The Morton Family Foundation has continued a tradition of generosity by donating $50,000 to support the YWCA’s services for women and children experiencing gender-based violence in Haliburton County.
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued leadership shown by the Morton Family Foundation in the Haliburton County community,” said Kim Dolan, executive director of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton this week.
She added, “Patricia and David’s ongoing generosity is a testament to their commitment to supporting the YWCA’s efforts to serve the rural women and children in Haliburton County, providing them with the resources and support they need to feel safe again.”
Access to safe and reliable resources in rural communities is an ongoing problem, Dolan said. The Women’s Centre in Haliburton County offers resources women need in order to escape gender-based violence and find safer ways to move forward with their life. The centre provides access to transition supports, such as safe transportation, individual counselling, a family law lawyer, court support and guidance.
YWCA’s Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace (HERS) provides safe and supportive temporary accommodations for women with and without children fleeing abuse in Haliburton County. The service is designed to be available on an as-needed basis and offers space for two families at a time, so that women can move away from the abusive situation in their home without leaving their support systems, jobs and schools, families and friends behind.
Dolan said rural women in Haliburton County have reported far more serious and complex abuse since 2020. Like women’s organizations across the province, the YWCA faces heightened demand and increasing costs.
Patricia Morton said, “David and I feel very fortunate to be able to continue to support the wonderful work of the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, because this work continues to be so essential to so many area women and children.
“And it is important to remember that both under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms and under the United Nations Charter, violence against women and children is a major and criminal violation of human rights. However, shockingly, this violence is actually on the increase throughout Canada, especially against rural women, just as it is here and now against isolated rural women in Haliburton County, and likely in neighbouring rural counties as well.”
David Morton added, “thank goodness the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton is here to provide these women and their children with safe shelter at HERS and with vital services, to help these victims of violence move forward past the trauma and suffering, to strive to rebuild their lives and become brave survivors.
“As a man, I find femicide and all forms of violence against women and children appalling. I will never understand why some – too many – men take out their anger, frustration, or whatever by inflicting physical and/or psychological violence on women and children. However, we are grateful at least to be able to support the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton to provide essential help to the rural women of Haliburton County who are suffering from such appalling male violence, hopefully to be able to empower themselves.”
Community members who wish to donate or find ways of supporting YWCA services in Haliburton County are encouraged to visit ywcapeterborough.org or contact the YWCA directly at 705-743-3526.
