Haldimand & Norfolk Women's Services

10/21/2026

October 19 to 25, 2026, we recognize YWCA Canada Week Without Violence, part of an international movement bringing communities together to take action toward ending gender-based violence.

In 2026, the campaign is highlighting the experiences of young people impacted by intimate partner violence, sexual violence, grooming and exploitation, and the importance of including youth voices in prevention, healing and change.

At Haldimand & Norfolk Women’s Services, prevention is an important part of our work. Through education, advocacy and programs for children and youth, we create opportunities to learn about empathy, healthy relationships, boundaries, consent, emotional safety and respect.

Prevention also means believing survivors, recognizing abuse, challenging harmful attitudes and addressing the inequalities that allow gender-based violence to continue.

A world without violence is not built in one week. It is built through what we choose to teach, challenge, support and change every day.

10/08/2026

🌟 We’re at the Norfolk County Fair today! 🌟

Stop by the Haldimand & Norfolk Women’s Services (HNWS) booth in the Commercial Building and say hello!

Meet members of the HNWS team, learn more about our programs and services, pick up information and community resources, and find out more about the work we do in our community.

Whether you already know HNWS or are learning about us for the first time, we would love for you to stop by and say hello!

A special thank you to Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce for making this opportunity possible and supporting our connection with the community!

📍 Commercial Building, Norfolk County Fair, Simcoe Fairgrounds

🕙 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. today

See you at the fair!

10/05/2026

They are not forgotten.

Every October 4th, Sisters in Spirit Vigils are held across Turtle Island to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people (MMIWG2S+). Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people experience disproportionately high rates of femicide, gender-based violence and violence across Ontario and Canada.

We stand in solidarity with families, survivors, Indigenous-led organizations, voices and communities calling for safety, justice and meaningful change.

Learn more- Native Women's Association of Canada
nwac.ca/support-donors/sisters-in-spirit-vigils

Learning Resources, Reports, Calls to Action and info on Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA)'s MMIWG2S+ Commemorative Art Project:
www.onwa.ca/learning-resources-mmiwg

Femicide in Ontario- Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses
www.oaith.ca/campaigns/femicide-reports

“As the bearers of the future generations of our peoples, Indigenous women, mothers, are physically and symbolically the source of resistance against those who would see us disappear.” – Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard, ONWA.

10/03/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Simcoe Optometric Clinic for hosting a HNWS Tip Tap campaign machine throughout the month of October!

From now until the end of the month, visitors can support HNWS programs by making a quick and easy $5 donation through the Tip Tap device located at the at Simcoe Optometric.

Community partnerships like this help us continue providing critical services and support to those affected by gender-based violence in Haldimand and Norfolk, including safe shelter, counselling, transitional supports, and community education.

Thank you to the team at Simcoe Optometric for your generosity, community spirit, and commitment to making a difference. 💜

If you're visiting Simcoe Optometric this month, consider tapping to give and helping create safer futures for survivors of violence in H&N.

10/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at the Expo in Delhi last night.

This event brought together local health professionals, community organizations, businesses, and resources dedicated to supporting women's health and well-being at every stage of life. It was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the unique health needs and experiences of women while connecting community members with valuable services and supports.

We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with our community, share the work of HNWS, and be part of an event that brought local partners together in support of women and families.

A special thank you to the organizers and all of the exhibitors, partners, and attendees who helped make the evening a success. 💜

10/01/2026

LOCAL BUSINESSES, WE’D LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU 💜

Would your business, salon, or organization consider hosting an HNWS $5 Tip Tap machine?

A simple tap can help support women, children, and families in our community who are experiencing or have experienced gender-based violence.

At Haldimand & Norfolk Women’s Services, we provide free and voluntary programs that offer safety, counselling, advocacy, support, and resources to help people move toward healing, independence, and a life free from violence.

Your business can be part of that community of support.

Every $5 donation helps strengthen the programs and services HNWS provides across Haldimand and Norfolk. Together, small acts of support can help create a community where everyone has the opportunity to live with safety and security.

Contact us to sign up to host the Tip Tap Machine for one month.

We’d love to hear from you. 💜

Contact: [email protected]

09/30/2026

September 30th is a day to remember the children who never came home, honour survivors of residential schools, their families, and their communities, and recognize the ongoing impacts of these institutions that continue to be felt across generations.

At Haldimand & Norfolk Women's Services, we recognize that safety, dignity, healing, and freedom from violence cannot be separated from the work of truth and reconciliation. The impacts of colonialism, systemic discrimination, and intergenerational trauma continue to affect Indigenous women, children, families, and communities today.

Today, we pause to:
-Listen to the voices and experiences of Survivors and Indigenous communities.
- Learn about the history and lasting legacy of residential schools.
- Reflect on our individual and collective responsibilities.
- Act by supporting Indigenous-led organizations, initiatives, and calls for justice and reconciliation.
Wear orange. Learn from Indigenous voices. Support Indigenous-led work. Have conversations that move awareness into action.
Reconciliation is not a single day of recognition. It is an ongoing commitment to truth, respect, accountability, and meaningful change.

Every Child Matters. Today and every day.

Orangeshirtday.org

09/24/2026

What a night!

On behalf of everyone at HNWS, thank you to every guest, sponsor, supporter, volunteer, donor and community partner who joined us for our annual Farm to Table Dinner Fundraiser last week.

Because of your generosity, this event was not only a beautiful celebration of community, local food, and connection, but also a meaningful investment in safety, support, and hope for women and children across our rural communities.

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and supporters, Karen Matthews for guiding us through the evening, every local producer and business who helped bring the event to life, the volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and every attendee who chose to spend their evening supporting this important work.

We were honoured to share Catherine's story and to be reminded of the impact that compassionate, specialized support can have on a person's life. Your support helps ensure those services remain available when they are needed most.

Thank you for believing in our mission and for standing with survivors. Together, we are building safer, stronger communities.

We can't wait to see you again next year!

With appreciation to our generous event sponsors and supporters: 💜

Event Sponsors:
Edward Jones Women & Wealth
Del-Bac Services- Simcoe
Ontario West Insurance Brokers
BC Appraisals

Event Supporters:
Cranberry Creek Gardens
Devlin's Country Bistro
Creekside Growers
Valley Event Rentals
Sam's Place Farm Market

The Treeline GIRLS Power Camp Cut it Out Haldimand & Norfolk

09/10/2026

It's that time again! 🍂

Last year, we hosted our very first Farm to Table Dinner Fundraiser at Cranberry Creek Gardens, featuring an incredible meal prepared by Devlin's Country Bistro.

The event was a sold-out, magical evening that brought friends, supporters, and community members together for a memorable night in support of a meaningful cause: our community's only dedicated gender-based violence service and shelter.

This year's event promises another unforgettable experience with a delicious farm-to-table meal, a beautiful outdoor setting, and live music by The Treeline to set the perfect fall atmosphere.

If you haven't purchased your tickets for next Thursday's event, there's still time!

Join us for an evening of fresh local food, great company, and community spirit while helping support critical services for those experiencing gender-based violence and their children.

🎟️ Get your tickets here: bit.ly/FarmtoTable2026

We can't wait to see you there!



Thank you to our sponsors- ,

09/10/2026

Make a difference in your community!
HNWS is seeking to fill two positions on our Board of Directors.
As the only gender-based violence shelter serving Haldimand and Norfolk, HNWS provides much more than a safe place to stay. Our services include counselling, outreach, children's programming, prevention education, system navigation support and a Grade 8 girls empowerment camp.
We are looking for passionate, community-minded individuals who want to help guide and strengthen our mission of supporting survivors of gender-based violence and their children.

Board meetings are held monthly in the evening and are typically virtual.
Learn more about our work and apply today: hnws.on.ca/board-of-directors-application