Women's Habitat Announces New Executive Director
November 22, 2011 - Women's Habitat's Board of Directors would like to announce the hiring of Ms. Silvia Samsa as its new Executive Director.

Ms. Samsa was formerly the Manager of the YWCA Arise Shelter. She brings more than fifteen years' experience in middle and senior management in the non-profit sector, working primarily with women and children fleeing violence. Silvia is a long-standing and well-respected advocate in Toronto for women's and children's issues.

Deborah Templer, Board Presidents says, "This is an exciting time for Women's Habitat. I believe that we are going to be stronger than ever heading into the New Year with Silvia's leadership and our exceptional team of managers and staff."

To see the full media release please click here

The holidays are fast approaching...
With the help of the community, Women's Habitat has been able to make the holidays a little bit brighter for women and their children fleeing violence. For many years, we have run the Holiday Hamper program, providing gifts, toys, gift cards and food to hundreds of women and their children rebuilding their lives.

This year, thanks to The Old Mill Inn and Spa, women will celebrate the holidays in style. Our Holiday Hamper program will be organized and run at the Inn, and the woman will enjoy special holiday tea and treats, compliments of The Old Mill Inn and Spa.

Last year, more than 225 families participated in our Holiday Hamper program.

For more information or questions, contact Ursula Krubnik at ukrubnik@womens-habitat.ca or call 416-252-7949 x 230.

Thank you to the Junior League
Women's Habitat would like to thank The Junior League of Toronto for allowing us to be part of its 7th annual Tea for Teens on Tuesday November 22nd. We appreciate their continued support of our teenage clients - often forgotten about during the holidays.

For more information about the Junior League, please visit www.jlt.org

Samko can turn toys into money for Women's Habitat
From November 30 to December 4 to December 7-11 if you shop at the new Samko and Miko Toy Warehouse, 10% of your purchase (before taxes) will be donated to Women's Habitat.

Here's how:

• Shop at Samko and Miko Toy Warehouse.
• Have your sales slips stamped "Fundraising" by the cashier.
• Send your original receipts to Women's Habitat (mail to 140 Islington Avenue, Etobicoke, ON M8V 3B6). Samko does not do refunds or exchange as it is a warehouse.

The Samko and Mike toy warehouse is located at 77 Fima Crescent (just south of the QEW and Hwy. 427) and carries thousands of brand name toys and books (Mattel, Playskool, Little Tykes, Barbie, Bratz, Leap Frog, Fisher Price and more).Samko and Miko Toy Warehouse phone number is 416-532-1114.

For more information or questions, contact Ursula Krubnik at ukrubnik@womens-habitat.ca or call 416-252-7949 x 230.

Thank you to Ernie Thorne and the rest of the Toronto Firefighters for supporting Women's Habitat again this year at their annual golf tournament. Ursula Krubnik, our Community Relations Co-ordinator accepted a cheque on from Ernie on behalf of the Firefighters for close to $8,000.

In June, we were honoured to receive the Urban Hero Award, presented by Toronto Community News. The award is given annually to local groups whose contributions have made a significant impact for a cause, person or group in Etobicoke. We will continue to work to keep the issue of violence against women in the forefront of people's minds.

Thank you Lowe's Etobicoke Women's Habitat was present for the grand opening of the newest Lowe's store at 1604 The Queensway. Thanks to a generous donation from Lowe's, Women's Habitat will be able to upgrade the childminding room and reception area. Thanks Lowe's!

Thank you to the Finance Team from Diageo and Atripco delivery service, we received some much-needed office furniture for our new space at 140 Islington Avenue. Diageo is always there to lend us a hand, whether it's gardening, pulling together donations, or painting. We appreciate their continued support. Atripco has helped us with many deliveries in the past, free of charge. Thank you to both companies.

	Thank you to Storage Mart, located at 680 Kipling Avenue. They have generously donated the use of a storage unit to us for 2011. www.canada.storage-mart.com It allows us to accept large donations of items that we do not have room for at our shelter or outreach locations. Currently, the unit is being used to store a large donation of diapers from Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com)

Bringing life to a dreary building
Thanks to mural artist Stephen Carroll, our outreach building has a fresh look. We asked for something bright, with an uplifting feel, and he certainly delivered! Stephen Carroll was born and raised in Toronto. As a teenager Carroll began painting Graffiti illegally; a practice he no longer maintains. Carroll has taken a leave of absence from Ryerson's Masters of Fine Arts in Documentary Media until next May in order to produce a documentary. He is also employed as an occasional teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

A year in review
Throughout the year, the women and children who use our services are able to go on outings and participate in fun activities because of the generosity of our donors.

Girlz Space:
Throughout the year, fundraised money is used to support our after-school program and allow the girls to participate in things that they would not normally get to do. At our Girls' Night Out event, money was collected for a trip to Canada's Wonderland. The girls had an amazing time.

Other activities and trips throughout the year include: skating at Nathan Phillips Square; Wild Water Kingdom; the ROM; the Science Centre and the movies. Click here for more information about Girlz Space.

Parent/Child Drop-In:
Perhaps the biggest excitement for this group was a trip to Centre Island.

Letter received from a woman who attended trip: "The visit to Centreville for my son and I was very exciting and adventurous. We enjoyed every moment of it. I haven't had so much fun since I was a child. I have been in Canada for the past two years and have never been taken out to places like this. For me, it meant a lot. I was overwhelmed with joy. I went on all of the rides with the kids. I am very thankful that my child and I were given this opportunity." Nickela. Click here for more information about Parent/Child Drop-In.

Kids from Women's Habitat are entertained
Kids (and their Moms) have been able to enjoy free tickets to some exciting events recently, including tickets to High School Musical, through the generosity of the Kids Up Front Foundation. The kids also enjoyed two Toronto Raptors games last season.

Across Canada, Kids Up Front creates fun and new experiences for kids, by forwarding unused tickets from individuals or corporations to charities.

Tickets like these are not affordable for the women and children who use our services. And they are a great break for the stressors of everyday life.

How our garden grows...
For the past two years, with assistance from the City of Toronto's Live Green Grant, Women's Habitat clients has planted and tended a community garden at the Daily Bread Food Bank. This is a great opportunity for us - not only does is allow our clients to have affordable vegetables in the summer, it teaches a great lesson in sustainability.

We used volunteer teams to till it in the spring; staff, clients and students to tend it in the summer, and now that it's fall, we've harvested from it and used it to cook healthy food for our groups.

The list of what we harvested is quite long! It includes green beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, leeks, lettuce, melon, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, radishes, sunflowers, Swiss chard, zucchini, chives, thyme, basil, peppermint, parsley and oregano.

We look forward to this year's planting season. - Click here to see some photos.