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'It is crucial for women in a strong position to speak to the younger generation'

International Women's Day on March 8 will be a busy one for the Women's and Children's Shelter of Barrie

The Women and Children’s Shelter of Barrie is getting ready for a big International Women’s Day while still continuing the work they do for some of those who need help the most.

For over 30 years, the Barrie facility has been has been serving some of the most vulnerable in the community as they flee from abusive homes and situations.

Kelly Letourneau, the shelter’s development manager, tells BarrieToday they are always hard at work trying to fund-raise and bring awareness to what they do as the shelter often exceeds capacity.

“We are a 27-bed facility and we are only partially funded by the government, so we still have to raise $350,000 to $400,000 a year just to keep the lights on,” said Letourneau. “We are partially funded for 27 people, but we are always over capacity and, even right now, have 35 women in the shelter along with their children.”

With International Women’s Day on March 8 quickly approaching, the shelter is going to have a full day of events ready to celebrate, beginning with a 9:30 a.m. flag raising at city hall which will be followed by a Be Bold For Change Empowerment luncheon at 11:45 a.m. at Ferndale Banquet Hall.

The day will conclude with a rally that will begin at city hall at 4:30 p.m. and take to the streets of Barrie for a march.

Letourneau says she wants women and men to come out and support the day and for everyone to be a strong voice for those who don’t feel they have one.

“This day is celebrated all over the world and we are going to have a full day planned for everyone to come out and celebrate women,” said Letourneau. “The luncheon is going to follow the theme of the day for us being Women Empowering Women, so we have Barrie Police Chief Kimberly Greenwood and Leanne Townsend, who is a strong advocate and lawyer in the violence against women sector speaking to those in attendance.

"We find it is crucial for women in a strong position to speak to the younger generation and be role models for all they have achieved," she added. "The other thing that is good and maybe bad, is our event has become so big that we will be marching on the streets instead of the sidewalk. It’s great that so many people attend to support, but at the end of the day we wish the march wasn’t needed and that people just stopped being abusive.”

Tickets to the empowerment luncheon on March 8 are $50 with more information on that event here, and the rally begins at city hall at 4:30 p.m. with the march starting at 5:30 p.m.