FAMILY TRANSITION PLACE
FALL UPDATE PROVIDING SAFETY, SUPPORT AND HOPE FOR 40 YEARS.
40TH ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE Thanking our community for many years of support and advocacy. The past few months have been a busy and meaningful time at FTP as we marked our 40th Anniversary with an Open House on September 18. Over 200 guests joined us at our 20 Bredin location to tour our facility, explore a display of FTP’s 40-year history, and meet staff from all program areas. It was a day of reflection, gratitude, and community connection. Since opening in 1985, FTP has grown from a small emergency shelter into a comprehensive service provider, offering 24/7 crisis support, shelter, counselling, housing help, legal advocacy, rural outreach, and youth education. While we’ve made tremendous progress, the demand for our services remains urgent—our shelter was full the day after the event. This milestone celebration reminded us of the resilience of those we serve and the strength of our community. It also underscored a vital truth: we rely on community support to continue this work. Every donation, volunteer hour, and partnership helps us provide life-saving services. Looking ahead, there are many ways to make a difference. Whether through giving, volunteering, or spreading awareness—your support helps build a safer, more hopeful future for all. To learn more or get involved, contact Brennan Solecky at 519-9424122, ext. 240 or brennan@familytransitionplace.ca.
TOP NEWS 40TH ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE MESSAGES FROM FRIENDS TAKE BACK THE NIGHT/ SISTERS IN SPIRIT EVENT WRAPPED IN COURAGE DECEMBER 6TH RECOGNITION EMPTY BOWLS HEADWATERS SAVE THE DATE Find us on:
20 Bredin Parkway Orangeville, ON L9W 4Z9 1-800-265-9178
familytransitionplace.ca
KIND MESSAGES FROM OUR FRIENDS “Happy 40th! I was there when you first started and helped build a play area at your first location. It was quite an honour to see your vision take shape. We shared victories and defeats: helped so many women and children and Photo credit: Dufferin Board of Trade sadly lost some. Your staff has been awesome, staying positive and radiating understanding and hope. I’d like to see a time when your services are not needed but that is a pipe dream, so I hope you are around for another 40 years at least!” Lynda Ferneyhough | Board Member, 1996–2013 “I was one of the original staff when FTP first opened its doors in November 1985. We didn’t know exactly what we were doing but felt very passionate about it. I had the privilege of starting the first Adult Incest Survivor group in March of 1986 and led it for several years even after leaving FTP. The impact of what FTP has meant to this community is huge and I’m proud to be part of its beginnings.” Marianne Breadner | Past FTP Staff Member “At Habitat for Humanity’s Orangeville ReStore, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of Family Transition
Place in our community. What always stays with me is the hope in the clients’ faces when they mention FTP. When women and families supported by FTP come to us with furniture needs, I see how much stability and comfort it can bring to their lives. A couch, dining table, or bed can mean more than just furniture—it can represent a fresh start and a step toward rebuilding. Over the years, I’ve been honored to play a small role in supporting FTP’s clients, and it’s clear how deeply the work of FTP matters in creating hope and brighter futures. Congratulations on 40 years of life-changing service.” Jai Desousa | Habitat for Humanity Orangeville ReStore “Congratulations to Family Transition Place on reaching this incredible 40-year milestone! For four decades, you have been a beacon of safety, compassion, and hope for women, children, and families in our community. The impact of your work is immeasurable—changing lives, strengthening families, and building a more caring community for all of us. We truly love supporting such a fantastic community partner and are so proud to celebrate this milestone with you. Here’s to honoring 40 years of extraordinary service and to many more years of creating lasting change.” Julie Thurgood-Burnett | Hereward Farms
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT AND SISTERS IN SPIRIT EVENT Honouring Survivors and Taking a Stand Against Violence
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Take Back the Night and Sisters in Spirit event—a meaningful gathering that brought our community together in solidarity against sexual and gender-based violence. While Georgian College was unable to partner with us this year due to the ongoing faculty strike, we are grateful for their past support and look forward to future collaborations with them. A special thank you to our guest speaker with lived experience, who bravely shared her story with honesty and strength. Her voice added a deeply personal and powerful dimension to the event. We also extend our sincere thanks to our community partners for their continued collaboration and support, and to everyone who took part in the awareness march. Your presence helped amplify the message that violence in all its forms must be challenged and ended. It was truly inspiring to witness our community standing together to support survivors, raise awareness, and advocate for change. Events like this remind us of the power of collective action and the importance of ongoing dialogue in the fight against violence. 2 FALL 2025 NEWSLETTER
WRAPPED IN COURAGE
November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month Ontario marks Woman Abuse Prevention Month in November to raise awareness and inspire action to end violence against women. In recognition of Woman Abuse Prevention Month, FTP is once again participating in the Wrapped in Courage campaign—an annual initiative developed and facilitated by the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH). The Wrapped in Courage campaign is an awareness-building initiative that encourages communities to wrap themselves in purple to show those who have experienced domestic violence they are not alone. We invite the community to show their support of this campaign by wearing a purple scarf throughout the month of November in solidarity against domestic violence. November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. FTP is coordinating flag-raising ceremonies and proclamations with local municipalities and will be sharing information about Woman Abuse Prevention Month and the Wrapped in Courage campaign throughout the month. This November, help us Shine a Light on Woman Abuse by lighting up your home with a purple bulb. Let’s turn our communities purple to raise awareness. Follow us on social media or visit our website for updates. For more information about these initiatives or to purchase a Wrapped in Courage purple scarf, please scan the QR code or visit our website. Image by Harryarts on Freepik
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP? Times are tough for everyone. With the rising cost of living, our supply of everyday essentials for clients is lower than it’s been in years. Any support you can offer is deeply appreciated. Scan the QR code or visit familytransitionplace.ca/give to see how you can help— now and throughout the year. If you have any questions about making a donation this holiday season, please call Ashlynne at 519-942-4122, ext. 247.
I would like to help Family Transition Place and make an impact on the lives of the people they support. FIRST & LAST NAME ADDRESS PHONE (
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familytransitionplace.ca
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FALL 2025 NEWSLETTER
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DECEMBER 6TH RECOGNITION National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women On December 6th, 1989, 14 young women were horrifically killed at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because the man who killed them hated women. Please join us for a short but impactful, in-person, outdoor candlelight vigil at our Orangeville office on Thursday, December 4th. We will take a moment to remember and acknowledge the women murdered in 1989, and all of the women lost to gender-based violence. We will also be recognizing this day online through our social media channels and on our website on December 6th. Thursday, December 4, 2025 | 5–5:30 p.m. 20 Bredin Parkway, Orangeville This will be an outdoor event—please dress accordingly.
EMPTY BOWLS FUNDRAISER The 16th annual Empty Bowls Headwaters fundraiser is coming soon! For several years, FTP has been grateful to receive support from this incredible community event, which helps fund our ongoing work. Image from Empty Bowls - Headwaters Facebook page
Photo from 2024 vigil
SAVE THE DATE! Join us for breakfast on Thursday, March 5th to celebrate International Women’s Day! We’re changing things up—same great venue and food, but this year we’re kicking off the day with a celebration. You spoke, we listened. We know Image by Freepik pricing has been a barrier for some, and we want everyone to have the chance to join us. More details coming soon—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Alton Mill Arts Centre, 1402 Queen St W, Alton
March 5, 2026 | Hockley Valley Resort Early bird tickets available Dec. 1, 2025
Visit www.annranderaad.com for more details.
Stay up-to-date by visiting our website: familytransitionplace.ca
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3 OR 4 DIGIT SECURITY CODE Registered Charity Number: 107376378RR0001