Latest news with #Women'sCentre
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
Safe space for women to open in Scarborough to provide vital support
A new safe space for women is being launched to offer specialist support in Scarborough. The Women's Centre will officially open later this month, providing a women-only environment for those in Scarborough and nearby coastal areas. It aims to support women with multiple unmet needs, those who have experienced trauma, and those at risk of involvement with the criminal justice system. Jo Coles, deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime, said: "The Mayor and I are determined to tackle the levels of violence against women and girls in our region and to deliver safe places for all. "This new Women's Centre will deliver a step change in the support available to women in Scarborough and the surrounding area." Modelled on the successful York Women's Centre, the new facility will offer one-to-one and group support in a holistic, trauma-informed setting. It will also provide practical amenities including a kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities.
Hamilton Spectator
26-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
A Midsummer's Dream Comes to Life in Support of Women in Halton
On June 26, The Women's Centre of Halton will host their third annual gala, 'A Midsummer's Dream.' And for the second time, the event will be held at the Paletta Mansion in Burlington. The event will feature live music, an open bar, a silent auction, and tarot readings. All money raised from the event will go towards the group's general fund, used to sustain the organization itself. Shagufe Hossain, executive director of The Women's Centre of Halton, elaborated on what the money will provide to the group. 'That would include maintaining the staff and ensuring that the equipment is up to date,' Hossain said. 'We do provide a lot of support virtually as well, so we need to make sure that we have the equipment and the supplies in place for that.' Hossain said that, depending on the amount of money raised, the funds could go towards creating new programming. She also said the group regularly conducts surveys to 'understand what the needs of the women across the community are and what kind of programming would be helpful.' The Women's Centre is hoping to raise $50,000 from the event. The Women's Centre of Halton was founded in 1989 and provides education, employment, wellness, and legal supports to women. Last year, the centre had over 306 programs available to the community, completely free. 'The idea is to provide barrier-free access to supportive programs for women who are experiencing crisis, distress or transition,' Hossain said. 'We envision a community where women are supported to thrive and succeed no matter where they're coming from.' Hossain said that as a nonprofit, many administrative costs are not covered from the grants that they receive, hence the need for fundraisers like A Midsummer's Dream. 'With the increasing rates of intimate partner violence across Halton Region, challenges have grown,' Hossain said. 'We get a lot of women who report challenges during separation and divorce, and there's a growing mental health crisis as well.' 'The economy isn't great, there's financial pressures as well, so obviously our costs have also increased, which is why we're organizing an event like this,' she continued. Hossain said that the organization is trying to put their clients at the centre of the event this year by making their artwork available through a silent auction. 'This is artwork that was produced by our clients as part of their healing journey to navigate the trauma that they've suffered,' Hossain said. 'It's a form of self-expression as well as self-care.' The artwork will also be printed on Women's Centre merchandise that will be available for purchase. Last year, The Women's Centre of Halton facilitated 1,372 peer support calls. Of last year's clients, 65% were new to the centre. Halton Region has also declared intimate partner violence an epidemic. Hossain said that the increase in intimate partner violence is not just being seen in Halton: numbers have gone up globally in the post-pandemic era. For people who would like to support The Women's Centre of Halton and their cause but are unable to attend the event, there is an option to purchase and donate a ticket, which will be given out through a lottery system. To find out more about A Midsummer's Dream and purchase last-minute tickets, visit . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U of R Women's Centre files legal claim against URSU for 'withheld' student fees
The University of Regina (U of R) Women's Centre has filed a legal claim against the students' union over nearly a year's worth of student fees that it says have not been paid to the centre. Court documents obtained by the Regina Leader-Post show the Women's Centre filed a statement of claim against the U of R Students' Union (URSU) near the end of March. It alleges that approximately $200,000 in student fees are being 'withheld' by URSU from the 2024 spring, summer and fall semesters as well as the winter 2025 semester. The centre wants those fees to be paid, along with unspecified punitive damages from alleged harm to its operations caused by the delay. Also requested is a court order to stop URSU from terminating its service agreement with the Women's Centre while legal matters proceed, plus an order to prevent the students' union from claiming the centre has failed to comply with its service agreement. The action is similar to one filed in February by UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity — another group on campus that supports LGBTQ+ students. The Women's Centre provides study space, counselling, connective supports and bursaries to students on campus, in addition to planning events and doing advocacy work on the topic of women's rights. No further disruptions as University of Regina Women's Centre succeeds with second AGM attempt UPDATED: University of Regina students' union denies involvement in Women's Centre disruption Both organizations have been part of a months-long dispute triggered when URSU claimed the centres have been non-compliant with their service agreements. The dispute went public in late 2024 after URSU's board of directors proposed a student referendum to stop fee collection for UR Pride and the Women's Centre. The referendums did not go ahead. UR Pride says its efforts to come into compliance have been unsuccessful after more than a year of working with URSU. The Women's Centre denies being non-compliant. Nearly all of the Women's Centre's operational funding is provided through student levies, as is a significant portion of UR Pride's funding. The university recently announced it will end its agreement with URSU to disperse student fees as of August, stating the decision comes amid concerns over the union's finances and governance. At the time, U of R president Jeff Keshen said in a written statement that the university had 'lost confidence in URSU's ability to serve and represent' its students. Despite terminating the agreement, Keshen said core student services would continue in the fall 2025 term, 'as will the collection of student fees that fund those services.' lkurz@ The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
