Spring News 2017

Family Transition Place News spring 2017

Join us Saturday, June 17 to Walk in HER Shoes The intent of the Walk in HER Shoes fundraiser is to raise eyebrows, awareness and money for Family Transition Place.

Boys and men are encouraged to walk in solidarity to promote ending violence against women. Registration fees are $20 or $10/youth (under 18), and include a free shoe rental. Full details at www.familytransitionplace.ca.

All money raised from the event will support education initiatives to help break the cycle of violence.

Take a walk in her shoes. Raise money. Help end the cycle of violence against women. It’s a win-win. Except, maybe, for feet.

Join the men and boys of Dufferin County on Saturday, June 17, to raise awareness and to walk in solidarity with women – in their shoes.

Funds raised will support education initiatives to end the cycle of violence toward women. Sign up today at familytransitionplace.ca.

Family Transition Place: 905.584.4357 • 519.942.4122 • familytransitionplace.ca 24 Hour Info/Support Line: 519.941.4357 • 905.584.4357 • 1.800.265.9178

Executive Director Message As spring arrives, the doldrums of the winter months start to clear. Perhaps it is easier to find hope when the sun is shining and warmth starts seeping back into our world. The past few months across the planet have been troubling ones. When I spoke at International Women’s Day this year, I quoted from the Amnesty International Report on Human Rights: “As we begin 2017, the world feels unstable and fear for the future proliferates. Yet it is in these times that courageous voices are needed, ordinary heroes who will stand up against injustice and repression. Nobody can take on the whole world, but everyone can change their own world. Everyone can take a stand against dehumanization, acting locally to recognize the dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all, and thus lay the foundations of freedom and justice in the world. 2017 needs human rights heroes.”

(Amnesty International Annual Report, 2016/2017) I just came from a meeting of a small group who make up a committee within our Board of Directors. One of the things that, upon reflection, gives me Hope, is this

group of people. These are volunteers who give of their time, energy and resources, to help govern this agency.

As I get to know the members of our Board, I realize just how much these people are the heroes referred to in the above quote. I am amazed by the depth of their commitment to make a difference in our world. They are profoundly committed to the work of Family Transition Place (FTP), to the well-being of the clients, as well as the well-being and support of the staff. They care about the issue of violence against women and are dedicated to working to help eliminate it from our community.

But as I speak to them and get to know each individually, I become aware of just how much else each of these people do for our community. These are the people who support the local Syrian Refugee families, who take bed nets to children in India, who sit on the boards and advisory councils of our health care, our police services and our community planning tables.

April is Volunteer Appreciation month. FTP is privileged and honoured to have so many inspiring people serving as our volunteers – on our Board, but in so many other capacities as well. We try to show them our appreciation, but there is no quid pro quo. They expect nothing back in return for their efforts – except the knowledge, perhaps, that they have done something that will make a difference. “Nobody can take on the whole world. But everyone can change their own world.”

This is what each of these heroes steps up to do. They are changing the world, with one generous act at a time.

Amnesty International says “2017 needs human rights heroes.” We’ve got them. We just need more of them, so that the burden of volunteering and changing the world does not lie on too few shoulders. If you are one of these heroes, whether you volunteer for FTP, or DCAFS or Headwaters Healthcare or somewhere else, then I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You inspire me and fill me with hope.

If you aren’t yet, perhaps ask yourself, what could I do, and expect nothing in return for it, that would help make a difference? Making a difference, even in the life of a single person helps change our world – for the better.

Norah Kennedy, Executive Director

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International Women’s Day Celebration Luncheon Fundraiser Event

Photo courtesy of JAW Photography

The 7th Annual International Women’s Day (IWD) Celebration Luncheon Fundraiser – featuring guest speaker Lindsay Whisen – was a great success! The event raised approximately $50,000 for FTP. Thanks to all the vendors, sponsors, advertisers, guests and volunteers who participated. This year’s theme for IWD was #beboldforchange.

Soup Sisters Dufferin has launched!

Soup Sisters is a non-profit charitable social enterprise dedicated to providing comfort to women, children and youth through the making, sharing and donating of soup. All leftover freshly prepared soup that is made in Dufferin is delivered to Family Transition Place to support the women and children at the shelter.

Photo courtesy of JAW Photography

Congratulations to our Grand Prize Raffle Winner – Stacey Coupland We raised $6,680 in our annual raffle this year!

Congratulations to Stacey Coupland for winning the gift of flight for two anywhere WestJet flies!

Joanne Wilson won $500 at Winners/HomeSense and Lynne Gibson won $250 in gift cards at Tim Hortons. Thank you to the participating companies that donated those amazing prizes!

Photo courtesy of JAW Photography

Winner of the 2016 Dufferin Board of Trade Employer of the Year Award While the utmost attention is placed on providing excellent service to our clients, we believe that creating a healthy workplace is just as important.

A small group of FTP managers make up a committe called the Motivation, Engagement and Health (MEH) committee, which is responsible for running numerous small gratitude activities throughout the year to help make our workplace great and our staff feel appreciated.

A monthly donation to Family Transition Place doesn’t simply help provide shelter, counselling and support for women and children in our community – it gives a whole lot more.

Please become a monthly donor. With regular monthly donations we build a reliable and stable source of finances, and can continue to do very important work in our community.

Visit familytransitionplace.ca/donate to get started today.

What’s ahead...

May is Sexual Assault Awareness Month FTP offers free individual counselling in Orangeville, Bolton, and Shelburne for women and men 16 years of age and older dealing with recent or historical sexual abuse. Through counselling, you can begin to let go of the guilt, anger, and shame that many victims of sexual assault experience and begin to feel empowered, stronger and hopeful about your future.

Motorcycle Ride for Quinn The 2nd annual Motorcycle Ride for Quinn will take place this summer in honour of Quinn Butt, a five-year-old girl who was killed by her father in Newfoundland. Quinn’s mother was divorcing Quinn’s father due to domestic violence. Elena Parsons is organizing the event to raise awareness about domestic violence, and to keep Quinn’s memory alive.

More event details will be available soon at www.familytransitionplace.ca.

Mark your calendars – Sunday, September 24 for the 6th Annual Ferguson Memorial Walk Collect pledges and join us at this inspiring fundraiser in memory of Heidi Ferguson, who lost her life due to a tragic domestic dispute with her estranged husband. The Walk takes place at Island Lake. More info can be found at fergusonmemorialwalk.com.

Voice of Courage: Timea Nagy, Human Trafficking Survivor Shares Her Personal Story Mark your calendars for Friday, September 29th from 11:30 am-3:00 pm. The event will be held at the Hockley Valley Resort, and include a delicious three course meal and a powerful presentation from our courageous guest speaker. Tickets on sale May 31, 2017.

Our Rural Response Program, operating out of the Mel Lloyd Centre in Shelburne, provides safety, support and hope by reducing barriers to service for underserved women living in the rural communities of Dufferin/Caledon.

This program strives to: decrease identified obstacles to service (i.e., transportation, isolation, child care, and access to after-hours service), develop a crisis response strategy for responding to rural needs, and to increase collaboration, presence and awareness across existing services and community members.

We are pleased to report that we have participated in 16 community awareness events, have reached 191 attendees through 13 community presentations, and have helped 32 women through the program since the its launch this past fall.

What makes this initiative particularly exciting is the opportunity to be mobile, allowing the Rural Response Counsellor to meet with women in the community. We have also been given the opportunity to use technology to our advantage allowing us to communicate with clients differently in order to eliminate barriers.

If you have questions about this new program, or would like more information, please contact our Rural Response Counsellor, Samantha McCabe at 519-939-3423.

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