Haldimand & Norfolk Women's Services

06/21/2026

Today, June 21st, is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This day is a celebration of the lives of Indigenous communities and their contributions through Turtle Island.

Today is a reminder to listen, learn, recognize and celebrate Indigenous folks and communities for all that they are doing on this land🧡💜

🧡🪶 National Indigenous Peoples Day
A day to celebrate who we are—our culture, our language, and our community.

We honour our ancestors, uplift our people today, and carry these teachings forward for future generations. 💚

06/21/2026

Today is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and the official start of summer. It is a time to celebrate the connections between Indigenous peoples, the land, animals, and the entire community.
NWAC wishes everyone a beautiful solstice and a season of growth and renewal.

06/21/2026

June 1st marks National Indigenous History Month. This month reminds us to listen and remember Indigenous History. This recognition was marked in 2009 (later renamed in 2017) and highlights the impacts of Indigenous culture, leadership and strength throughout Turtle Island.

Being on Indigenous land, it is important to listen and hear from Indigenous Communities, uplift their voices and have them take the lead on what society can do to honour them and ensure equity.

As a community, listening and learning is only the first step but allows us to grow as a society.

Learn more about Indigenous history and how we can honour the community:

She is Wise- magazine

downiewenjack.ca

nwac.ca website

onwa.ca

Indigenous Centered Support:

Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services: 24-Hour Crisis Line 519-445-4324

Talk4Healing: Phone 1-855-554-HEAL (4325) or Online Chat talk4healing.com

06/18/2026

Earlier this month, HNWS staff gathered to raise the Pride flag together.

This moment is about more than marking Pride Month—it reflects the work we do every day. At HNWS, we support women-identifying and gender-diverse survivors and their children, and we know that 2SLGBTQIA+ people can face gender-based violence in unique ways, often alongside additional barriers to finding safe, supportive services.

This year is especially meaningful, as it marks the first time Pride Month has been officially proclaimed in Norfolk County. It’s a reminder that progress is possible—and that visibility, inclusion, and advocacy continue to matter in our communities.

Pride itself has roots in advocacy. In Canada, the first major demonstrations for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights took place in 1971 in Ottawa and Vancouver—reminding us that the rights and recognition we see today have been hard-won.

In the face of rising anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate and backlash, these moments reinforce why visible acts of support and solidarity remain so important—they help create safer, more inclusive spaces for everyone.

This month and beyond, inclusion isn’t just something we talk about—it’s something we practice in how we show up for each other and for the people we support.

HNWS is committed to ensuring that all survivors who walk through our doors feel safe, supported, and valued. Our rainbow flag is more than just a flag- it’s a symbol of safety, inclusion and the freedom to be who you are.

🌈Happy Pride Month, Haldimand & Norfolk! 🌈

06/15/2026

🟪 On June 15th, WEAAD, an International Day to raise awareness of elder abuse, the CN Tower lights up in purple.
🟪 Join us in advocating against ageism and abuse, to ensure the human rights of older adults are advanced, protected and respected.
https://eapon.ca/weaad/

06/15/2026

06/15/2026

Happy International Non-Binary Peoples Day! 💛🤍💜🖤 Today and every day, The Redwood celebrates gender diversity, and aims to raise awareness about the struggles that nonbinary people face.

According to findings by the Canadian Women's Foundation, 64% of trans and non-binary youth experience sexual harassment, one in three racialized trans and non-binary people were sexually assaulted in the past five years, and 72% of trans and non-binary newcomers experienced verbal harassment in the past five years.

We envision a world where individuals of all gender identities live free from abuse and other forms of violence and oppression.

Source: (https://canadianwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Queering-GBV-Prevention-and-Response-Toolkit.pdf).

06/15/2026

06/08/2026

❤️🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜 Love Builds the Bundle💜🩵💙💚💛🧡🩷❤️

Love Builds the Bundle is a 2SLGBTQIAP+ toolkit and training created by the Ontario Native Women's Associate and Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services.

Information and Education about LBTB can be found at www.onwa.ca/love or by contacting our LBTB program at (519) 445-0216

06/02/2026

Home is supposed to be a safe haven. But as the housing crisis worsens across Canada, the lack of safe, affordable housing is trapping survivors in violent and unsafe conditions. 🕊️

According to OAITH’s femicide data, an overwhelming 79% of victims were killed inside or directly outside their residence. Without real, affordable housing alternatives, leaving an abuser is becoming an impossible choice for many.

This crisis is also fundamentally altering family structures. Ontario is now home to half of all residents living in multigenerational housing. While pooling resources can be a positive choice, research shows it is only successful when individuals have true autonomy.

When economic desperation forces families together, it places intense financial and caregiving burdens on older adults. These shifting power dynamics are known risk factors for elder abuse and femicide—often perpetrated within the home by family members, including adult sons.

We cannot talk about ending gender-based violence without talking about housing. Our policies must change to prioritize housing as a fundamental human right. ⚖️✊💜

🔗 Read more about how shifting housing norms impact survivor safety at the link in our bio.

SafeHousing housingrightsarehumanrights