The event was not to make a fashion statement.
It was to deliver a powerful message.
Participants at Saturday's fundraiser for the Women & Children's Shelter of Barrie (WCSB) wore red heels or something red to raise funds and awareness about gender-based violence.
Red is symbolic, according to the shelter's executive director Teresa MacLennan.
"It's important for men to understand what it is like for women. We have to navigate through the world differently from men. When we're walking, we carry our keys in our hand. We don't go out late at night, and we don't go in alleys. We don't go in parking garages. "
MacLennan says men must stand up and acknowledge they have a responsibility to end violence against women.
"Violence against women is not a women's issue, it's a community issue."
For over four decades, the Women and Children's Shelter of Barrie has been providing a safe place for those fleeing gender-based violence, but the organization offers more than a roof over someone's head. There is group and individual counselling, court support, legal information and support, and referrals to other community and social services.
"We're only supposed to offer 27 beds, but we run closer to 35," says MacLennan.
Last year, the WCSB referred over 650 women and children to other shelters because they were at capacity.
MacLennan says it's more difficult to raise the funds the shelter needs, especially in the current financial climate. The spillover effect is also evident in the duration of time women and children spend at the shelter. Instead of six weeks, MacLennan says it's more like six months because of a lack of safe and affordable housing.
To address overcapacity, the organization has a transitional housing initiative to move women and their children out of the shelter and into other spaces. The WCSB currently has two transitional locations, and they are working on a plan to have two more. Those two locations will be able to provide support to eight women and up to 20 children.
MacLennan says they have received no funding for this initiative. The campaign is fundraising from the local business community and seeking donated labour and materials to do the build.
The shelter does receive provincial government dollars, but to keep the doors open, the rallying cry goes out to the community year after year. To maintain services, the WCSB needs to raise around $500,000 annually, and building two new transitional homes will require at least $1.5 million.
Saturday's fundraiser on Barrie's waterfront set a target of $60,000.
More information can be found here: https://barrieshelter.com/
