1. Earl Silverman was a Canadian domestic abuse survivor, activist and men's rights advocate who founded the Men's Alternative Safe House, the only privately funded domestic abuse shelter for men in Canada, and the Family of Men society, which operated phone lines to assist victims.
Earl Silverman served as the Canadian Liaison for the National Coalition for Men.
Earl Silverman founded the Family of Men support society, and served as president and program coordinator for the organization.
In early 2013, Silverman announced that the sanctuary will be closing because he could no longer afford to run it due to a lack of funding.
Earl Silverman sold the house shortly after to a man named Steven Howitt, and committed suicide the next day.
Earl Silverman was found dead by hanging in his garage on April 26,2013, in an apparent suicide.
Earl Silverman's body was discovered by Howitt, who called for help but was unable to save him.
Earl Silverman left a four-page suicide note, condemning the government for failing to recognize male victims of domestic abuse.
Earl Silverman wrote that he hoped his death would bring more awareness to the issue of male abuse.
Earl Silverman's will directed that the funds from his estate should be dispersed so as to create an 'educational scholarship for male victims of female perpetrated domestic violence.
Erin Pizzey, writer and founder of Refuge, said Earl Silverman 'was a martyr to the indifference of the Canadian Government, and we will never forget his name,' and noted that she worried there will be no change in the 'stone-hearted' Canadian government.