erasing Family, Co-Produced by the Canadian Centre for Men and Families, is a ground-breaking documentary film that spotlights the devastating consequences of parental alienation. The film led directly to global efforts to reform divorce and family law.

Contact us to arrange a screening.

A loving parent being erased from the life of his or her child is one of the most significant public health crises of our time. In Canada and the US, over 25 million parents are being erased – for no good reason – from their children’s lives after divorce or separation.

Watch the trailer for Erasing Family

For background on the film and to find out how you can watch it, visit https://erasingfamily.org/

Join a mass movement of citizens working to make progressive change happen across Canada.

Erasing Family spotlights the devastating consequences of parental alienation. The documentary follows young adults fighting to reunite with their broken families and offers a concrete road-map for public policy and community service improvements.

Nanos poll: 70% of Canadians support a rebuttable presumption of equal parenting and only 13% oppose it. See 2017 Nanos Equal Parenting Poll.pdf

Prior to these public events, the film was screened privately to great acclaim at the conferences for the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts, the American Psychological Association and the Parental Alienation Study Group

Testimonials

“It’s hard when you have to stop and think that your child wants nothing to do with you because of what they’ve been taught.”
– Dizzy Lerner, Alienated father, as interviewed in the documentray Erasing Family

“One parent gets to be a parent and the other gets to be at best a visitor and at worst completely erased.”
– Dr. Christine Giancarlo, Anthropologist, Mount Royal University (Calgary), and author, Parentectomy

“I want to hug my daughter but I can’t. And I couldn’t get any help.”
– Kris, Client, Father support group at the Canadian Centre for Men and Families

“Parental alienation devastates families. I’ve spoken to young fathers who were suicidal. There’s not much support, other than the Canadian Centre for Men and Families, for fathers who are alienated and trying to rebuild relationships with their kids”
– George, Client, Father support group at the Canadian Centre for Men and Families

About the Film

Erasing family bonds after divorce or separation is a leading cause of preventable childhood trauma. For change to happen, non-victims and institutions need to make divorce part of their agenda of social reform. Through personal narratives and legal analysis, Erasing Family educates families on how to make informed choices and mobilize representatives. Audiences will leave knowing that courtroom custody battles and their emotional consequences can be prevented with court reform and laws that promote shared parenting, as well as shifting resources to help families instead of encouraging them to fight.

Told from the point view of the children, Erasing Family attempts to heal from the consequences of courtroom decisions while endeavoring to build a DIY grassroots movement for social change. While the stories told are tragic, we show that happy endings are possible and inspire other children to reunite with their erased families.

The need is urgent. Although over 70% of Canadians support a presumption of equal parenting by mothers and fathers in the event of separation or divorce, and despite research showing that equal parenting has the best outcomes for children, legislative efforts have been repeatedly blocked. Efforts to reform family court by streamlining protocols and offering free or low cost mediation services remain fractured. We are determined to raise awareness that erasing family bonds after divorce or separation is one of the leading cause of preventable childhood trauma and through the film, trigger a mass movement to preserve family bonds.

CCMF hosted all Canadian Premiere Screenings of Erasing Family.

Past Canadian Premiere Events

Lethbridge: Saturday, November 9. Doors open 3:15pm. Movie starts 3:30pm. The Movie Mill @ 1710 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge, AB T1K 2R5
Brampton: Wednesday, November 13 at 6:30PM. Brampton Towers Party Room, 85 Charolais Boulevard, Brampton, Ontario, L6Y2R8
Barrie, Ontario: Friday, November 22 at 7:00PM. 12 Chase McEachern Way, Barrie, ON, L4M1A1
Medicine Hat: Saturday, November 23 at 2:00pm. Esplanade Studio Theatre @ 401 First St SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1A8W2
Calgary: Wednesday, October 9 at 7:00PM. Jenkins Theatre (Room I115), Mount Royal University. 4825 Mt Royal Gate SW., Calgary, Alberta, T3E 6K6
Toronto: Thursday, October 10 at 7:00PM and Friday, October 18 at 7:00PM. JJR Macleod Auditorium, Medical Sciences Building. 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S3K1
Saskatoon: October 12, 2019 at 7:00PM
Edmonton: October 17 at 7:00PM. Theatre L1-190, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy (ECHA) Building, University of Alberta, 11405 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9
Ottawa: Friday, October 18 at 7:00PM. Champlain Room, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 1J1
Winnipeg: Saturday, October 19 at 2:30PM. Ambassador E Room, Canad Inns Destination Centre Windsor Park, 1034 Elizabeth Rd, Winnipeg, MB R2J 1B3, Dauphin, MB
Vancouver: Sunday, November 3. Doors open 2:00PM. Screening starts 3:00PM. The Theatre at UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6Z 3B7

MEDIA ADVISORY – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Documentary Exposes Trauma Inflicted on Children by Canada’s Family Court System

Canadian Screenings of “Erasing Family” Start Oct 9th, Run in Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat

TORONTO, ON — (October 8, 2019) – The new documentary Erasing Family gives voice to the avoidable trauma experienced by over one million Canadian children of divorcing parents. The film will premiere at venues across Canada starting October 9th, with screenings scheduled in Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.
The goal of this film is to make family break-up healthier for children by offering a concrete road-map for policy and service improvements. This message resonates with a broad consensus that we have a broken family law system that urgently needs repair.

“With an election around the corner, the film is a wake up call to policy makers to work toward structural reform that puts children first,” said Justin Trottier, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Men and Families, a men’s health agency that co-produced the film.

The film interviews activists for change who believe the most impactful remedy would be a presumption of equal parenting between mothers and fathers in the event of separation or divorce. Although a Nanos poll showed that 70% of Canadians support equal parenting and only 13% oppose it, and despite social science research demonstrating that equal parenting provides the best outcomes for children, legislative efforts have been repeatedly blocked.

The film’s prequel, Erasing Dad, which explored parental alienation in South America, was originally banned from YouTube because it exposed how some professionals make money by keeping parents and children separated. The ban was overturned, the film became incredibly popular and it helped to improve family law in Argentina.

For full information and the screening schedule, visit http://erasingfamily.ca

CONTACT

Justin Trottier
Executive Director,
Canadian Centre for Men and Families
jtrottier@menandfamilies.org
416-402-8856
The Canadian Centre for Men and Families is a men’s health and social service agency with offices across Canada.

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Links of Interest

Gene Colman, Family Law Centre

Family law solutions that protect your legal rights and financial interests.

Divorce Corp

Divorce Corp is an explosive new documentary that exposes the appalling waste, and shameless collusive practices within the U.S. family law industry. More money and more people flow through the family courts than any other court system in America combined - now grossing over $50 billion a year.

The Mask You Live In

Currently the film is slated for release in the latter half of 2014. We expect to start screening the film widely in the fall.

Gene Colman, Family Law Centre

maskDivorce Corp

 

Trailer

 

 

 

divorce_corp_xlrg

The Mask You Live In

Currently the film is slated for release in the latter half of 2014. We expect to start screening the film widely in the fall.
The trailer for the film:
http://therepresentationproject.org/mask


Reading List

Here is a very small sample of some good books related to Men’s Issues:

The Link, November 7, 2011: No to Movember: Share the Funds, Shave the ‘Stache (Men’s Health, Misandry)

Ottawa Citizen, November 14, 2011: Cold Cases: Ottawa’s 41 unsolved homicide victims since 1966 (Violence against men)

Wall Street Journal, November 11, 2011: Generation Jobless: Young Men Suffer Worst as Economy Staggers (Workplace)

“The share of men age 25-34 living with their parents jumped to 18.6% this year, up from 14.2% four years ago.” Unemployment rates for men aged 25-34 in this article were more than 50% higher than the national average; men aged 20-24 has rates 150% higher.”

Los Angeles Times, June 26, 2011: Could this be happening? A man’s nightmare made real (Legal bias)

A man is accused by the mother of his young son of her rape, torture and kidnapping. He is held without bail before police admit they have no case due to multiple alibis and video evidence. He was eventually declared “fully innocent” by the court, which is exceptionally uncommon.

Ottawa Citizen, June 5, 2011: Locker room culture turns boys off physical education: Girls not the only ones suffering from poor body-image, researchers find (Boys)

“There’s no common public discourse in which schools… [acknowledge] that boys struggle with what their body looks like.” “Many boys… [feel] unsafe or unwelcome in gym class.”

Memphis Business Journal, September 1, 2010 Study: Memphis’ young women earning more than men (Workforce)

The Disappearing Male
A typical college-age man produces less than half the sperm his father did, and up to 85 per cent of that is abnormal.

A world of healing: male victims of sexual assault.

Male Cancer Awareness Campaign

One Dad With a Blog (random thoughts of a single dad)

Here are a very small sample of some good books related to Men’s Issues:

Academic Issues

The Science on Women and Science, Christina Hoff Sommers, 2009

Professing Feminism: Education and Indoctrination in Women’s Studies, 2003

Legal

Legalizing Misandry: From Public Shame to Systemic Discrimination Against Men, Paul Nathanson and Katherine Young, 2006

The Other Half of Gender: Men’s Issues in Development, Maria C. Correia (Editor), Ian Bannon (Editor), 2006

Culture and Politics

Spreading Misandry: The Teaching of Contempt for Men in Popular Culture, Paul Nathanson and Katherine Young, 2006

Sanctifying Misandry: Goddess Ideology and the Fall of Man, 2006

The Myth of Male Power, Warren Farrell, 2001

Who Stole Feminism?: How Women Have Betrayed Women, Christina Hoff Sommers, 1995

Masculine Mystique, Andrew Kimbrell, 1995

Equality: A Man’s Claim : The Equality Issue from the Male Perspective, and an Ethical Society’s Viewpoint, Alan Millard, 1995

Ceasefire!: Why Women and Men Must Join Forces to Achieve True Equality, Cathy Young, 1999

Heterophobia: Sexual Harassment and the Future of Feminism (American Intellectual Culture), Daphne Patai, 1998

Does Feminism Discriminate Against Men?: A Debate, Warren Farrell and James P. Sterba, 2007

Save the Males: Why Men Matter Why Women Should Care, Kathleen Parker, 2008

The Decline of Males, Lionel Tiger, 1999

Men in Groups, Lionel Tiger, 2004

Work Issues

Why Men Earn More, Warren Farrell, 2004

Boys and Young Men

Why Gender Matters: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know about the Emerging Science of Sex Differences, Leonard Sax, 2006

Importance of Men Teachers: And Reasons Why There Are So Few, Bryan G. Nelson

Fine Young Man, Michael Gurian, 2002

The War Against Boys: How Misguided Feminism Is Harming Our Young Men, Christina Hoff Sommers, 2001

The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life, Michael Gurian (Author), Kathy Stevens (Contributor), 2007

Wonder Of Boys Tenth Anniversary Edition, Michael Gurian, 2006

Blog: Sit Still and Pay Attention

Violence

Domestic Violence: The 12 Things You Aren’t Supposed to Know, Thomas B. James, 2003

Violence and Gender Reexamined (Law and Public Policy: Psychology and the Social Sciences), Richard B. Felson, 2002

Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them, James Garbarino, 2000

When She Was Bad: Violent Women & the Myth of Innocence, Patricia Pearson, 1997

Fathers/Family

Father And Child Reunion, Warren Farrell, 2002

Throwaway Dads: The Myths and Barriers That Keep Men from Being the Fathers They Want to Be, Armin Brott (Author), Ross Parke (Author), 1998

Divorced Dads, Sanford Braver, 2002

Fathers’ Rights: Hard-Hitting and Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute, Jeffrey Levine, 2011

Defiant Dads: Fathers’ Rights Activists in America, Jocelyn Elise Crowley

Men’s Health

Male Menopause, Jed Diamond, 2003

I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression, Terrence Real, 1998

Exposing Men: The Science and Politics of Male Reproduction, Cynthia R. Daniels, 2008

Understanding Men’s Health: Masculinity, Identity and Well-being, Steve Robertson, 2007

The Psychology Of Men’s Health, Christina Lee (Author), R Glynn Owens (Author), 2002

Men: Evolutionary and Life History, Richard G. Bribiescas, 2008

The Invisible Boy: Revisioning the Victimization of Male Children and Teens: Health Canada Report (1996)

Articles

The Link, November 7, 2011: No to Movember: Share the Funds, Shave the ‘Stache (Men’s Health, Misandry)

Ottawa Citizen, November 14, 2011: Cold Cases: Ottawa’s 41 unsolved homicide victims since 1966 (Violence against men)

Wall Street Journal, November 11, 2011: Generation Jobless: Young Men Suffer Worst as Economy Staggers (Workplace)

“The share of men age 25-34 living with their parents jumped to 18.6% this year, up from 14.2% four years ago.” Unemployment rates for men aged 25-34 in this article were more than 50% higher than the national average; men aged 20-24 has rates 150% higher.”

Los Angeles Times, June 26, 2011: Could this be happening? A man’s nightmare made real (Legal bias)

A man is accused by the mother of his young son of her rape, torture and kidnapping. He is held without bail before police admit they have no case due to multiple alibis and video evidence. He was eventually declared “fully innocent” by the court, which is exceptionally uncommon.

Ottawa Citizen, June 5, 2011: Locker room culture turns boys off physical education: Girls not the only ones suffering from poor body-image, researchers find (Boys)

“There’s no common public discourse in which schools… [acknowledge] that boys struggle with what their body looks like.” “Many boys… [feel] unsafe or unwelcome in gym class.”

Memphis Business Journal, September 1, 2010 Study: Memphis’ young women earning more than men (Workforce)

Articles on Violence

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-abusers-02-jan02,0,1147422.story?page=1 (gendered vs psychological explanation abuse)
http://www.canadiancrc.com/The_Invisible_Boy_Report.aspx – a seminal study on sexual violence against males in Canada (a bit dated but still relevant)
http://www.vifamily.ca/media/node/364/attachments/331.pdf
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.2005.079020
http://www.jimhopper.com/pdfs/Lisak_%281994%29_Male_Survivor_Interviews.pdf
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/sep/05/men-victims-domestic-violence
http://www.parity-uk.org/RSMDVConfPresentation-version3A.pdf
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/omc-ned/kill-tuer-eng.pdf
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/289/11/1425.abstract neonaticide in North Carolina over 20 years
http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44243/1/10560_2004_Article_468272.pdf

Documentaries

The Disappearing Male
A typical college-age man produces less than half the sperm his father did, and up to 85 per cent of that is abnormal.

Websites

A world of healing: male victims of sexual assault.

Male Cancer Awareness Campaign

One Dad With a Blog (random thoughts of a single dad)


Our Library

The Canadian Centre for Men and Families owns a reference library which can be accessed at the Canadian Centre for Men and Families Toronto location at 26 Mansur Terrace, Toronto, M3J 3R1.

We have developed an online library search engine based on the KOHA Integrated Library System.

Thank you to the dozens of donors who contributed literature to build this library and to the many volunteers who catalogued the material. The literature is largely focused on men’s issues and gender, although the collection ranges broadly in subject matter.

We are especially grateful to Dr. Paul Nathanson and Professor Katherine Young from McGill University for donating their collection, including research literature on men in relation to warfare and conflict.

Our library is one way in which we aim to promote an understanding of different ideas and experiences which transcend ideology. The statements in the books of this library do not necessarily represent CCMF positions or opinions.

Download Our CCMF Library List
CCMF Library

Videos

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First National Conference

Why focus on men's issues?

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