On March 1, 2021, The Children’s Law Act, 2020 (the “CLA”) came into force. The CLA amended the criteria for the best interests of the child analysis, directing the courts to more effectively consider family violence as a factor when determining decision-making responsibilities and parenting time.

The relevant sections of the CLA for determining an appropriate parenting order are sections 10(1) through 10(4), which now specifically require the court to take into consideration any family violence including the nature, seriousness and frequency of violence, the harm or risk of harm to the child and the pattern of this behaviour, amongst other factors. 

Allegations of domestic violence are present in a significant number of applications before the court. However, more often than not, the alleged abuser categorically denies the allegations. The issue of who to believe and what weight to attribute to the allegations has been a common issue in family law. With the new amendments to the CLA, these issues are, once again, front and center.

Since the CLA came into force several cases have come before the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench addressing this issue. In Juraville v Armstrong, 2021 SKQB 73, the mother and father both alleged physical, verbal, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of the other and denied, absolutely and completely, the version told by the other. Mr. Justice Megaw performed an in-depth analysis of how the court considers contradictory evidence of domestic violence in light of decision making and parenting, stating:

The real question, therefore, is not whether particular events, or any events, did or did not happen. Those may be determined in a trial, or they may remain undetermined. The focus of the court now must be on, and remain on, the best interests of these children and how to safely structure parenting in view of what is being alleged. The allegations of violence and abuse must, of course, be considered in determining these best interests. Such consideration is done not from a perspective of punishing the alleged abuser, or any party. It is important to keep in mind, by addressing the allegations of violence and abuse and by inserting protections, the court is not to be seen as having made findings of fact regarding these allegations.
 

Ultimately, despite the significant allegations of domestic violence, Mr. Justice Megaw determined that the concerns regarding allegations of violence could be addressed by ensuring the parties did not interact on a personal level and that the evidence did not support a conclusion that the children’s best interests would prevent parenting time with either the mother or father.

In a similar decision, DW v EO, 2021 SKQB 157, both parents alleged domestic violence was inflicted by the other and adamantly denied they were the perpetrator of any abuse. Despite the allegations, Madam Justice Richmond determined that it was still in the child’s best interests to have a shared parenting arrangement to facilitate the relationship between the child and both parents. This, despite the fact that both parents alleged family violence, demonstrated an unwillingness to cooperate with the other regarding the care of the child with violence and arguments continuing to occur in front of the child and a high level of anger and animosity towards each other.

While it is now a legislative requirement through the CLA for the court to consider domestic violence when analyzing the best interests of the child, it is still only one of many factors for the court to consider in a highly subjective analysis. Based on recent case law, the presence of domestic violence, particularly where the violence has not been inflicted on the child, appears to have minimal impact on the best interests of the child analysis.

At Artemis Homes, they focus on building high-quality, single-family homes throughout the Regina area. The leadership team headed up by President Myles Winnicki & Chairman John Grant have decades of combined construction and customer service experience.

Artemis Homes are dedicated to offering professional exterior and interior design, made with quality materials and extreme value. With over 450 builds across Western Canada under their belts, they strive to meet the needs of their customers and strengthen the community one home at a time. They work closely with the local home plan designers at Robinson Residential,  and currently, Artemis Homes boasts impressive 11-floor plan options to choose from (and growing).

The Artemis team have build's happening across the city, from infills in the highly sought after Cathedral District to plots at Westerra, a 490-acre Community located off Dewdney Avenue in West Regina, that offers a truly unique living experience.

Myles (pictured right) runs a tight ship, and he is passionate about maintaining excellence in every aspect and at every stage of every build.  When the Trusted team toured some of the current homes under construction we were very impressed by how clean and tidy the job sites are. Myles pointed out the details that matter to him, including the triple glazing, which is a standard feature in all Artemis Home. Myles is the face of Artemis and he has been involved within the construction industry for over 35 years. He started out as a construction labourer and over time he worked his way up the ladder gaining valuable experience on the way. He has developed a reputation within the industry for being immensely prepared and organized leading to an efficient build process. Myles truly understands what goes into building your home and he will ensure it is built right.

We take pride in our work and run our business with integrity.  We truly love doing business in Regina and are proud to be part of this wonderful community. Trusting a good, reputable home builder with one of life’s biggest investments is very important and we don’t take your trust in us lightly. The Artemis team is committed to client satisfaction and we even offer a doorstep-to-deck warranty. That’s right, we stand behind what we build! - Myles Winnicki

WHY Choose Artemis Homes? 

If you are looking for a Regina home builder there are many reasons we recommend considering Artemis Homes and we list a few of them below:  

1. They are a team of skilled individuals who stand behind the work they do. You can see their commitment to integrity from the planning stages all the way through to completion
2.  They put their all into everything they do, right down to the last detail. You want your home to be perfect…and so do they!
3. They strive to be on the leading edge of home building innovation best practices.
4. They focus on the details that matter. If you walk through their show home you won't fail to be impressed at features like the lighting and the mouldings. 
5. Their warranty- their industry-leading doorstep to deck protection. Two-year open warranty, giving you peace of mind.

As part of the Trusted Regina verification process, we spoke to several clients and suppliers to get a feel for how they operate. When we chatted to their interior designer Erica Eftodie, who is an Interior Design Technologist at Robinson Residential she said, 

 "Artemis will allow designs to have quality products and materials in order for the concept to come together in a meaningful way. Attention to detail is important when a design package is created and Artemis takes the time to understand why you chose the finishes you chose and agrees to make each individual choice a priority to pulling off the entire look. They do not shy away from designs or cut corners because they are complex, expensive, or time-consuming, they put pride into their work and make the home beautiful so that the space can be enjoyed by anyone who resides in it." 

Artemis Homes Is A Trusted Regina Home Builder

"The responsibility of selling your home in Regina and area does not come lightly to me. I understand the effort and challenges that surround the decision to sell your current property, and I will provide the real estate expertise, resources and strategies to guide you through it seamlessly. I'm here to provide you with the guidance you need to feel confident and absolute certainty that you are in the right hands." James Wruth

Sell Your Home For The Best Possible Price, With The Least Amount Of Time and Stress!

James Wruth Is A Trusted Regina Estate Agent

• coverage for damage to your vehicle, subject to a deductible
• personal injury insurance from a vehicle collision
• liability insurance for damage your vehicle causes to another vehicle or property, or injury to others

Vehicle damage and your deductible. 

Lately we have been spending much more time in our homes than usual. With homes and finances at the forefront of many household conversations, here is a list of 6 things you can do to improve both your home and your finances. 

Don't pay so much toward the higher-interest debt that you risk defaulting on mortgage payments. Yes, credit cards can be expensive, and the issuer may take legal action if you default on card payments. But defaulting on mortgage payments can be an even bigger risk because you could lose your home.

Owning a home comes with many responsibilities and expenses, some that you can plan for in advance, like property taxes, and some that just pop up unexpectedly. If you haven’t already started saving for those unexpected expenses in an emergency fund or rainy-day fund, the new year is a great time to start! Saving any amount is beneficial in an emergency, but about 3 to 6-month’s salary is usually recommended. A high-interest savings account is a good place for your emergency fund. You’ll still be able to earn interest on your savings, and it’s not entirely locked away in case you need to access the funds quickly.

For some people, work-from-home measures may be in place indefinitely. The lines between your personal and professional life may be blurred during this time. The best way to keep firm boundaries is by trying to maintain a similar routine to when you’re in the office. Ensure you set boundaries to limit overtime work, always take breaks throughout the day, and log off your work computer at the usual end of the workday.

We live in Saskatchewan, so there's no avoiding heating and cooling costs, and they will only rise as time goes on. Whatever you can do to make your property more energy-efficient is a worthwhile investment! It also makes it more attractive when you decide to sell. 

For tech-savvy homeowners, making your home more energy-efficient with smart thermostats or programmable LED lights can be fun! Even if technology isn’t your thing, minor fixes around the house can help make your home more energy-efficient and save you money. Here are a few things to add to your list:

• Seal all air leaks around windows and doors
• Use cold water or energy-saving settings for washing machines and dishwashers
• Unplug devices and appliances when not in use
• Lower your thermostat while you’re away from home or in less-used areas of your home
• Install a low-flow showerhead
• Opt for energy-efficient window treatments like honeycomb shades

Depending on how much you still owe on your mortgage, paying it off may be daunting but don’t be discouraged. Even small steps now can help you become mortgage-free sooner. Start by increasing your regular payments. For example, instead of purchasing a takeout dinner, put that extra $50 towards your monthly mortgage payment. Keep that up for a year, and you’ve already put an additional $600 towards your mortgage and, over five years, an additional $3,000.

Another simple way to pay your mortgage off faster is to put any additional or unexpected income towards your mortgage. That can be anything like funds from a tax return, a bonus from work or inheritance. Before you make any pre-payments, double-check your mortgage pre-payment options with your mortgage lender so you don’t exceed your allowable limits.