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Family Transition Place News FALL 2014

Purple Scarf Campaign. Show your

In Ontario, November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month (WAPM). Statistics tell us that half of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since turning 16. A very startling statistic. This year, to mark WAPM, Family Transition Place is launching a seven week series of informational articles on our website to highlight what you can do to make a change. On average, every six days, a woman is murdered by her intimate partner. That is something that needs to end. This series will run hand in hand with the return of the annual Wrapped in Courage

support for FTP and ending Woman abuse by purchasing, wearing, and telling others about your purple scarf, what it might mean to you personally, and what it means to us all.

Woman abuse is not a women’s issue, it’s a human rights issue, and it affects us all. Get your $15 purple scarf 67% of the population know someone today and help all women to live free from violence. who has experienced physical or sexual abuse. Together, we must work to eliminate In Orangeville: County woman abuse because every woman has the of Dufferin, Town Hall & Orangeville Public fundamental right to live in safety and security. Libraries, Noah Brown Boutique or at FTP.

In Bolton: Scotiabank, Healthletica, Amped Nutrition & Bodhi Wellness In Grand Valley: Hermosa Tulip Boutique

This November, gain more information and educate yourself by visiting us at familytranstionplace.ca to learn what you can do to help.

Norah Kennedy, Executive Director: Voice of Courage Event and The Hope Project’s theme of Voices of Courage and Amanda Lindhouts’s message of Hope and Resiliency was a perfect fit for Family Transition Place’s (FTP) brand new Fall event. Violence against women, or for that matter, violence in general, unfortunately respects no boundaries. There is not a nation on earth that can claim to be free of violence. Amanda’s story, despite being set in a foreign land, despite involving religious extremists, The Hope Project’s theme set in languages and of Voices of Courage and locations that are Amanda Lindhouts’s message as strange to us as of Hope and Resiliency was anything can be, can a perfect fit for FTP’s brand still be placed in a new Fall event. knowable context. Many women who have found their way to us at FTP will recognize, if not the external trappings of the story, the internal struggles that Amanda talks about in her book; the feelings of being trapped in a situation not of your making, the need to tread lightly for fear of provoking anger, the attempts to please, the attempts to escape, the strain of looking for something good to hold on to in the dark. This is why we shared Ms. Lindhout’s story. Listening to her, we admired her remarkable ability to hold on to hope, but it is her resilience that truly inspires us. How she continued, day to day in the face of such abuse, is beyond our comprehension. There is no doubt in my mind that resilience is a characteristic we all need to have in spades, just to successfully navigate the ordinary hurdles of life. The resilience demonstrated by Amanda Lindhout throughout her ordeal in Somalia is beyond the scope of what we recognize is needed and useful in the ordinary way of living in this world. I hope none of us ever have to draw upon such a degree of courage or resilience as Amanda had to.

A woman living with abuse or violence is obviously and undeniably, resilient. However, that she needs to possess that level of resilience in the first place is decidedly unfair,

because the unspoken implication is that if she is resilient enough, she will then be able to “put up with” the abuse and in general, be the one to bear the responsibility of surviving her relationship. The perpetrators of the violence, unless charged and convicted for their crimes, are not held to be responsible for the fall-out of their actions and, unlike their victims, are usually able to remain in the family home. The victim, the survivor, is the one we expect to “get on with” making a new life for herself – uprooting her children and leaving her family home, often to live temporarily in a shelter like FTP. Thankfully, we know Amanda’s story ends well. She is rescued and is now working hard to recover and

The Voice of Courage Event raised $75,000. The Voice of Courage event was FTP’s fall fundraiser replacing our golf tournament. The event was successful in marrying our need to successfully fundraise with our mandate to educate, stimulate, and provoke some creative thinking and meaningful discussion about ending violence against women. Various Voices of Courage were reflected throughout the event, including, messages from past

FTP clients, our speakers and

“Thank you for showing me that there is HOPE even when I was in the worst time of my life. I could not have managed without you.” Past FTP client

those that participated in the photo booth sharing their messages using the hashtag #ftplace.

You can help! Donate to Family Transition Place online at www.canadahelps.org

Her Thoughts on the Problem with Resiliency to make something good come from her horrific ordeal. Proceeds from speaking engagements like ours and from the sales of her book, “A House in the Sky”, go to support the foundation she started to help the women and children in Somalia, the land of her captivity. As we sadly know through all too frequent news stories, many other victims of capture and torture in Somalia, Syria or elsewhere, do not end so well. The same can be true of stories from our own community. Some end well. Some don’t. One Sunday in September, many of us participated in the Ferguson Memorial Walk – held yearly by the family of a young, vibrant woman, to remember the life of their daughter, sister, mother – whose tragic story did not end well. There is no opportunity now to hear Heidi’s voice. She has no chance to tell her story. For the women For the women who aren’t who aren’t allowed the opportunity allowed the to tell their story, we need opportunity to to bear witness. Theirs are tell their story, important voices, they need we need to to be heard and understood. bear witness. For in understanding is hope. Theirs are important voices, they need to be heard and understood. For in understanding is hope. While listening to Amanda speak, one couldn’t help but think of the hope she struggled to hold on to for herself in those dark days. I found myself also thinking

of all the women, whether here in Dufferin County or in Caledon, Syria, Somalia or the Ukraine, who have experienced violence in their lives; the ones who keep

Photos from event courtesy of Bailey Noelle Photography

hope alive while trying to find the courage to leave their home and start life anew, the ones who need strength to simply get through another unspeakable day, and especially those whose voices have fallen silent because of someone else’s use of violence and are no longer here for us to listen to. We are here for these women, to hear their stories. To listen to their voices. Thank you for your support in helping us do this.

Our Mission: To be a leader in the work to eliminate woman abuse by supporting women, children, men, their families and the community.

$14,000 Raised in Ferguson Memorial Walk FTP is grateful to Gus & Penny Bogner and the dedicated volunteers of the Ferguson Memorial Walk. This event is a fundraiser that raises awareness for Heidi and others that have been the victims of domestic violence. We are truly inspired by the courage and strength of Heidi’s family to host this event and are so grateful that $14,000 was raised to support FTP’s programs and services.

Show your support and join us at our community vigils in to mark Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and remember those who have lost their lives to violence simply because they were women. We can all help prevent woman abuse. Bolton Vigil: Thursday Dec 4 6:00-7:00pm Caledon Public Library (150 Queen Street) Orangeville Vigil: Friday Dec 5 11:30am-1:00pm Family Transition Place (20 Bredin Parkway)

Get your “Wrapped in Courage” Purple Scarf apped in Courage” Purple Scarf

For Woman Abuse Prevention Month this November, get your purple scarf to show support for the many women who have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence. Orangeville locations: County of Dufferin, FTP, Town Hall, Noah Brown Boutique, Orangeville Public Libraries. Bolton locations: Amped Nutrition, Bodhi Wellness, Healthletica, Scotiabank. Grand Valley location: Hermosa Tulip Boutique.

Want to help? Check out our Christmas Wish List. Want to make a difference in the lives of the women and children who find refuge in our shelter this holiday season? Please visit our Wish List found by clicking the DONATE button on our website at familytransitionplace.ca. At this time, gift cards for local grocery, department, and retail stores, gas cards and coffee shops are most needed.

Interested in becoming a MENtor? Connect with us.

MENtors Relationship violence and gender inequity has long been viewed as a women’s issue. Family Transition Place believes that men have an important role to play in eliminating these issues as well. The MENtors Program is designed to engage men and boys in a redefinition of masculinity and helping to create a world free of violence and inequality. Learn more: 519-942-4122.

Give a gift that gives twice. Purchasing this pendant is an act of generosity as it supports community programs that help break the cycle of violence. All money rasised from the sale of these pendants will support FTP – $20 ea. Order by phone or come into FTP weekdays from 8:30am-4:30pm.

Join us to celebrate

Hurry, get your ticket today! Only 885 printed! Purchase your raffle ticket to win one of three great prizes, including a gift of flight for two any where WestJet flies! Tickets are $20 each or six for $100! You do not need to be in attendance to win. Draw held March 6, 2015.

Order over the phone: 519-942-4122 x240

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY. Mark your calendars for Friday, March 6, 2015 to attend this year’s fundraiser luncheon featuring Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneur two years running, Kelsey Ramsden. Kelsey’s message will enlighten you with how she balances venom and virtue, book and street smarts, with her belief that imagination and play are powers far greater than knowledge – in order to help you live your best life.

Tickets go on sale November 21.