By Susan Clairmont, Spectator Columnist, May 6, 2020.

He said he hoped COVID-19 would kill her.

Then he wouldn’t have to do it.

This is a real story from the front lines of the domestic violence crisis building momentum in our community.

Violence against women statistics show we’re moving in the wrong direction

February is our city's Be More Than A Bystander month, a month to raise awareness of the importance of standing up and speaking out against violence against women and girls and all forms of gender-based violence. 

This winter, Interval House of Hamilton (IHOH) is looking for participants to sign up for the Season of Hope Corporate Challenge in support of their emergency shelter and community programs. The Season of Hope Corporate Challenge invites companies to register their team to raise money for Hamilton women with or without children who are fleeing abuse, violence or human trafficking. This campaign aims to bring awareness to the services that Interval House of Hamilton provides throughout the year. 

HAMILTON, Ont. – October 11, 2019 – November is women’s abuse awareness month, and Hamiltonians and visitors can show their support by purchasing a coffee and a sweet treat from participating local businesses. From October 15-November 30, a portion of proceeds from the sale of specialty products will go towards helping Interval House of Hamilton; a local shelter that provides accommodation and support services to women who have experienced abuse or violence.

by Julie S. Lalonde Updated Mar 5, 2019
A woman was murdered every 2.5 days last year in Canada.This is just one of the many startling statistics contained in the first report issued by the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability, an organization that was established in 2017 as a response to a call from the United Nations to monitor femicide rates around the world. The goal of this yearly report is to draw attention to the unique circumstances surrounding femicide in the hopes of preventing further violence.

It’s a walkway that for thousands of women and many children has been a path to safety. But the bricks in the front entranceway at Interval House on the west Mountain have begun to crumble and decay. “They’re from the original build,” said Interval House executive director Nancy Smith. The west Mountain women’s shelter opened in 1998 after moving up to that location from the east end, and the non-profit organization is looking to raise $175,000 for a new walkway and other improvements through its Steps to Safety campaign that began recently.