Women's Shelter, Saakaate House

06/21/2026

Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day! Celebrated each year on the summer solstice, is a time to honour the languages, teachings, traditions, and cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Turtle Island.

As Grandfather Sun shines longest and brightest today, we hope you are feeling energized and ready for a fresh start to the season.

06/21/2026

On this National Indigenous Peoples Day, Saakaate House Inc. respectfully acknowledges that we live and work on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe Peoples within Treaty No. 3 territory. We honour the deep and enduring connections that First Nations have with these lands and waters and recognize the strength, wisdom, cultures, languages, and traditions that continue to thrive today.

As an organization dedicated to supporting women and families impacted by violence, we believe that every person deserves to live in safety, dignity, and hope. We stand in solidarity with Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit people, their families, and their communities in the ongoing call to end violence and to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People.

We also affirm our support for Indigenous Peoples in their pursuit of self-determination, the recognition of their rights, and the fair resolution of land claims. We recognize that advancing reconciliation requires meaningful action, respectful partnerships, and a commitment to listening and learning.

Today, we celebrate the resilience, leadership, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples and extend our heartfelt wishes to all those marking National Indigenous Peoples Day. May this day be one of pride, celebration, and connection to culture, language, community, and the generations yet to come.

06/20/2026

BREAKING: Together, we changed the law for animals! 🎉
Bill C-16 received Royal Assent last night, strengthening protections for animals harmed as part of interpersonal violence and criminalizing the distribution of animal sexual abuse images. Humane Canada has been working toward this moment for years, and you helped make it happen.

Thank you to everyone who spoke up and to Justice Canada and Minister Fraser for championing this historic legislation.

This victory belongs to every supporter who showed up for animals. 🐾

06/19/2026

Yesterday, the Protecting Victims Act received Royal Assent. It contains consequential reforms, including to the Criminal Code, to strengthen victims’ rights and protect kids.

Most of the changes take effect in 30 days and will help:

➡️ prevent intimate partner violence and femicide
➡️ keep children safe from sexual exploitation and predators
➡️ increase trust in the criminal justice system

Read about the changes: https://ow.ly/xjeb50ZeKCQ and https://ow.ly/IitH50ZeKCS

06/18/2026

Tonight, Women’s Shelter, Saakaate House proudly hosts our Annual General Meeting, and we’re excited to share our 2025–2026 Annual Report with the community.

Behind every page is a story of courage, compassion, and the collective impact of people who believe that women and families deserve safety, support, and hope. From the individuals we serve to the partnerships that strengthen our work, this report reflects what we can accomplish together.

We invite you to take a few moments to read our Annual Report and learn more about the programs, milestones, and community support that make this work possible. Your interest, advocacy, and continued support help build a stronger, safer future for everyone.

Thank you for being part of the WSSH community. Together, we are creating meaningful change—one story, one family, and one act of support at a time.

06/17/2026

Ottawa Police officers have been targeting women using their internal databases and messaging vulnerable victims of crimes in an attempt to develop intimate relationships. There have also been reports of members making sexually themed comments directly to women in the service in the workplace.

This is not a new issue, nor one isolated to the Ottawa police force.

Our Executive Director Marissa Kokkoros will be on CTV Your Morning Ottawa on June 18 at 7:15AM to discuss this issue, and what it means to our public safety.

Tune in and join the conversation!

06/15/2026

🌧️✨ Thank you to everyone who attended the Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan Annual Open House last week! 🎉 Despite the stormy weather, we had an amazing turnout. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions about the CSWB Plan and raised their concerns and questions. 🙌💬

✨A special shout-out to our partners for showcasing their contributions to the CSWB Plan, and a huge thank you to Fizz & Cream Co. Dirty Soda Shop🥤for the delicious drinks!

👣🌐Moving forward, you can stay up to date by visiting our Progress Dashboard at https://www.kenora.ca/your-government/plans-studies-and-reports/community-safety-and-well-being-plan/community-safety-and-well-being-plan-progress-dashboard/

👥📅You may also wish to attend a CSWB Plan Implementation Committee meeting. The next meeting is Friday, June 19, at 10 a.m. at the Operations Building in the Training Room.

06/14/2026

WSSH would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Women’s Walleye Tournament for their generous donation and commitment to supporting women and families in our community.

When events like this choose to give back to community services, they strengthen the very foundation of what makes a community thrive—people caring for people. Your support helps ensure that women and families facing difficult circumstances have access to safety, support, and hope when they need it most.

Thank you for demonstrating the true spirit of community and for helping us continue this important work.

06/14/2026

Always a privilege to be invited to share a few words at community events. Thanks to Kendall and Vic at WSSH for inviting us to offer opening remarks at your 40th anniversary event!

While 40 years is certainly a milestone worth recognizing, it is also a sobering reminder of the ongoing need for places like Saakaate House. For decades, this organization has been an essential source of safety and support in the Kenora and Treaty 3 area, offering not only emergency shelter and 24-hour support, but also compassion, dignity, confidentiality, and the ability for women to make informed choices about their futures.

Safety for women and families is never built by one organization alone. It is woven from the countless choices a community makes every day. It lives in the neighbour who notices, the employer who believes, the friend who listens without judgment, and the bystander who speaks up rather than looks away. When a community decides that every person deserves to feel secure in their own home and on their own streets, that conviction becomes a kind of shelter in itself - one that surrounds and strengthens the work of places like Saakaate House. Forty years of this organization’s service is also forty years of this community saying, clearly and consistently, that the safety of women and families belongs to all of us.

Thank you to Saakaate’s team, past and present for being a safe place to land and for your constant efforts to create a world where women are empowered to thrive.

06/14/2026