Finding Hope After Trauma: Linda and Josie’s Journey Through Yorktown’s WACAV Program
November 26, 2024
On Friday, November 29th, 2024, we gathered to honour the 40th anniversary of Shirley Samaroo’s passing and celebrate the launch of Shirley’s Healing Garden—a sanctuary dedicated to her memory. Shirley’s story is one of tragedy, resilience, and lasting impact, shaping not only the lives of those who knew her but the fabric of Yorktown Family Services and its mission to support immigrant and refugee women.
A Story That Inspires Generations
As Gabbey Dessye, Director of Violence Against Women (VAW) Services, shared, Shirley’s courage to leave an abusive relationship sparked the creation of Shirley Samaroo House, which would later become Yorktown Shelter for Women. Shirley was an immigrant woman who sought refuge in a shelter but was tragically murdered by her husband while attempting to retrieve personal belongings from her home. Her story left an indelible mark on Gabbey and many others, inspiring the creation of a culturally sensitive shelter model that continues to serve women fleeing gender-based violence.
“I learned about Shirley’s story when I was a student at George Brown College,” Gabbey recounts. “Her courage and the shelter founded in her honour became the reason I joined Shirley Samaroo House as a student in 1989—and I never left.”
The Evolution of Yorktown Family Services
Shirley Samaroo House became Yorktown Shelter for Women in 1996, evolving into Yorktown Family Services through subsequent mergers. Today, Yorktown remains a beacon of hope for immigrant and refugee women, offering culturally appropriate support in multiple languages and fostering safe spaces for healing and growth.
The Vision Behind the Healing Garden
The idea for the healing garden was born during a conversation between Gabbey and Yorktown’s CEO, Suzette Arruda-Santos, while planning post-COVID renovations. Suzette envisioned a space that would honour Shirley’s legacy while providing a therapeutic environment for the women and children living at the shelter.
This garden is more than a physical space—it is a symbol of healing, resilience, and hope. It will offer a serene sanctuary where survivors can reconnect with nature, find solace, and begin their journey toward recovery.
“My hope is that Shirley’s story, and the stories of all women lost to femicide, will never be forgotten,” Gabbey says. “The healing garden will stand as a tribute to their strength and a promise of hope for future generations.”
Addressing Violence Against Women
Having just recognized International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th, we are reminded that gender-based violence remains a critical issue. According to Statistics Canada, minority women, including Brown, Black, and Indigenous women, experience intimate partner violence at disproportionately higher rates. These systemic inequalities emphasize the need for continued advocacy and expanded support services for all women.
As Gabbey eloquently puts it, “We must continue to work together to end violence against women. Stories like Shirley’s remind us of the urgency of our mission and the power of community in driving change.”
A Poem of Resilience
To close the commemoration, Gabbey shared a poignant poem that encapsulates the strength of survivors:
Resilient Bloom
You carried the weight of shadows,
A storm that sought to break you,
But in your heart, a quiet spark
Refused to dim, refused to fade.
Each scar became a story,
Each tear, a step to light.
And in the silence of your healing,
You found the will to fight.
The mirror whispered courage,
The dawn revealed your grace.
You rose above the darkness
With strength none could erase.
Now here your spirit lingers,
A beacon shining true,
For every soul still searching,
You show what they can do.
Though life’s tide has shifted,
Your legacy remains,
A reminder from the ashes,
A flower still sustains.
So, we honour not the pain endured,
But the triumphs you have sown.
In your resilience, there’s a promise:
We are never truly alone.
Shirley’s son (left) and grandson (right)
Gabbey (left) and Shirley’s sister (right)
Acknowledgments and Gratitude
Yorktown Family Services extends heartfelt gratitude to Shirley’s family for joining this commemorative event. A special thanks also goes to Home Depot, the Board of Directors, CEO Suzette Arruda-Santos, guests, the planning committee, and VAW Services staff for bringing the healing garden project to life.
The healing garden stands as a tribute to Shirley’s legacy and a symbol of hope for all survivors. Together, we will continue the fight to end violence against women.
How You Can Help
As an accredited children’s mental health agency and Violence Against Women (VAW) services provider, Yorktown provides accessible mental health treatment, community-based prevention and outreach services, integrated youth-focused development opportunities, and VAW shelter and services, programs and supports so that we can equip women, children, youth and families to create positive change in their lives; women like Cynthia and Linda and Josie. Please click the links to read their stories.
According to the Assaulted Women’s Helpline, on average, a woman is killed by intimate partner violence every six days. Dubbed around the world the “Shadow Pandemic”, the rise in domestic violence cases due to the pandemic has continued post pandemic and continues to be a cause for alarm.
- A Statistics Canada report released in October of 2022 stated that police-reported family violence has increased for the 5th consecutive year.
- According to Statistics Canada, in 2023, the rate of police-reported intimate partner violence against women aged 25-64 in Canada increased by 22% compared to 2018.
Despite this, Violence Against Women service providers continue to be severely underfunded nationwide. Every year the gap between government funding and the actual cost of providing these essential, life-saving services grows.
To continue to help women, children and families in your community, we need your support. With your help, we can close the gap in funding so that we can continue to make homes safe for vulnerable children, youth, women and families.
Your donations will have a significant impact:
- A one-time gift of $120, or $10 a month for a year, provides a mother or a child with immediate access to a mental health therapy session.
- A one-time gift of $200, or $15 a month for a year, provides an abuse survivor with an 8-week transition program to move into Yorktown’s Shelter.
- A one-time gift of $500, or $42 a month for a year, provides a father, who has exposed their child to abuse, access to group programming to help them break the cycle of violence.
- A one-time gift of $600, or $50 a month for a year, would provide essential household items to a family transitioning out of our women’s shelter and into a new home.
Please consider a donation to Yorktown Family Services to help support Yorktown programs and services; no gift is too small. The surge in domestic violence due to the pandemic disproportionately affected our #WestToronto Community and has not abated. Your generosity will help us support those in need!