Happy New Year!

Women's Multicultural Resource andCounselling Centre of Durham

Newsletter Fall 2016

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

Voorspoedige nuwe jaar

Kul 'am wa antum bikhair

Urte Berri on

Shuvo noboborsho

Sun nien fai lokXin nian yu kuai

Stastny Novy Rok

Godt NytÅr

Gelukkig nieuwjaar

Bonan Novjaront

Onnellista uutta vuotta

Bonne année

Ein glückliches neues Jahr

Eutychismenos o kainourgios chronos

Hauoli Makahiki hou

Shana Tova

Boldog uj evet

Selamat Tahun Baru

Felice Anno Nuovo or Buon anno

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu

Sehe Bokmanee Bateuseyo

Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab

Felix sit annus novus

Barka da sabuwar shekara

Godt Nytt År

Manigong Bagong Taon Szczesliwego Nowego Roku

La Multi Ani si Un An Nou Fericit

Ia manuia le Tausaga Fou

Feliz año nuevo

Heri za Mwaka Mpya

Gott Nytt År

Sawatdee Pi MaiChuc mung nam moi

Women's Multicultural Resource andCounselling Centre of Durham

Newsletter Fall 2016

2

Warm wishes from the Executive Director ......P. 3

Bridging the Gap...................................................P. 4

Project B.A.S.I.C.S and Literacy Program..........P. 5

The Women's Support Group ..............................P. 6

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.......P.7

Annual General Meeting .....................................P. 8-9

Holiday Party........................................................P. 10-11

WMRCC's 2017 Gala of Hope........... .....................P. 12

Table of Contents2016 Fall Events

Greetingsfrom the Executive Director

Happy New Year. WMRCC of Durham welcomes you back in 2017 with utmost gratitude. As we

start this brand new year, may we use this opportunity to appreciate those who provided gifts and

donations to the less privileged during the holiday season.

Violence against women affects women from diverse cultures, religions, class, age, sexuality,

literacy level, ability, geography, newcomers, immigrants and refugees. Newcomer and immigrant

women tend to face additional intersecting barriers when they arrive in Canada. Some of these

women have to deal with issues of family violence on top of settlement and integration issues. They

experience violence and abuse in the hands of the most trusted individuals, their partners or those

who sponsored them to the country. In most cases, lack of family support network, isolation, lack of

English language skills, unaware of social support services available in the community

creates additional barriers in receiving the support they need to fully integrate in their new country.

At WMRCC of Durham, we reach out to these women and young women to break the cycle of

violence, provide resources, empower and support them to re­establish in the community.

In addition to working with women of all ages, youth and children with lived experience of violence,

WMRCC of Durham has established some programs to support women’s economic empowerment.

Bridging the Gap Project is designed to support women entrepreneurs; using gender­based

analysis to collect information on their experiences as women entrepreneurs and working towards

increased access to community resources in order to succeed in their businesses.

WMRCC of Durham was able to accomplish so much in 2016, in terms of the programs and

services the organization implemented. We would like to thank and appreciate everyone, groups,

community partners and stakeholders, donors, funders, event sponsors, board of directors, staff,

volunteers and students who contributed their time, skills, financial and material resources to

WMRCC of Durham last year. We would not have accomplished so much without your involvement

and unwavering support. Blessings and best wishes in 2017.  

Current ProgrammingBridging the Gap

“Bridging the Gap" Project reaches out to women entrepreneurs' from diverse backgrounds.

Canadian women, immigrant women, visible minorities, First Nations, official language

minority, disable and women living in rural and urban areas of Durham Region. Also women in

Greater Toronto Area are eligible to participate in this project. These women experience

gender­based barriers in succeeding in their businesses in terms of accessing loan and other

community resources to support their business; therefore, relegating them to disadvantaged

position unlike their male counterparts.

The project uses “gender­based analysis” to address the economic, social and institutional

barriers that women face, as well as working with stakeholders and financial institutions

to address these barriers.

We have completed the first & second phase of the project where we conducted consultation

sessions and collected data on barriers experienced by entrepreneurs. 

Project funded by :

 WMRCC of Durham continues to support senior women, immigrants and newcomers residing in the

Region through various activities to reduce stress and isolation. WMRCC works collaboratively with

community partners to increase their knowledge and understanding on violence and financial abuse,

while conducting activities to reduce their vulnerability of being abused or victimized.

As part of the strategy to help seniors familiarize themselves with new technologies as a means to

stimulate mental health and social connection,  WMRCC provided workshops giving seniors the

opportunity to learn how to use the internet, cellphones and tablets. The sessions focused on creating

 email addresses, as well as sending and receiving emails to stay connected with friends and families.

 Inter-generational Social Activities

Building A Safe And Inclusive Community For Senior Women

Mental Health and Social Activities Zumba Classes Civic Engagement Computer

Basics

Outreach

Project Sponsored by :

Yoga

Literacy Program

Our heartfelt thanks to Mandy Boyes and Suzanne

George, the teachers, for their dedication to this

program.

The literacy program in partnership with the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario

(ETFO) Durham Chapter, continues assisting women to obtain formal English reading and

writing skills, including homework help. Through this program many women have

successfully gained independence while building a sense of community.

Project B.A.S.I.C.S.

Project Funded By:

The Women's Support Group

Beginning November of 2016, the aim for this group was to bring together women from

diverse backgrounds who are on the journey of growing and recovering from violence and

abuse. 

Primarily a psycho­educational workshop and group sessions that geared towards learning

how to cope with stresses associated with past trauma and lived experiences. Intakes forthe Winter 2017 group will begin in January. Please call us at 905­427­7849 to

schedule an appointment.

AssertivenessCoping Skills

Confidence

Art Expression

I liked that the group was not toolarge.

 Anonymous

I learned how to take smallsteps to achieve largergoals. -  Anonymous

I'm enjoying the group activities and gamesthat help us learn (role play exercises). 

 Anonymous

The group was focused and everyone was able toshare. - Anonymous

I learned that some of my old habits were passive [notassertive].. -  Anonymous

Women's Feedback

Along side many ogranziations accross the GTA , WMRCCparticipated in The Scotia Bank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

 A special thanks to The Children's Aid Foundation. 

We would also like to saythank you to all those whoprovided sponsorships anddonations in support of ourprograms and services for

 youth and children. 

5km Marathon RunEsther with Khamica Bingham.

Esther at the end of the 5km Marathon !

Child Abus

e Prev

ention M

onth ,

October 2

016 Scotiabank TorontoWaterfront Marathon ,October 16, 2016

Annual General Meeting HIGHLIGHTS IN THE PAST YEAR

Board of Directors & E.D. 

Sumaiya giving a gift to our Guest

Speaker,Alethea Stobbe, Researcher &

Evaluator,Centre for Community Based

Research & WMRCC

Bridging the Gap Project Evaluator. 

Sunaina Mannan, Sumaiya Ahmed, Esther Enyolu,

Cristina Gomez , Amy Barclay , Sandra Edobor

WMRCC of Durham held it's 23rd Annual General Meeting on November 10,2016.  Presentations included the previous years activities, successes andchallenges, as well as, funding plans for the year to come.  In attendancewere local politicians, community partners, stakeholders, families , friends

and well wishers.

Thank you , WMRCC E.D., Staff & Students

Negin , Atiyya, Karla , Jackie, Kisho ,Lisa, Phoebe & Esther 

Thank you to everyone who attended, for joining us and making this event a success!

Councillor Pickles, MP Holland, Board of Directors & E.D. 

City of Pickering Regional

Councillor, David Pickles 

We appreciate your presence and

support.

Thank you to Minister MacCharles for certificatepresented. Appreciation to the Ajax Welcome

Centre for the space provided.

Annual General Meeting

Finally, we appreciate our project funders, Status of WomenCanada, Service Canada, Children’s Aid Foundation andRBC Diversity Fund, Durham Community Foundation,

Employment and Social Development Canada and OPG. 

Ajax­Pickering MP ,

Mark Holland

We appreciate your

presence, support and

certificate presented.

Town of Whitby Regional

Councillor , Elizabeth

Roy.  We appreciate your

presence and support, as

well as the certificate.

Esther with Costco Ajax

Marketing Representative

Daniel Pechenkov. We

appreciate your presence

and support with the

donations.

Thank you, Tracy Vaughan & Shane Joseph from the townof Ajax,  members of the Congress of Black Women of

Pickering­Ajax

Holiday Party2016

Our Annual Holiday/Christmas Party was held on Sunday December 18,2016. We would like to thank all the individuals, groups and corporationswho donated to WMRCC during this holiday season.  With a special

thank you to our staff and volunteers for their hard work and dedication.

Together we celebrated the holiday season with a multiculturallunch, enjoyed games, music and presented gifts, turkeys, food

hampers and vouchers.  We would also like to thank all the women,youth and children who attended this event,  for their courage and

tenacity

Warm Wishesfor the New year !!

Thank You For Giving

The Durham Regional Police Services who donated children's toys and gifts for youth. We are very grateful to you for

always putting smiles in these children’s and their families faces every year.

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 322 for the space donated for the party . We sincerely appreciate your support.

Our heartfelt appreciation and thank you to Keller Williams Energy (Real Estate Brokerage) and partners who donated

turkeys and hampers to make sure families could enjoy great dinners.

Our sincere appreciation to Judge William (Bill) Sullivan and Two Ten Foundation for donating beautiful shoes for

children, youth and women.

Carrie-Anne Atkins and the OPG for their continued support with the “Adopt a Family at Holiday/Christmas Program”.

We cannot thank you enough for you on-going support and generosity.

Barb Mrozek and Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund for purchasing and directly delivered the gifts to the children up to 12

years old residing in Pickering and Ajax. Great appreciation for always making these children’s holidays and Christmas

a memorable one.

Stephanie Copp, Sonia Flash and the team at Manulife Toronto, for participating in “Adopt a Family at

Holiday/Christmas Program”. Thanks for the gifts donated to families, they were really overwhelmed by your generosity.

The president and members of the Rotary Club of Pickering for your continued support with donations. Your support

means a lot to us, thank you.

CHUM Christmas Wish Foundation for their continued support and donation each year. Your support means a lot to us.

Michael Berry, Shivana Choonsingh and the Team at Rogers for the food hampers. Accept our sincere appreciation.

Francisco Carballo and the Superstore - Ajax for your generosity and support.

Abby Onatunja and the members of the Christ Embassy Church Ajax, thank you for taking the time to be there to help,

we cannot thank you enough.

Santa comes in different shapes and colours and we are sincerely thanking everyone who

contributed to this year’s holiday gifts. Your kind gestures make a huge difference in the lives of

the less privileged families. WMRCC of Durham would like to thank the following groups,

individuals, clubs and institutions who donated to us this season. We truly appreciate your

generosity.