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Who We Are Who We AreMETRAC is a not-for-profit, community-based organization that works to ensure women, youth, and children live free from all forms of violence and the threat or fear of violence. We address the distinct realities of women within and among diverse communities. METRAC's programs seek to prevent and end all individual, institutional and systemic forms of violence. We work collaboratively with a broad range of partners to develop strategies to end violence against women and build safer communities for everyone. Our Programs and ServicesMETRAC has three main program areas: Please note: METRAC does not provide counselling or legal advice. You may visit our Community Services page to find contact information for direct community services. METRAC also has a small Resource Centre, home to hundreds of written mateirals including books, articles, research, reports, statistics, legal information, periodicals, and video and audio tapes. There is a mix of academic, legal, and community publications. Topics include family violence, partner abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual harassment, stalking/criminal harassment, sexual assault, the legal system, urban design and women's safety, discrimination and oppression, school violence, and the media. The Resource Centre is non-lending (photocopying is available at 10 cents per page). It is a smoke and scent-free environment, and a television and VCR are available for viewing videos. Metered street parking and bicycle parking are also available. Women with children are welcome. We regret that METRAC does not have barrier-free access at this time; however, we are committed to making our resources accessible. Please call us for details and to book a time to visit. How We Got StartedMETRAC’s beginnings date back to the summer of 1982 when there were a number of brutal sexual assaults and murders of women in Toronto. A group of Toronto women organized themselves as "The Toronto Pink Ribbon Committee" to demand that something be done to stop the violence. This Committee approached then-Metro Toronto Chair, Paul Godfrey, who, acting on their suggestions and in collaboration with the Metropolitan Toronto Board of Commissioners of Police, established a task force to examine issues related to public violence against women and children. The Task Force worked with the cooperation of Metro Toronto staff and council members, more than 80 individual community volunteers, local experts and community and service agencies. The Final Report released in March 1984 listed recommendations including one that the Metropolitan Toronto Council appoint a body to act as an implementation committee for the Task Force to ensure that its recommendations would be acted upon. Out of this collaborative process with police, government bodies, community agencies, support services and individuals, the "Metro Action Committee on Public Violence Against Women and Children" was established to address violence against women and children in Toronto. A ten-member Board of Directors was appointed, headed by Toronto lawyer and then-Police Commissioner Jane Pepino. 25 years later, METRAC has developed and grown, and continues in its work as a catalyst for change. 25th Anniversary MessageThis year marks METRAC’s twenty-fifth anniversary as an organization. It’s hard to believe that we’ve been working to end violence against diverse women, youth, and children for a quarter of a century in Toronto, Ontario, and beyond. We have had many wonderful accomplishments through our innovative programs, and there is still so much that we can do to work together to address this issue. As we celebrate this milestone, we would like to extend our sincerest thanks to all those who have supported the organization throughout the years – our founders and past and current staff, Board, members, volunteers, donors, funders, and community partners. The success of an organization is directly related to the passion and dedication of those who contribute to it. Your defining influence has allowed METRAC to become the effective organization it is today. And we believe that things are only going to get better. Only a surface investigation of research, reports, and statistics demonstrates that violence against women, youth, and children is still a serious problem in our neighbourhoods, schools, institutions, workplaces, and homes. There is a long way to go. In following the lead of our diverse communities and supporting strengths and knowledge that exist within them, METRAC will continue to strive to make a positive difference. And we’ll press on to the day that this organization and other violence prevention services will not have to exist. Here’s to the struggles and victories of last twenty-five years and to a world that is safer for women, youth, and children, safer for everyone. Wendy Komiotis |
| © METRAC 2006 158 Spadina Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 2T8 Phone: 416-392-3135/ 416-392-3031 (TTY) | 1-877-558-5570 info@metrac.org Last Update: 12/03/09 |
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