Sudbury women’s shelter partners on campaign to combat domestic violence

Shoppers Shelter Foundation for women's health Sudbury YWCA women's shelter is teaming up with a pharmacy chain to support survivors of domestic violence.

A local women’s shelter is partnering with Shoppers Drug Mart on an awareness campaign and fundraiser about domestic violence.

This comes as local police report that they respond to thousands of calls of intimate partner violence annually in Sudbury.

A staggering number of people seek support in escaping domestic or partner violence. According to the YWCA Genevra House Sudbury, women and girls killed in smaller communities around the country accounted for 42 per cent of cases of gender-based violence.

“In 2022, officers responded to 3,200 intimate partner violence related incidents,” said Sudbury police spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn.

“So far in 2023, as of Aug. 31, officers have already responded to 2,200 incidents.”

There is a growing concern in Sudbury about the lack of safe and affordable housing, which is causing a bottleneck in local shelters.

“We have 18 rooms, we have 18 women and 12 children staying in our shelter, and they’re staying longer,” said Marlene Gorman, executive director of YWCA Genevra House Sudbury.

Gorman said abusers often try to isolate their partners.

“Living in the rural area is a good way to isolate people, away from friends and family,” she said.

Police said residents can find a number of resources for help through the Greater Sudbury Police Service website.

“Basically to provide information as to the support services that are available and also provide survivors and victims of intimate partner violence with the support required throughout the process,” Dunn said.

The Shoppers Shelter Foundation for Women’s Health is supporting the YWCA through a campaign. All six locations in Sudbury are collecting donations. Those funds will stay here in the community.

“Up until Oct. 6, customers (and) patrons can make a donation at the till, or you can make a donation online, and all of those donations go locally here to Genevra house,” said Gorman

One of the biggest hurdles for shelters at the moment, Gorman added, is getting people through the transition of being in the shelter into a safe place to live that they can call home.