By ERIN HORROCKS-POPE

On the evening of Oct. 24, Kew Gardens in the Beach became a beacon of hope as community members gathered for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation’s Night Light Walk.

The three-kilometre fundraising was in support of Nellie’s Shelter and the Red Door Family Shelter, both vital local resources for women and children escaping domestic violence.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow kicked off the evening with a heartfelt speech, sharing her personal experiences with domestic violence. Her presence underscored the event’s significance, especially following a recent city council declaration recognizing gender-based and intimate partner violence as an epidemic in Toronto.

“A home is only a home if it’s a safe place to live,” noted Chris Dunlop, Broker of Record and Owner of Royal LePage Estate Realty in the Beach, who organized the local walk. He emphasized the need for community support in addressing this critical issue.

The event attracted a diverse and excited crowd of local residents, advocates, and leaders committed to shining a light on the realities of intimate partner violence.

Scarborough Southwest Councillor Parthi Kandavel and Mitzie Hunter, former Ontario Liberal MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood and current President and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, were also in attendance at the walk.

Marissa Andersson, board chair for Red Door Family Shelter, expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. “We are so grateful for all its work in helping raise money and awareness for women experiencing gender-based violence and families really feeling the brunt of the housing crisis in Toronto,” she said.

The need for such events is underscored by alarming statistics. According to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, 44 per cent of women in Canada have experienced intimate partner violence at least once in their lives.

Caitlin FitzGerald, manager of community engagement at Red Door Family Shelter, said to this point, “We are all connected, either directly or indirectly, to gender-based violence.”

The Night Light Walk serves not only as a fundraiser but also as a platform for awareness. The funds raised will directly support shelters that provide crucial services to those in need, allowing organizations such as Nellie’s and Red Door Family Shelter to continue their mission of empowering women and children. As of the night of Oct. 24, the walk had raised more than $50,000.

As participants walked through the neighbourhood, carrying lights to symbolize hope and solidarity, they collectively took a stand against domestic violence and the stigma surrounding it.

Dunlop, who was inspired to create a local version of the walk after attending a similar event in Burlington last year. “The impact of the walk last year moved me so much that the same night I planned a local route and drafted this idea to do one locally.”

The Night Light Walk is part of a broader effort to tackle the pervasive issue of intimate partner violence in Toronto.

Throughout Thursday night’s event, participants reflected on the importance of community involvement and the critical role everyone plays in supporting survivors of domestic violence.

Ingrid Graham, Director of Development and acting co-Executive Director at Nellie’s Women’s Shelter, emphasized, “Unfortunately, we’ve been working in this sector for 15 years at Nellie’s. It’s a job we’d all love to see disappear, and that continues to be our mission—to help build a society where this kind of abuse doesn’t happen and people can be safe in their homes.”

For more information on the walk, please visit https://secure3.convio.net/rlsf/site/SPageServer?pagename=night_light_walk

Here are more photos from the Oct. 24 Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Night Light Walk in the Beach: