SAFE and Partners Brief Ontario Minister on GBV Program Impact and Community Needs

Lorraine Rollo, Chair of the SAFE Committee, and SAFE Board President Liza Rodrigues had the honour of meeting with Associate Minister Charmaine Williams, Ontario’s Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, during a recent engagement hosted by Achēv, the organization behind the Stronger Together: Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Support initiative. Achēv is a community-based organization that delivers a wide range of employment, newcomer settlement, youth, and gender-based violence support services across the Greater Toronto Area.

Stronger Together is an Achēv-led initiative designed to provide trauma-informed counselling, prevention training, and wraparound supports to women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals who have experienced or are at risk of gender-based violence. SAFE – Survivor Advocates for Empowerment – is a proud partner in this work, alongside Pride at Work Canada, which champions 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in workplaces through education, training, and thought leadership.

SAFE and Pride at Work meets Ontario Minister Charmaine Williams

Together, representatives from all three partners — Achēv, SAFE, and Pride at Work — provided Minister Williams with a comprehensive update on the program’s impact to date, its alignment with the government’s priorities, and the ongoing challenges faced by the communities we serve. The Minister responded with deep empathy and compassion, commended the collaborative successes of the partners, and offered practical, solutions-oriented advice.

The financial support provided through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services reflects the government’s responsibility to invest in programs that address gender-based violence and support survivors. This initiative directly benefits Ontario residents and aligns with the province’s broader commitment to equity, safety, and empowerment.

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