By Jack Brittle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
On June 26, The Women’s Centre of Halton will host their third annual gala, “A Midsummer’s Dream.” And for the second time, the event will be held at the Paletta Mansion.
The event will feature live music, an open bar, a silent auction, and tarot readings. All money raised from the event will go towards the group’s general fund, used to sustain the organization itself.
Shagufe Hossain, executive director of The Women’s Centre of Halton, elaborated on what the money will provide to the group.
“That would include maintaining the staff and ensuring that the equipment is up to date,” Hossain said. “We do provide a lot of support virtually as well, so we need to make sure that we have the equipment and the supplies in place for that.”
Hossain said that, depending on the amount of money raised, the funds could go towards creating new programming. She also said the group regularly conducts surveys to “understand what the needs of the women across the community are and what kind of programming would be helpful.”
The Women’s Centre is hoping to raise $50,000 from the event.
The Women’s Centre of Halton was founded in 1989 and provides education, employment, wellness, and legal supports to women. Last year, the centre had over 306 programs available to the community, completely free.
“The idea is to provide barrier-free access to supportive programs for women who are experiencing crisis, distress or transition,” Hossain said. “We envision a community where women are supported to thrive and succeed no matter where they’re coming from.”
Hossain said that as a nonprofit, many administrative costs are not covered from the grants that they receive, hence the need for fundraisers like A Midsummer’s Dream.
“With the increasing rates of intimate partner violence across Halton Region, challenges have grown,” Hossain said. “We get a lot of women who report challenges during separation and divorce, and there’s a growing mental health crisis as well.”
“The economy isn’t great, there’s financial pressures as well, so obviously our costs have also increased, which is why we’re organizing an event like this,” she continued.
Hossain said that the organization is trying to put their clients at the centre of the event this year by making their artwork available through a silent auction.
“This is artwork that was produced by our clients as part of their healing journey to navigate the trauma that they’ve suffered,” Hossain said. “It’s a form of self-expression as well as self-care.”
The artwork will also be printed on Women’s Centre merchandise that will be available for purchase.
Last year, The Women’s Centre of Halton facilitated 1,372 peer support calls. Of last year’s clients, 65% were new to the centre. Halton Region has also declared intimate partner violence an epidemic.
Hossain said that the increase in intimate partner violence is not just being seen in Halton: numbers have gone up globally in the post-pandemic era.
For people who would like to support The Women’s Centre of Halton and their cause but are unable to attend the event, there is an option to purchase and donate a ticket, which will be given out through a lottery system.
To find out more about A Midsummer’s Dream and purchase last-minute tickets, visit https://thewomenscentreofhalton.com/msd/.
