On November 29, 2024, Yorktown Family Services’ Shelter marked a poignant milestone — the 40th anniversary of the tragic death of Shirley Samaroo, whose courage and story gave rise to what is now Yorktown’s Violence Against Women Services. In her memory, Yorktown unveiled Shirley’s Healing Garden, a sanctuary dedicated to her and to all victims and survivors of gender-based violence.
The garden’s creation was born from a conversation between Yorktown’s CEO, Suzette Arruda-Santos, and Gabbey Dessye, Director of VAW Services. Together, they envisioned a space that would both commemorate Shirley’s life and offer the women and children living at the shelter a place of solace and renewal — a garden that would nurture not only plants but the process of healing itself.
For Gabbey, Shirley’s story is deeply personal. As she shared during the ceremony, hearing about Shirley’s courage while she was a student in 1989 inspired her to dedicate her career to supporting women escaping violence. What began as Samaroo House evolved into Yorktown Shelter for Women, and eventually, Yorktown Family Services — an organization that continues to embody Shirley’s legacy through culturally sensitive, multilingual support for women and children rebuilding their lives.
The Healing Garden is a symbol of resilience, remembrance, and rebirth. It is a tranquil space where residents can reflect, reconnect with nature, and begin their journey toward recovery. It also serves as a reminder of Yorktown’s unwavering commitment to ending gender-based violence and supporting survivors with dignity and compassion.
As Gabbey expressed, “My hope is that Shirley’s story, and the stories of all women who have lost their lives to femicide, will never be forgotten — that the garden will stand as a tribute to their strength and a promise of hope for future generations.”
Guided by our North Star — the women and children we serve — Yorktown continues to transform loss into legacy, trauma into resilience, and remembrance into renewal. Shirley’s Healing Garden will grow and flourish as a living testament to that mission.
Rob Peters, Store Manager of The Home Depot Caledonia location, and his volunteer team are recipients of a 2024/25 Community Partnership Award for their remarkable contribution to Yorktown’s Healing Garden project.
In preparation for the November 29, 2024 memorial event, Rob and his team partnered with the shelter to bring the Healing Garden to life. They generously donated their time, expertise, and materials — including plants, a bench, and a wooden platform — transforming the garden into a warm and welcoming space for the commemoration of Shirley Samaroo’s life.
Their hands-on effort and heartfelt commitment helped ensure that this meaningful project was ready for the event, which honoured Shirley’s legacy and all victims of gender-based violence. Yorktown Family Services proudly recognizes Rob Peters and The Home Depot Caledonia with a 2024/25 Community Partnership Award for helping create a place of peace and beauty — a true gift to the women and children who will find comfort in Shirley’s Healing Garden for years to come.
Shirley’s Healing Garden stands as a powerful reminder of what happens when a community chooses to transform loss into action and remembrance into care. As Yorktown continues this work, the need for life-saving gender-based violence supports remains urgent. Without dedicated funding, the programs that help women and children find safety, heal from trauma, and rebuild their lives are at risk. Your support helps ensure that Yorktown can continue creating safe spaces — like this garden — as well as providing 24/7 shelter, counselling, child and youth supports, and crisis intervention for families escaping violence. Hope starts with safety. Your support makes that possible, helping more women and children move forward with dignity and renewed strength.
To support this work or learn how you can help make home safe for every family, visit https://www.
Upcoming Closures:
Yorktown Family Services will be closing our offices early for an All Staff Event on Friday, December 19th, 2025 at 11am.
All programs and services including our Rapid Access Therapy and What’s Up Walk-in will be cancelled that day.
Regular business hours will resume on Monday, December 22nd, 2025.
Virtual Rapid Access Therapy will still be available on Saturday, December 20th, 2025.
Thank you.
