FEATURE
TEAMING UP FOR A GOOD CAUSE Supporting Interval House through the pandemic BY
LYNZI MICHAL, DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP & MARKETING, FRPO
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very July, FRPO members gather for the annual FRPO Charity Golf Classic held at Rattlesnake Point Golf Club in support of Interval House. Unfortunately, this year’s tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19. This event helps to raise awareness about “Intimate Partner Violence” and much needed funds for the shelter. Over the past 11 years, FRPO and our membership have raised $642,000 dollars for this important cause.
Interval House is the first centre for abused women and children in Canada. They are leaders in the campaign for women’s empowerment, providing innovative, specialized services that help women survivors of intimate partner violence and their children transform their lives and break the cycle of abuse. In Canada, service providers have observed increases over the past few weeks. For example, the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses says 20 per cent of the 70 shelters it represents have had increased crisis calls, and some police services are noticing more domestic violence reports. Rates of gender-based violence were high in Canada, even before the pandemic: on average, every six days, a woman is killed by her intimate partner. One in 10 women is very or extremely concerned about the possibility of violence in the home, suggests a Statistics Canada survey about COVID-19. Though our event did not take place this year, one 20
FAIR EXCHANGE | JULY/AUGUST 2020
important tradition stayed the same. On July 20th, a special virtual presentation took place to announce FRPO’s continued support of Interval House followed by an educational session on Intimate Partner Violence in rental housing. FRPO has proudly donated $50,000 to the shelter to assist with COVID-19 related costs and ongoing support programs. In addition, Rogers Communications, Wyse Meter Solutions Inc. and Yardi Canada Ltd had a surprise for Interval House and each generously donated $10,000 which will make a tremendous difference for the shelter. “This magnanimous donation means the world to Interval House” said Lesley Ackrill, Executive CoDirector of Interval House. “Your support will help keep a roof over our heads, the lights on, food on our table, and counsellors ready to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year! But even more than this incredible tangible help, for women and children fleeing abuse and violence in their own homes, it means that
