Introducing our Newsletter: The Stand

FALL

NEWSLETTER

October 2017

We are pleased to debut our inaugural newsletter,

^The Stand

fsdfsfdsdfsfsfsfseeeeeeee by Ernestine's Women's Shelter

We believe in the importance of keeping you informed,

which is why we are excited to send you

future editions of our seasonal newsletter!

____________________________________________________________

Ernestine's celebrates its 34th Anniversary!

With a special letter from our Executive Director, Sharlene Tygesen

She shares a story that she will never forget…

When I first started working at Ernestine’s in 1991, I was employed as a Child and Youth Counsellor. At the time, there was a family of 5, consisting of four young children and their mother, residing at Ernestine’s. The family (let's call them the Romney family) was new to Canada and had arrived in the dead of winter from a much warmer climate. I remember thinking how overwhelming it must be to arrive in a new country with very cold weather while experiencing family violence. The Romney family’s story resonates with me for many reasons, but most importantly because they were the catalyst for our agency’s paradigm shift - to truly recognize that children have needs that are separate and distinct from their mothers . Read more...

A Summer of Fun!

Annual Back to School BBQ

On August 25 ^th , we had a terrific time at our Annual Back to School BBQ. Hosting this event every year allows Ernestine’s to reconnect and touch base with our outreach families, and reuniting at this event allows for our in-house and outreach clients to come together to celebrate the achievements in their lives.

The BBQ fosters connections between Ernestine’s staff, volunteers, and the community whom we serve. Thank you to TJX Canada and Home Depot for supporting this event and for putting smiles on the faces of the women and children.

Dyke March

On June 24, the staff from Ernestine's marched alongside other organizations, in support of the diverse queer communities at Toronto Pride’s Dyke March. We had a lot of fun, some great conversations, and stood up for those who are often forgotten members of our society. Participating in this march is part of Ernestine’s commitment to external community activism and engagement.

Library Opening

On June 29, we opened a new library on-site for the women and children at our shelter to enjoy. This library will operate as a safe place for moms and kids to bond and spend time together, as well as a comfortable space for counselling sessions. A sincere thank you to Turn the Page and ACT to End Violence against Women for your generous support in creating this beautiful space.

We received a generous donation of books and our library is all stocked up!

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

On June 6, Ernestine’s celebrated its amazing volunteers at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the shelter. Ernestine’s gave out awards and flowers to the individuals and groups who help make the shelter a special home for the many women and children who need a safe space.

This year, there was a special acknowledgement to recognize the volunteers who have generously donated their time, skills, and resources for 3+ years! We’re proud to have such a robust volunteer program and individuals who are passionate about giving back to the community, year after year. They make so much of what Ernestine’s does possible.

Learn about our Programs and Services

Featuring: Transitional Housing & Outreach Program

Ernestine’s Transitional Housing and Outreach (TH&O) Program provides support to past shelter clients, and women and children experiencing violence who are living in the community. The program provides counselling, emotional and mental wellness support, advocacy, and access to our food bank, as well as legal, housing, and resource allocation supports.

This year, Ernestine’s launched a pilot program, led by our TH&O counsellors, to expand on our counselling supports to the outreach clients within the community. This pilot program was incredibly successful and we are thrilled to be able to implement it into our regular programming.

Part of the initiative, called “Let’s Chat”, is led by one of our TH&O counsellors, Monica Amenya. It entails a weekly drop-in program for women to talk about any issues they are currently experiencing, such as difficulties with navigating the legal system, as well as a workshop that takes place once a month.

The program is offered through Elmbank Community Centre. Our partnership with Elmbank is significant because the Centre serves as a welcoming space for local community members in the Jamestown and Rexdale area to seek out resources and support. As Elmbank is well-established and easily accessible within the community, we are able to expand our services to a broader audience, which enables us to do more prevention work.

In Other News

PSA

This spring, we had the privilege of creating our very first Public Service Announcement , thanks to the generosity of our long-term supporters and volunteers. It is a perfect example of how our community members come together, volunteer their time, and use their skills and experiences to support Ernestine’s, to build awareness and support our mission to stand up for women and protect children.

Please click here to view our PSA. It is inspired by the lived experiences of past youth who stayed at Ernestine's Women's Shelter.

Annual Report

This summer, we released our 2016-2017 Annual Report. During the last fiscal year, with your help, Ernestine’s was able to interrupt the violence, and offer safety and support to 45 women & 45 children who called the shelter home, as well as assist over 300 Outreach and Transitional families. Since we opened in 1983, we have supported more than 4,200 women and 4,500 children and youth.

Please click here to read our 2016-2017 Annual Report. We hope you enjoy reading about how our strong community support made an enormous impact on the lives of the families at Ernestine’s.

Save the Date!

We are thrilled to announce the 24th Annual Ernestine Affair on April 11, 2018 - an event to celebrate, recognize, and support the clients at Ernestine's Women's Shelter.

Please visit our website to stay up to date on event details.