On Wednesday, local MPP Steve Pinsonneault visited the Women’s Rural Resource Centre (WRRC) to celebrate more than $279,000 in funding received through two Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grants. This support has expanded WRRC’s capacity to serve the community through staffing, culturally responsive services, and the creation of a new, trauma-informed outdoor healing space.
In January 2024, WRRC was awarded a $180,200 Resilient Communities Fund grant to strengthen its Indigenous Counselling Program. This initiative provides culturally grounded support through one-on-one counselling, group and land-based programs, cultural activities, and prevention services for Indigenous individuals—whether accessing WRRC’s 24/7 shelter or living in the broader community. The program also enhances WRRC’s ability to offer meaningful cultural support across its team. The Indigenous counsellor plays a vital role not only in service delivery but also through advocacy and leadership on regional committees such as the Indigenous Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee and the Middlesex-London Network to End Gender-Based Violence.
In June 2024, WRRC received a $99,500 Capital grant to build a secure, accessible greenspace for women and children fleeing abuse. Designed as a peaceful, nature-based area, this space features a gazebo, firepit, children’s play area, raised garden beds, seating, a storage shed, and accessible walkways. More than a garden, this space provides a sanctuary for private counselling, family visits, therapeutic programs, and quiet reflection—a sacred and supportive place for healing.
WRRC continues to prioritize culturally respectful outreach, beginning with formal introductions to local First Nation Chiefs, acknowledging that the organization operates on treaty land and in proximity to Indigenous communities. Strong partnerships are forming with groups such as the Oneida Family Healing Lodge, Nimkee Nupigawagan Healing Centre, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation Child, Youth and Family Well-Being Services, and Strathroy-based partners like CMHA, Strathroy Pride, and the Middlesex-London Health Unit. WRRC has also shared its work at events including Pride in the Park, the December 6th Memorial Day of Action and Remembrance, and an Anti-Human Trafficking Conference co-hosted with the Oneida Family Healing Lodge.
Grounded in a feminist and anti-oppressive framework, WRRC offers education, prevention, and support for individuals and families experiencing gender-based violence in Middlesex County. The organization envisions a connected, inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to build safe, healthy relationships grounded in healing, advocacy, and equity.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. In the past year, OTF invested nearly $105 million into 732 projects that strengthen community well-being across the province. Learn more at otf.ca.
Written by: C. Soares