In what has become a annual holiday tradition of generosity, Peterborough philanthropists David and Patricia Morton have once again donated $50,000 in support of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s services for women and children experiencing gender-based violence in Haliburton County.
This is the fourth straight year the Morton Family Foundation has made a $50,000 donation to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton for services in Haliburton County, with the first donation being made at the height of the pandemic when violence against women increased, especially during lockdowns.
YWCA Peterborough Haliburton operates both the Women’s Centre in Haliburton County and Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace (HERS).
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued leadership shown by the Morton Family Foundation in the Haliburton County community,” says Kim Dolan, executive director of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, in a media release. “Patricia and David’s ongoing generosity is a testament to their commitment to supporting the YWCA’s efforts to serve the rural women and children in Haliburton County, providing them with the resources and support they need to feel safe again.”
The media release notes that access to safe and reliable resources in rural communities is an ongoing problem. Since 2020, rural women in Haliburton County have reported far more serious and complex abuse. Like other women’s organizations across Ontario, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton faces heightened demand and increasing costs.
The Women’s Centre offers the resources women need to escape gender-based violence and find safer ways to move forward with their life, by providing access to transition supports including safe transportation, individual counselling, a family law lawyer, court support, and guidance.
HERS provides safe and supportive temporary accommodations for women with and without children fleeing abuse in Haliburton County, available on an as-needed basis and offering space for two families at a time so that women can move away from the abusive situation in their home without leaving their support systems, jobs and schools, families, and friends behind.
“David and I feel very fortunate to be able to continue to support the wonderful work of the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, because this work continues to be so essential to so many area women and children,” says Patricia Morton on behalf of the Morton Family Foundation. “And it is important to remember that both under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms and under the United Nations Charter, violence against women and children is a major and criminal violation of human rights.”
“However, shockingly this violence is actually on the increase throughout Canada especially against rural women, just as it is here and now against isolated rural women in Haliburton County, and likely in neighbouring rural counties as well. Thank goodness the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton is here to provide these women and their children with safe shelter at HERS and with vital services, to help these victims of violence move forward past the trauma and suffering, to strive to rebuild their lives and become brave survivors.”
The Mortons are well-known philanthropists in the Peterborough community. Along with having now donated $200,000 to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton over the past four years, the Mortons have made generous gifts to other organizations including Trent University, the Peterborough Humane Society, the United Way of Peterborough & District, and the Morton Community Healthcare Centre in Lakefield.
“As a man I find femicide and all forms of violence against women and children appalling,” says David Morton. “I will never understand why some — too many — men take out their anger, frustration, or whatever by inflicting physical and/or psychological violence on women and children.”
“However, we are grateful at least to be able to support the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton to provide essential help to the rural women of Haliburton County who are suffering from such appalling male violence, hopefully to be able to empower themselves.”
Members of the community who wish to donate or find ways of supporting YWCA services in Haliburton County can visit www.ywcahaliburton.org or contact the YWCA directly at 705-743-3526.
