When Alex Hilson was first elected to Halton Hills Town Council, one of his first official invitations was to view a Purple Bench at Dominion Gardens in Georgetown to remember Darian Henderson-Bellman, a young woman who was allegedly killed by her boyfriend in 2020. Another Purple Bench was later planted in Acton to remember victims of intimate partner and domestic violence. Alex says, “Fighting intimate partner violence is an issue that I’m very passionate about. I’m often approached by people who confide in me about their experiences with domestic abuse.”
Aditee Goswami is a Therapeutic Art instructor in Georgetown who treats children who have been traumatized by incidents of domestic violence at home. Women often reach out to Aditee before they call the police because they feel safe with her. Aditee says, “With my years of experience working with domestic abuse victims, I understand the uncertainty and helplessness that comes with not knowing what the future holds. Sadly, many victims lack a support system to turn to for help.”
Halton Women’s Place
Halton Women’s Place offers an extensive support system to women and help is only a phone call away. Carm Bozzo, Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement at Halton Women’s Place says, “Halton Women’s Place is a lifeline for domestic abuse survivors in North Halton and we want women to know more about our programs and services. We want women to know that they can come forward and there are options.”
Halton Women’s Place does have an emergency shelter, but it also offers wide range of other services which include,
- 24/7 Crisis Information Line at (905) 878-8555
- Online resource chat here
- Counsellors in the community
- Self-care workshops
- Transitional housing
- Next Steps Safety Plan
Halton Women’s Place counsellors understand the complexities of intimate partner violence and offer compassionate and confidential assistance to help women rebuild their lives.
There is a growing need for these services in North Halton. Carm says, “Over the past few years, the Halton Regional Police Service has been reporting an increase in domestic assault related calls in North Halton. We know there is a need to get more information to women, but also to companies who may be able to support our shelter.” Halton Region is one of numerous municipalities in Ontario that have declared intimate partner violence an epidemic.
“Hope in Every Step” Awareness Walk
When they met at a community event, both Aditee Goswami and Alex Hilson realized they had a shared passion to fight intimate partner violence. They wanted to bring Halton Women’s Place signature walk event to North Halton. Aditee says, “We decided to organize a Hope in Every Step Awareness Walk in Georgetown aimed at supporting those enduring challenges in their domestic lives. It would be similar to the Hope in Every Step Walks organized by Halton Women’s Place in Burlington and Milton.”
Carm says, “Halton Women’s Place would love to see people come out on Sunday, September 15th. We are thrilled that Aditee and Alex are making a positive impact in their community.”
“Hope in Every Step” Walk Day
On Sunday, September 15th Alex Hilson and Aditee will lead “Hope in Every Step” participants through downtown Georgetown. The walk begins at 3pm at Georgetown Chevrolet and then heads north on Guelph Street to end at Floor Diva. As supporters march, they will be visible as they deliver their messages of support for Halton Women’s Place.
Although registration is free, donations are welcomed. Participants are being asked to register at by clicking this link at justgiving.com to give organizers have an idea of how many people to expect.
Halton Women’s Place will be hosting its own “Hope in Every Step” walk in Burlington on November 2nd. For more information, visit the website here.
Awareness is empowerment
Participants are encouraged to wear their most comfortable shoes on September 15th as they take meaningful steps toward making the community aware of Halton Women’s Place and efforts to end violence against women. “Hope in Every Step” will help people realize that they are not alone. The more women know about the support at Halton Women’s Place, the more likely they are to reach out and take that first, crucial step toward reclaiming their lives.
To participate in the Halton Hills “Hope in Every Step” Walk visit the website.
If you need to seek the help of Halton Women’s Place call the 24-hour crisis lines at (905) 332-7892 or (905) 878-8555 or Chat Online.
