Helping Women Escape Violence:
Olivia Chow speaks out in the Toronto Star
Home is where we weather the storms of life. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, everyone deserves to afford their home. But for so many people across Canada– this simply isn’t reality.
This tragic reality of Canada’s housing crisis is outlined in Olivia Chow's new Op-Ed in the Toronto Star. The editorial highlights the link between intimate partner violence and housing insecurity– both of which disproportionately harm women and gender-diverse people. After so many years of this truth being ignored by governments who continue to fail to provide real solutions; Olivia knew it was time to start the conversation.
Passion to Action: Learn How to Advocate for Social Housing
This April– spring into action on Canada’s housing crisis by attending our 6-week workshop series on housing advocacy. Hosted in collaboration with Douglas Coldwell Layton Foundation (DCLF), ICL and Olivia Chow, Passion to Action: Learn How to Advocate for Social Housing will start Tuesday, April 11 at 6 PM ET. For just $10, participants will be given the tools they need to start organizing, while meeting like minded people who want to work toward safe and affordable homes across Canada.
Real, lasting change is needed to break this cycle and when we come together– we make that change a reality.
Tales of Empowerment: Angelique’s Story
It’s International Women’s Month, and we’re highlighting some of the outstanding women who have worked with ICL to take action for real, lasting change.
As ICL’s Lead Francophone Instructor, Angelique Bernabe has worked with hundreds of French speakers across Canada– primarily immigrant women like herself. Currently, Angelique is teaching her fourth cohort at MOFIF (Femmes Immigrantes Francophones Ontario), where many of these women are working to bring an end to gender-based violence. The most exciting part of this work? Three of her current facilitators at MOFIF are women she taught and helped to find their leadership voice by training with ICL. An empowering full-circle moment.
We are proud to have Angelique as a part of ICL, and we look forward to seeing how her incredible work with MOFIF progresses– Merci Angelique!
Happy Birthday to Olivia Chow!
Well, that was the best surprise ever! The look on Olivia's face was priceless when we told her that ICL supporters contributed a whopping $9,122 to our Aging Well Campaign in celebration of her 66th birthday. She was touched by your incredible generosity.
Olivia wanted to share the impact of your gift with you herself. Click here and listen to Olivia tell you what your gift means to her and all the folks fighting for seniors' care across the country.
I can't say it enough - we truly have the best community of supporters. On behalf of Olivia and all of us at ICL, we couldn't be more grateful to you for your continued support and unwavering belief that the power to create change lies within people - every one of us.
With much gratitude,
Kirsten
From the Community
Looking for more opportunities to get involved in housing advocacy?
Join the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, and ICL in Winnipeg for a two-day in-person event on housing and human rights in Canada from April 20-21, 2023. Participants will develop a unified call to action and build an advocacy plan geared to income social housing in Canada. ICL will provide insight to change the National Housing Strategy and lead training to mobilize your community to advocate for these changes. Free to attend. Travel support is possible and available on the application form.
A Special Thank You
It's thanks to supporters like you that ICL continues to be able to train, educate and equip emerging activists across Canada in their communities.
Your ongoing support is what drives us forward, allowing us to offer pro-bono trainings and the much-needed subsidies that make our work accessible to all, regardless of the ability to pay.
Thank You. Thank you. Thank you – we can never say it enough.
Any donation to ICL, of any size, makes a huge difference and allows us to continue the fight to achieve real, lasting change.
Please support our work with a tax-deductible donation today.
