Everyday Heroes: The Faces of Collective Courage
November 8, 2021
As the holidays approach….
December 21, 2021
On November 29th, 1984, Shirley Samaroo returned to her home to pick up some belongings after fleeing from years of physical and emotional violence. When Shirley arrived at her home, she was murdered by her husband. Two years later, in the spring of 1986, the Shirley Samaroo Shelter, later to be known as the Yorktown Shelter for Women, opened its doors with a particular focus on meeting the needs of immigrant women.
To this day,
Yorktown continues the legacy of providing shelter and support to women and children fleeing lives of abuse. Our shelter, staffed 24 hours a day by a multilingual and multicultural team, provides a safe and secure haven for women and children seeking to escape abusive relationships. We offer numerous Violence Against Women (VAW) programs and services committed to the well-being and empowerment of women who have been abused, and to the healthy development of their children.
According to the Assaulted Women’s Helpline, on average, a woman is killed by intimate partner violence every six days. A Statistics Canada report released in October of 2022 stated that police-reported family violence has increased for the 5th consecutive year. In 2021/22, Yorktown saw a 64% increase in the clients seen through our VAWS community support programs, underscoring the strain the sector has seen in the past two years.
Despite the challenges of the past two years, we would like to highlight and thank all our VAWS staff and the management team who have kept our shelter open throughout the pandemic – ensuring the health and safety of our clients and staff. Their work is saving lives and changing lives.
In recognition of National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6th, please make a gift to Yorktown Family Services to help support our VAW programs and services; no gift is too small. The pandemic has disproportionately affected our #WestToronto Community & your generosity will help us support those in need! Please visit our Make Home Safe for Everyone Campaign page to donate now.