Advocates for victims of gender-based violence who participated in public hearings say they are "really, really happy" with the final report's findings that violence should be recognized as a public health emergency.

They say the final report into the Nova Scotia mass shootings is a breakthrough moment that gives affirmation — and urgency — to the warnings they've been repeating for years.

"We were really, really happy with the finding," said Dawn Ferris, executive director of the Cumberland Coun…