Gender-Based Violence / Intimate Partner Violence: An Education and Awareness Day
March 19, 2026
March 28, 2026 – New Dundee
SOS Southern Ontario Support
An Associated Country Women of the World Society est. 2010
SOS Mission Statement: “To help other women and their communities where we can through education, compassion and sustainable projects attained through ACWW. To treat others as we would want to be treated, with dignity and respect. To do what we know to be fair and right for all.”
Violence in families and relationships is something most people agree is a serious problem, but many are surprised to learn how often it happens close to home — and just how much difference communities, organizations, and governments can make in preventing it, reducing it, and responding to it more effectively.
Across Canada, hundreds of women and girls lose their lives each year in situations involving intimate partner violence. These tragedies affect families, neighbours, workplaces, and entire communities.
That is why the Southern Ontario Support (SOS) Society, part of the international organization Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), together with the New Dundee Women’s Institute (WI), is holding an education and awareness day on Saturday, March 28th at the New Dundee Community Centre.
The morning session will hear from four panelists from Waterloo Region: Pari Karem – Director of the Family Violence Project, Jessica Almeida – Outreach Worker with Women’s Crisis Services, Margaret MacPherson – Research Associate, Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children including Neighbours Friends and Families group at Western University, and Maddy Kenyon of the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Kitchener-Waterloo. They will speak about how violence shows up in communities, the services available locally, and how a better understanding of the issue can help people recognize warning signs and support those who may need help.
Our afternoon session will hear from a survivor of Intimate Partner Violence followed by Kitchener South – Hespeler MPP Jess Dixon speaking about her role as lead on the Intimate Partner Violence Sub-committee and the report she authored and presented and tabled to the Ontario Legislature this past December.
MPP Jess Dixon
The day includes a delicious homemade simple lunch and some wonderful door prizes.
It will be a day of learning and discussion, an opportunity to talk with others, ask questions, and connect with local resources. This event is intended for anyone interested in better understanding how violence affects communities and what can be done, both individually and collectively, to reduce risk and respond more effectively.
Registration is required by Friday, March 20th and space is filling up fast:
The cost is: $35 (limited seating so register early).
To Register: email pweiland@rogers.com
To Pay: e-transfer to SOStreasurer35@gmail.com
or Mail: cheque (Southern Ontario Support society) to Pauline Weiland, 1101-75 York St. Kitchener N2G 1T5
We hope you will join us for a day of learning, conversation, and community awareness, and take part in a shared effort to better understand, reduce risk, and respond more effectively to violence in our communities.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Nancy Birss
President Southern Ontario Support society for Associated Country Women of the World
nbirss@uwaterloo.ca