In British Columbia, there is no formal legislation on teen dating violence. There is also no formal legislation on domestic, family, or intimate partner violence in effect. Instead, family violence is addressed in the province’s Family Law Act. This Act does not mention teen dating violence.

Teen dating violence may fall under the Child, Family and Community Act and the School Act. Other forms of relief may be available under the Employment Standards Act, the Residential Tenancy Act, and the Intimate Images Protection Act.

Across Canada, the only targeted and uniform protection against the acts that can comprise teen dating violence – such as physical violence, sexual violence, and stalking behaviours – is found in the Criminal Code. For youth, Criminal Code offenses are administered under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Youth Criminal Justice Act applies to youth ages 12-17. Since these are federal laws, they apply to British Columbia.

What Protective Actions Can Be Taken When a Teen is Experiencing Dating Violence?


In British Columbia, there are two types of potential orders that may be used if an individual fears for their safety: (1) protection orders and (2) peace bonds. Federally, individuals living on First Nations reserves can also apply for an emergency protection order. Each of these are described below, including likely eligibility for minors experiencing teen dating violence.

Peace Bond

What is it?

  • A peace bond (also known as a Section 810 order) is an order from a criminal court that requires a person to keep the peace and be on good behaviour for a period of time (up to one year).
    • Peace bonds are issued if someone seems likely to commit a criminal offense, but the offense hasn’t actually been committed.
    • Peace bonds are not intended for emergency situations, as they can take several weeks to months to obtain (though it is possible that a temporary order can be granted in the interim).

Who is eligible?

  • Under the Criminal Code, anyone (including a minor ages 12 and up) can apply to a justice for a peace bond if they have reasonable grounds to fear that another person will cause personal injury to them or will knowingly publish, distribute, transmit, sell, or make available an intimate image of a person without their consent.
    • Peace bonds are issued if someone seems likely to commit a criminal offense, but the offense hasn’t actually been committed.
    • Peace bonds are not intended for emergency situations, as they can take several weeks to months to obtain (though it is possible that a temporary order can be granted in the interim).
    • Information on the Peace Bond may need to be served to the person that the Peace Bond is about.

What else should I know?

  • The Youth Criminal Justice Act grants Justices of the Peace the authority to make orders under the Criminal Coderegarding a young person. Therefore, it is not necessary to seek a peace bond from a criminal court when you are a minor. For information on where to find a court with Justices of the Peace in your area, connect with VictimLinkBC, a toll-free, 24/7, confidential, multi-lingual helpline (1-800-563-0808 or VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca).
  • Individuals can begin the process of obtaining a peace bond by going to their local court. A person called the court clerk will then provide an application form for the individual to complete. In the application form, the individual can describe their concerns, including why they fear that another person may harm them, a family member, or their property. This can include concerns that someone may share an intimate image or video of them without their consent.
  • After completing the application form, the court will usually schedule a hearing, and the person the order is about will be notified of the application and provided with a summons. A summons is a formal court order requiring this person to attend court for a hearing. At the hearing, a Justice of the Peace will review the evidence and determine whether to issue a peace bond and, if so, what conditions should be included. The court clerk will then provide further details on the service of the application and next steps.
  • You can go to the police or RCMP to assist you in getting a peace bond, but this is not required. You are able to apply directly to a Justice of the Peace through a local court. You are also not required to have a lawyer, though you are allowed to have one if you want.
  • A Justice of the Peace or the court can ask the accused person to enter into a “recognizance”, which means that the accused would have to sign an order the promises that they will keep the peace and be of good behaviour for up to 12 months.
  • You can go to the police or RCMP to assist you in getting a peace bond, but this is not required. You are able to apply directly to a Justice of the Peace through a local court. You are also not required to have a lawyer, though you are allowed to have one if you want.

Emergency Protection Order – for those living on First Nation Reserves

What is it?

  • Emergency protection orders are issued when violence has happened, and there is a need for protection of the victim and/or their property.

Who is eligible?

What else should I know?

  • If the youth is in a marriage or common-law relationship and is living on a First Nation Reserve, then the youth can apply for an emergency protection order under this Act at a Family Court.
  • If an emergency protection order is granted, the abusive partner can be ordered to leave the family home on the Reserve for a maximum of 90 days or longer, depending on the judge’s decision.

Protection Order

What is it?

  • Protection orders are issued when family violence has happened, and there is a need for protection of the victim, as well as potentially other family members who live with the victim.

Who is eligible?

  • Minors experiencing dating violence likely cannot apply for a protection order under British Columbia’s Family Law Act.
    • This is because, unless the youth are married or living together in a marriage-like relationship, or have a child in common, dating relationships among minors would not meet the definition of family member as stated in the Act. Family Law Act Protection Orders are only available for violence or threats of violence between family members. The Act defines family members as:
      • A spouse/former spouse or person with whom you are living or have lived with in a marriage-like relationship;
      • A person with whom you share child;
      • Your child; or,
      • A person who lives with and is related to you.

Other Potential Rights in Cases of Teen Dating Violence

  • If a tenant (including minors), or the child of a tenant, has been the victim of family violence, a tenancy agreement can be terminated early without notice under the Residential Tenancy Act. However, this Act uses the same definition of family violence as the Family Law Act, and so dating relationships where there is not a child in common or the partners are not living together are unlikely to meet eligibility criteria.

  • Minors who are employed can apply for up to 5 days of paid leave, 5 days of unpaid leave, and an additional 15 weeks of unpaid leave per year to seek medical help or legal assistance relating to domestic and sexual violence under the Employment Standards Act.
  • Domestic and sexual violence leave is available for those in dating relationships. Actions of teen dating violence, including physical and sexual abuse/harassment, stalking, non-stop phone calls or text messages, and threats are considered domestic violence under this Act.
  • Employees must request leave from their employer and follow the normal processes for requesting leave. Advance notice is not required. The employer can request reasonable, sufficient proof indicating that the employee is entitled to leave on these grounds.

What is it?

  • In British Columbia, it is illegal to distribute an intimate image of another person without explicit consent of the person, under the Intimate Images Protection Act .
    • Consent to take an intimate image is not the same as consent to distribute the image.
  • This Act applies to individuals depicted in an intimate image that has been distributed or threatened to be distributed by another person without their consent.

Who is eligible?

  • Anyone in British Columbia who has had an intimate image of themselves distributed without their consent.
    • An intimate image is defined by the act as a visual recording or visual simultaneous representation of a person, whether or not the individual is identifiable and whether or not the image has been altered in any way.

What else should I know?

  • Minors can start an action themselves if they are over 14 years old. Minors between 12-14 years old can authorize another person over 14 years old to apply on their behalf for relief.

The act offers support and remedies such as an expedited intimate image protection order (which removes images online), publication ban and injunctions for victims.

Responsibilities of Adults who Witness or Suspect Dating Violence

  • Under the Child, Family and Community Service Act, any person in British Columbia (including parents, caregivers, family members, teachers, and other adults) who reasonably believes that a child under age 19 is in need of intervention has a responsibility to report it to a child welfare worker.
    • As it pertains to teen dating violence, this may be the case if the child has been, or is likely to be, physically harmed, sexually abused or sexually exploited by another person and the child’s parent/guardian is unwilling or unable to protect the child, or if a child is emotionally harmed by their parent’s conduct.
  • If an adult believes that a child’s guardian is unable or unwilling to protect their child from these kinds of injury or abuse, they must report this information. If you are unsure, you can connect with your local child welfare office for consultation.
    • For educators, informing a principal or colleague does not relieve a teacher from their duty to report to a child welfare worker/agency.
  • Failure to report these types of child endangerment may result in being found guilty of an offence. The punishment for this offence is a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or up to 6 months in prison.

  • British Columbia’s School Act does not specifically mention teen dating violence. However, under this Act, teachers have a duty to ensure that students obey their school board’s code of conduct. Codes of conduct vary between school boards, but typically prohibit behaviour that could physically or emotionally harm others. Prohibited actions listed in school board codes of conduct may also be broad enough to cover behaviours related to dating violence (e.g., conduct which harms the mental well-being of another student; image distribution).
  • Under the School Act, boards are required to establish a code of conduct for students. Codes of conduct can include the school board’s rules for suspending students. Under the School Act, a principal, vice principal or director of instruction of a school, or the superintendent of schools, may also suspend a student if the rules provided by their school board do not provide otherwise, and as long as the suspension is carried out in accordance with the school board’s rules.

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