Gala for The Gatehouse
An evening of dining and dancing to support victims of child abuse
Saturday, March 27th 6:30pm
Dinardo's Mansion Aurora, Ontario
To find out more CLICK HERE (pdf)
Presentation by The Gatehouse
The Gatehouse® was invited to York University on February 18th to give a presentation to the volunteers of SASSL (Sexual Assault Survivors' Support Line). These volunteers offer support and information to survivors of sexual assault and The Gatehouse was asked to speak about men and sexual assault. The presentation was a great success and The Gatehouse® thanks York University for their invitation and the commitment from their volunteers to helping survivors of sexual assault.
‘The Sexual Assault Survivors' Support Line (SASSL) is located at York University. We provide support and referrals if requested from survivors of sexual assault. Each semester SASSL hosts a Volunteer Training session, and this year to educate our volunteers on one of our topics "Men and Sexual Assault", we invited the Gatehouse to come in. Based on feedback from SASSL volunteers, they were delighted to have Rick Perry and Julie Moore come and speak to us, as it was informative and educational. Rick Perry did a great job of grounding the information about men and sexual assault and suicide in a lived experience. Furthermore, hearing about sexual assault from a survivor helped to unsettle the stigma associated with sexual assault, and in particular men that have experienced sexual assault. For our Volunteer Training next year, SASSL would definitely ask the Gatehouse to join us again. Thank you’
(SASSL Office Coordinator)
‘I am a York University student and a SASSL volunteer. I just listened to your presentation today and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it…one of the best for sure! Your message was extremely touching. I commend you for not only your positive contributions at The Gatehouse® but also taking the time to visit York University in hopes of spreading awareness.
I wish you continued success!
Thank you’
(SASSL volunteer)
Recruiting for The Gatehouse's Board of Directors
The Gatehouse is currently planning its next Annual General Meeting for April 20, 2010. All members are invited. To join The Gatehouse, please see www.thegatehouse.org/members.
At the Annual General Meeting, the members will be electing the Board of Directors for 2010. Are you interested in serving on the Board?
If you are, we are currently welcoming expressions of interest for Board membership.
We encourage you to send in your cover letter outlining how you think you contribute to the ongoing success of The Gatehouse, along with your resume. Please send this information to tracyhodder@thegatehouse.org, before March 15, 2010 for review and consideration.
We hope to hear from you!
Our latest cycle of The Gatehouse Adult Support Network’s 15 week program came to an end last night with a potluck dinner. Everyone took part; bringing anything, from homemade meat pies, pork, potatoes, salads and the list goes on…
Clients who came through the Purple Door at The Gatehouse alone, scared and confused were now saying good bye to their friends for the holiday season with the intention to stay connected in the New Year; e-mails and phone numbers were exchanged with tears, laughter, hugs and smiles.
As supporters, which you are, everyone should be very proud of what has happened to these men and women in this short 15-week period. Many will be back in January for our Mentor and Facilitator training and will become volunteers for 2010. This is great news as it will only make The Gatehouse volunteer program stronger.
Thank you to our volunteer facilitators who donated their time for the 15 weeks and in some cases two 15 week sessions, plus weekends of training - Without this tremendous group of people, our program would fail.
On behalf of Lauren and Julie and myself, thank for your support. These folks may now continue their journey in life with a better understanding that they are not alone, it’s not their fault and The Gatehouse is here to provide a safe place where no one will ever hurt them again, and where they can find their voice.
The next group cycle will begin in February.
Thank you
Rick.
Lloyd Devoe, Tandem News volunteer of the week
Each week, Tandem profiles a volunteer in the community whose work inspires reader to reach out and lend a hand.
This week, Tandem spoke with Lloyd Devoe, who volunteers for The Gatehouse (Child Abuse Investigation and Support Services).
The organization addresses the needs of children and their families, as well youth and adults whose lives have been affected by childhood abuse... FIND MORE
Christina Fox won the Toronto PwC Volunteer of the Year Award
Christina Fox won the Downtown Toronto PwC Volunteer of the Year Award for her contributions to The Gatehouse and, in particular, her role a co-chair of The Gatehouse Mayday 2010 community awareness and fundraising event...FIND MORE
The Gatehouse® was graciously invited to attend the Mackenzie Financial Charitable Foundation’s annual employee kick-off campaign. We set up a booth at the event and were thrilled to have met many of Mackenzie’s employees, and to be given the opportunity to answer any questions they may have had about us, and in turn for them to learn how their donated dollars has helped The Gatehouse®.
The Mackenzie Financial Charitable Foundation has generously made a $5,000 donation to The Gatehouse®.
Brad Offman, President, Mackenzie Financial Charitable Foundation; Rick Perry, Bruce Burchart & Lauren Edding-Lee
Community hero, Glory Chowtie, whose caring actions saved the life of a new-born child and The Gatehouse, a community agency that offers transformative support to victims of childhood abuse, will both be recognized today for their significant contributions to protecting children from abuse and neglect. The 7th annual Stand Up for Kids Award, sponsored by Toronto's four Children's Aid Societies will be presented to Glory Chowtie and The Gatehouse by the Honourable Laurel Broten, Minister of Children and Youth Services as part of October's Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Glory Chowtie's act of compassion happened during one of the coldest days last winter and undoubtedly saved the life of a one-day-old-child. While driving to work early one morning, she noticed a young woman walking who appeared to need help. Upon stopping to offer the woman a ride, it became apparent that the woman was concealing a baby. Afraid and confused after having given birth to the child alone hours before, the young woman left with the child and began walking away from her home. By having the courage to get involved, two people's lives- those of the new born child and young mother- were irrevocably changed, for the better.
The Gatehouse offers services that support some of the most vulnerable in our society - victims of childhood abuse. This community organization provides unique services to abused children and also offers support to adults who have suffered childhood abuse.
"Each of today's Stand Up for Kids Award recipients are committed to the safety and well-being of Ontario's kids. Their actions and the services they provide are extraordinary examples of the type of individuals and organizations that make a difference in the lives of young people every day. It is such a pleasure to participate in recognizing their achievements," said Minister of Children and Youth Services, Laurel Broten.
The Stand Up for Kids Award recipients exemplify the very spirit of the award. Glory Chowtie and the Gatehouse have both demonstrated a strong commitment to our community and our community's children and families.
"Glory Chowtie's actions are truly inspiring. My hope today is that others will hear Glory's story and become inspired to get involved when a child, young person or family needs help," said David Rivard, Chief Executive Officer, Children's Aid Society of Toronto. "Glory's actions powerfully demonstrate that by having the courage to stand up and help someone in need that we can create a city where children are safe, families are strong and communities are supported," he added.
"When children and youth have been traumatized by abuse, particularly sexual abuse, child welfare workers and police can come together to meet with abuse victims at The Gatehouse," said Mary Juric, Director of Service, Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto. "The Gatehouse offers a child-friendly, non-threatening refuge for these children where they can disclose abuse. Years later, when child abuse survivors become adults, The Gatehouse offers support which allows these adults to move forward with their lives," Juric added.
Our new Gatehouse® "Trainers, Travelers and Speaker's Guild" met with Janet Handy, Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Programming, to review the Gatehouse Adult Support Network Program. Our review consisted of making a content, process and systems analysis of the GASN (what is working, what is not, what needs to be changed).
A special thanks goes to Judy Steed who lent her cottage for the working weekend. And thank you to these valuable volunteers who took precious time out of their weekends to meet with Richard Perry ( Operations Director) and Jan on the weekend.
From Left to Right (Standing): Tom Triantafillou, William Tomczak, Richard Perry, Karen Dobbie, (Seated) : Judy Steed, Lloyd Devoe.
At a bus shelter near you: The Gatehouse® receives support from Astral Media.
Astral Media Inc. has created a new awareness poster for The Gatehouse® and donated 20 bus shelters throughout the downtown Toronto area in which to display them during the month of June. The first one has been spotted at the southwest corner of King and Sherbourne Streets.
The Gatehouse® extends its sincere thanks to Sidney Greenberg, his assistant, Shoshana, and the rest of the Astral Media Inc. team for their support!
17 volunteers from Levis Strauss helped to clean the Gatehouse garden plus they have also donated $300.00 for gardening supplies and on top of this they also brought there own lawn fertilizer, bags of soils, gloves and munchies, Lloyd also came in for a while to assist, aside from gardening they also cleaned our windows inside and out (upstairs and downstairs), labeled and stuffed about 600 envelopes for the Gatehouse® marketing campaign .... THANK YOU
6th Annual BBQ Celebrating GREAT LAKES BREWERY
Thank you to Great Lakes Brewery for once again supporting The Gatehouse® at their 6th annual Charity BBQ, held on May 23, 2009
The Boulevard Club is thrilled to be able to give back to the Community!
The local Club raised over $22,000 at its First Annual, Boulevard Club Gives Back charity and silent auction, held in October.
Through the generous donations of Club members and guests we were able to donate $11,700 each to PARC and The Gatehouse,® both local charities.
The Gatehouse® has been providing a safe and secure location for victims of sexual abuse to come and seek refuge during a very difficult time. The Boulevard Club looks forward to a long and prosperous relationship with both local charities for many years to come.
November 2008 - The Gatehouse Receives Grant
Laurel Broten (2nd from right) and Hawaa Kabbashy of Ontario
Trillium Foundation (far right) are joined by Sabrina Ramlackan,
Paul Aiello and Sasha Zibreg (front) of The Gatehouse for the
important announcement.
The province is supporting The Gatehouse® by providing a grant over one year for a webmaster, training and website development to provide on-line support to staff, volunteers and abuse victims. The investment, through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, will work to increase public access of the services offered by The Gatehouse® to abuse victims and online support services for those wishing to report abuse.
Laurel Broten, M.P.P. for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, was at The Gatehouse®, where she once served as Chair on their Board of Directors, on October 17th to announce the important funding initiative.
The Gatehouse® Third Party Events policy
