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A Safe Place to Speak On November 4th, 1985, the Assaulted Women’s Helpline (AWHL) answered its first call. They answered an incredible 5,000 calls from across the GTA in their first year. Over one million calls later, AWHL has grown to serve women across the province and beyond. Home is supposed to be a safe space, but for victims of domestic abuse, it’s the most terrifying place to be. In Canada alone, one in four women has experienced domestic abuse. The issue has become so prevalent, in fact, that calls to the AWHL have increased by 86 percent in the past year. There is no easy way out of domestic abuse, but the AWHL is here to help. AWHL provides 24 hours a day, seven days a week telephone crisis line counselling, online counselling, safety planning, emotional support, information and referral in over 200 languages. Women call the Helpline for many reasons, including information, emotional
or psychological support, referrals, safety planning, or for emergency crisis help. The Helpline is often the first point of contact for abused women, especially those whose vulnerability is exacerbated by isolation, language barriers, or disability. Between April 202021, out of the 93,444 calls answered, 44 percent of callers were calling for the first time Domestic abuse is a complex issue with no easy solution; when people hear about cases of intimate partner violence, they ask the same question: “Why doesn’t she just leave?” Leaving an abusive relationship isn’t as simple as ‘just leaving.’ There are very often children in the home, financial repercussions to think about, many women are too scared to flee for fear of what their partners might do. Some women do not want to leave; they just want the abuse to stop. When a woman calls the Helpline, her call will be answered by a professional counsellor. Although each call is
unique, AWHL counsellors will ask questions to understand her situation better. Questions such as, are you in a safe location to speak? Can you tell me a little about your situation? What concerns do you have about your relationship? What have you considered at this point? Our counsellors are there to listen, support and help explore all options available. The pandemic has created unique challenges for those experiencing intimate partner violence and for those providing support services. As our communities gradually reopen and return to “normal,” the need for our services will only increase. AWHL will continue to provide a lifeline to thousands of women when they need it most. In many instances, a call to the Helpline can and does save a woman’s life and that of her children. If you would like to support our work, visit www.awhl.org/donate.
Rainbow Railroad is Doing Life-Saving Work A Pathway to Freedom, Supported by the TreadRight Foundation In a multicultural and diverse city like Toronto, sisters Kena and Sanchia fit right in. However, their journey to living freely hasn’t been easy. In their birth country of Barbados, one that discriminates based on sexual orientation, the last thing in the world Kena and Sanchia felt was accepted. Self-censorship was vital to their very survival. Like many members of the LGBTQI+ community, the burden of hiding their authentic selves was a heavy one to carry—one that loomed over them constantly and robbed them of their joy. “My sister, in our country, she never smiled,” explains Sanchia, looking at a photo of her and her sister the day after they landed in Canada, at Niagara Falls, with huge smiles on their faces. With tears in her eyes, Kena explains that she finally felt like she could be her true self once in Canada. There are currently more than 70 countries that criminalize homosexuality or legally discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In
these countries, LGBTQI+ people are routinely arrested, denied basic human rights, attacked and brutalized, and even murdered. Coming to Canada changed Kena and Sanchia’s lives forever, and for that, they credit Rainbow Railroad. The organization is providing safe passage and resettlement support to thousands of LGBTQI+ individuals, with a mission to help them escape persecution and violence and find safety in a new country where they can live freely. For many, the organization is a lifeline. “I feel safe within this community Rainbow Railroad offers me,” says Sanchia. Based in Toronto and New York and operating globally, Rainbow Railroad receives thousands of requests each year for assistance. This number increases consistently, with more than 5,000 requests received in 2021 alone, and is exacerbated by the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the refugee crisis, and increased crackdowns on LGBTQI+ individuals in countries like Uganda, Ghana,
and most recently, Afghanistan. Like Kena and Sanchia, many of these individuals faced dangerous and abusive home environments. Today, violence in family and domestic spaces committed against LGBTQI+ women remains at epidemic levels around the globe*. As an internationally recognized human rights leader, Rainbow Railroad has facilitated safe travel and resettlement for more than 1,500 LGBTQI+ individuals since 2006 through its core Emergency Travel Support program and has provided support to thousands more. The TreadRight Foundation, charitable arm of global travel provider the Travel Corporation (TTC) and a leader in the sustainable travel space, recently announced its partnership with Rainbow Railroad. TreadRight has funded more than 60 sustainable travel initiatives worldwide to date and, alongside TTC, shares with Rainbow Railroad a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and a more equitable
future for all. For The Travel Corporation and its family of 40 brands, including Contiki, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, and Red Carnation Hotels, increased diversity, equity, and inclusion is vital for both the communities visited and for travellers. TreadRight’s support will further Rainbow Railroad’s ability to help an increased number of persecuted LGBTQI+ individuals find safety, help enhance partnerships with organizations working on the ground to assist migrant and asylum seekers, and provide additional support to its beneficiaries through resources including accommodation, medical care, access to essential medicines and in-country relocation. “Rainbow Railroad was like that opening for me, like yeah, there’s hope for you. There’s hope for other people like you, you’re not alone,” says Kena. Rainbow Railroad is working
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hard to provide a pathway to freedom for those living in oppressive societies. We all deserve a life that is free from violence and hate. * Statistic sourced by Rainbow Railroad ADVERTORIAL
Prioritizing Pain: Fighting for Access to Care Chronic pain impacts millions of children and adults worldwide, impacting daily life, work activities, and mental health. And yet, chronic pain is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, leaving patients lost and without treatment options. One such condition is EhlersDanlos Syndromes (EDS), a group of rare and inherited conditions that affect connective tissue, which supports skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, internal organs, and bones. All too often, individuals living with EDS and chronic pain are misdiagnosed or undiagnosed for years and are forced to pay out of pocket for private health care. Even with a referral from their family physician or specialist, patients face skepticism of their pain and are rejected. Inspired by the heartbreaking journeys of young people who were diagnosed with EDS, the ILC Charitable Foundation (TheILC) has worked tirelessly to engage academia and the government on the critical need
to address gaps in our healthcare system for EDS patients. Over the last 12 years, TheILC has made incredible strides in increasing the recognition and awareness of EDS, leading to more people with EDS being correctly diagnosed and treated. However, even with these wins, TheILC knows its mission is far from complete. The lack of access to specialized healthcare in neurosurgery leaves many patients suffering, with no place to turn. “EDS affects someone that I care about very much. What I like most about these conferences is that for many years doctors didn’t know what she had, didn’t know how to help her even if they did know what she had and with these conferences, she can get together with people that go through the same thing as her, and it’s a very helpful experience for everybody.”—Tom, TheILC supporter There are many types of EDS, and symptoms can include hyper-extensibility of the skin, hypermobility of the joints, and
EDS patients in Ontario and Canada are not looking for miracles—they’re trying to improve their quality of life. Their measure of success in treatment is being able to perform daily tasks like writing and walking on their own, time spent with family, and not feeling anchored by the weight of their pain. “I’d like to express to the patient population that no matter how hard the battle gets, no matter how often your pain is dismissed, please never give up.”—Denise, patient DR. MACLEOD SPEAKING AT CONFERENCE © COURTESY OF THE ILC FOUNDATION
tissue fragility. EDS can affect people of all ages in different ways. For some, the condition is relatively mild, while for others, their symptoms can be disabling. Some of the rare, severe types can be life-threatening. Patients with EDS experience a lifetime of physical challenges—including chronic pain, fatigue, neurological deficits like bladder control, and other
related issues—which impact their mental health. Because of the immense challenges that come with this condition, advocating for hereditary EDS and other chronic pain diseases through public education campaigns and resources, wellness support, patient networks, government and stakeholder relations, and research to find cures is essential.
TheILC is committed to forging a future where Canadians living with EDS can access timely care and treatments they require from specialists, including neurosurgeons, without having to travel out of the province or country. All Canadians deserve an efficient diagnosis and pain management process and access to leading experts here at home. With your support, these individuals can experience support, connection, and the care they need to thrive.
IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS WITH BIG IMPACT With your help, individuals can experience validation, connection, and support! Aid in these connections by donating at www.TheILCFoundation.org
