At this year’s Elevate Festival, a powerful conversation unfolded around a topic that often remains hidden in the shadows: economic abuse. Sponsored by Interac, the session featured Rhiannon Rosalind, Founder of Conscious Economics, and Anuradha Dugal, Executive Director at Women’s Shelters Canada. Together, they explored how survivors can reclaim their financial autonomy and how technology is playing a vital role.
Rhiannon opened the discussion by introducing the concept of the “new economy”, one rooted in emotional awareness and personal values. To address systemic issues like economic abuse, policymakers and financial institutions must engage in thoughtful introspection and ask the right questions. “The new economy is you,” she said, urging attendees to consider how their relationship with money reflects deeper societal dynamics.
Anuradha provided an overview of the scope of economic abuse in Canada. With over 620 shelters across the country, Women’s Shelters Canada works tirelessly to ensure survivors know where to turn for help. During the pandemic, many women were unsure if shelters were open, leading to what Anuradha described as a “shadow pandemic.” Economic abuse can take many forms, including unauthorized access to funds, coerced financial decisions, credit fraud, and more. Perpetrators may also misuse financial channels to harass or threaten others.
Informed by insights from organizations such as Women’s Shelters Canada and the Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment, Interac implemented an opt-out notification feature to help address instances where Interac e-Transfer® email notifications were misused to share messages of online harassment. Built in collaboration with Canadian financial institutions, this enhancement allows recipients to opt-out of seeing sender-generated content in their individual Interac e-Transfer email notifications while still receiving funds.
For Rhiannon, this is a prime example of the “new economy” in action, where the private sector and community organizations come together to create adaptive, individualized solutions. It also reflects a growing emotional awareness around money, encouraging people to acknowledge feelings like anxiety and shame that often accompany financial abuse.
Rhiannon offered a reminder during the session, emphasizing that “Economic abuse is never a survivor’s fault.” Her words underscored the importance of shifting blame away from those affected and focusing instead on support and awareness.
The session concluded with a call to action: support survivors by opening conversations without judgment and committing to long-term support. With 67 per cent of Canadians knowing someone who has experienced domestic violence, the need for awareness and action is urgent.
To learn more about the Interac e-Transfer Opt-Out Notification Feature and how it can help protect victims of economic abuse, visit here.
