Acuren Nuclear Services and SNC Lavalin hosted the second annual Support the Women’s Centre event January 24 at Highview Food and Drink in Southampton. Back row, from left, Vice President of Acuren Eastern Canada, Kevin Woit; the evening's Master of Ceremonies Maura McDonald of Acuren Nuclear Services; Margaret Mervin of SNC Lavalin; Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau; CEO and President of Bruce Power Mike Rencheck; and keynote speaker for the 2019 event, Geoffery Freeman. Front row, from left, SNC Lavalin Director of Client Relations to Bruce Power, Simona Besnea; last year's keynote speaker, Denise Freeman. 

Hub Staff

Co-hosted by Acuren Nuclear Services and SNC Lavalin, the second annual Support the Women’s Centre event raised a total of $18,500 for two area women's shelters, Kabaeshiwim Respite Women’s Shelter at Saugeen First Nation and The Women's Centre Grey and Bruce Inc. in Owen Sound.

The sold out event was held at Highview Food and Drink in Southampton January 24 and in addition to fundraising through donations as well as auction and raffle items, the evening also raised awareness about the positive impact that women's shelters have on the lives of women and their children.

“We're here tonight in solidarity to help support ending domestic violence and abuse,” said Kevin Woit, Vice President of Acuren Eastern Canada, who shared some statistics.

"On average in Canada, every six days a woman is killed by her intimate partner," Woit said, adding that it's estimated that approximately 362,000 children every year witness domestic violence and abuse. "You can imagine the potential impact that has on a child's development, their life," he said.

"Currently over 3,000 women and 2,900 dependent children are currently living in emergency shelters, fleeing abusive situations," Woit said, calling the statistics extremely disturbing.

“I think we can probably all agree in this room that this is clearly a staggering prevalent issue in our society today that's worth tackling,” said Woit. “It also highlights the reason why organizations like The Women's Centre and the Kabaeshiwim shelter exist and they need to be successful and thrive," he added.

Simona Besnea, SNC Lavalin Director of Client Relations to Bruce Power added that the shelters were committed to providing safety for women and their children escaping violence. “These not for profit shelters provide 24 hour access to emergency support for families in crisis as well as the guidance and resources to support them in their transition to a new and safe life,” she said.

Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau said something he found compelling while reading The Women's Centre's mission statement was their commitment to connecting with the community. "Seeking partnerships to raise awareness about violence against women and to end violence against women,” he said, calling it a daunting task.

Charbonneau then said there were opportunities in Saugeen Shores to work together to eradicate violence against women as Saugeen Shores is a community full of leaders. “True leadership is what it will take to achieve that goal,” he said, using the example of taking a stand when one witnesses a friend or a relative being abusive toward his wife or girlfriend. "To say, 'I won't accept this, it's not right and it has to stop,'" said Charbonneau.

“If you are able to do that in your own life and if we all tell everybody else that we know that they ought to do that, that's how we will fight back the tide of violence against women," he said.

Mike Rencheck, President and CEO of Bruce Power said that communities were built by people working, living, playing and staying together to build stronger communities. “We couldn't do these types of things in our community without the support of everybody and it's so nice to have these types of resources available in our community,” he said. “We're a small rural community and having outreach and support like this, you can't take that for granted.”

Geoffrey Freeman was this year's keynote speaker and was introduced by his mother, Denise Freeman, who offered the keynote for last year's event. Denise is the Board Chair of The Women's Centre in Owen sound and spoke in 2018 of her cycle of abuse and her experience in having needed to use a shelter many years ago. Geoffrey, who had been six years old at the time, spoke January 24 of that experience from his perspective and his memories as a child going through that.

He had grown up in downtown Toronto in what he felt was a normal environment with his mom, dad and three siblings. “Everything appeared okay but I always knew there was something strange going on,” he said. “Children are way more perceptive than you realize.”

Freeman said that while he knew his parents were fighting behind closed doors, he didn't know how bad things actually were. “All I know is that you were suffering and in lieu of we were sort of suffering,” he said, addressing his mother.

One night his mother's friend drove them to a women's shelter, Freeman recalled. “All I remember is getting there and feeling, despite the fact that I never felt too bad, that this was one place that we knew no matter what we would be safe.” he said. “I think that's a luxury that everyone deserves in life is to feel safe and that's what these sort of shelters, communities can do for people," Freeman said, remembering that his mother and siblings eventually moved from the shelter into their own apartment.

“All I know is that without that shelter my life probably wouldn't be as good as it is today,” he said. “Without that one chance to get us out, who knows, I may have become my father," said Freeman.

Program Manager at The Women’s Centre, Paula Carnakie, said that fundraisers such as the January 24 event and support from other organizations in the community meant a lot. “They recognize that we need financial support and they are willing to fundraise to assist us so we can further support the women and children that we serve,” she said.

Executive Director for The Women's Centre, Heather Fowler, said that approximately 160 people used the centre in Owen Sound every year. “One hundred women and sixty kids is pretty average for us," she said.

Fowler explained that an average stay at the centre was between six and eight weeks. “During that time our goal is to help them reach whatever their goal is,” she said. “If they want to leave their relationship that they're in we help them find accommodation in the area, we help get them a job or their income established. We also help with custody and court support," she said.

Counselling is also a big part of what the centre offers, added Fowler. “The trauma of actually leaving and the education about the cycle of abuse, because the statistics are that it often takes women seven to eight times of being abused and leaving before they actually make that final decision they're not going to go back,” she explained adding that they also offer counselling to the children. “They may have witnessed violence and that's very serious and can harm development in that child's life."

“We advocate and we educate and we support,” said Fowler.

The total $18,500 raised January 24 was divided evenly between the two shelters with $9,250 going to Saugeen First Nation's Kabaeshiwim Respite Women’s Shelter and $9,250 going to The Women's Centre Grey and Bruce Inc. in Owen Sound.

Of the total $18,500 raised during the January 24 event, The Women's Centre Grey and Bruce Inc., received $9,250. From left, Executive Director of The Women's Centre Grey and Bruce Inc., Heather Fowler; Program Manager, Paula Carnakie; and Crisis Worker, Chelsea Donohue.

Bruce Power Corporate Social Responsibility and Indigenous Relations, Christine John, began the evening with the acknowledgement of traditional territory.

Highview Food and Drink's Eugene Barone (left) provided guests with various appetizers throughout the evening.

Guests socialized at Highview Food and Drink in Southampton, raising money for Saugeen First Nation's Kabaeshiwim Respite Women’s Shelter and The Women's Centre Grey and Bruce Inc. in Owen Sound.