Walk with Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region on Saturday, November 18th at 1:00 pm for Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence in recognition of Woman Abuse Prevention Month.
Step 1: Register!
Choose from Individual, Team or Corporate Participation
Step 2: Share Your Story!
Tell us why you’re walking and post on social media to help raise funds
and awareness
Step 3: Walk to Break the Silence
Join us Saturday, November 18th at 1:00pm
About the Event
This November, we invite you to join Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence. This 6 km walk is a time to reflect on and bring awareness to the increase of femicide. Join us in walking on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 1:00 pm to support women and children in Waterloo Region experiencing domestic violence. We will meet in Uptown Waterloo at 1:00 pm, walking to Carl Zehr Square and back. When we get back there will be snacks, speakers and more!
Every 6 days in Canada, a woman is killed by her intimate partner. Last year in Ontario there were 52 femicides in 52 weeks and in the first 30 weeks of 2023, there have been 30 femicides. We must continue raising awareness and funds to prevent these tragedies from happening.
Together, we can make an impact. We encourage you to get a team together, wear your best purple outfit, and join us on November 18, 2023, to show your support for women and children experiencing domestic violence.
Proceeds from the event help provide emergency shelter and outreach services to women and children moving beyond violence in Waterloo Region.
Quick Facts
- Every 6 days in Canada, a woman is killed by her intimate partner.
- There are approximately 82 domestic homicides in Canada each year.
- There were 30 femicides in the first 30 weeks of 2023.
- The group most at risk for domestic homicide is women ages 25-34.
- The killing of women and girls involving male accused in Canada increased by 27% in 2022 compared to 2019.
- There is an overrepresentation of femicide in rural and small town areas.
- Women are typically killed by someone known to them, most often an intimate partner or family member.
Event Race Kit
Check out our Race Kit for more information on how to crowdfund, fundraising tips and to learn about why we arere walking to break the silence.
Individual
Fundraise on your own! Create a personal fundraising page to share your story, set a goal and encourage your supporters. Connect with other participants walking for Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence by using #VoicesEmpower on social media.
Team
Recruit a team of friends and family to join you on the walk. Keep each other motivated by setting team goals for your fundraising and your fitness! Plus, enjoy a great day outside and get the whole family involved parents, kids and pets! We need YOU to help raise awareness for those experiencing domestic violence.
Corporate
Rally your coworkers for a team-building experience that you can do together (while social distancing of course!) by committing to all do 6km together. Ask coworkers for support in raising awareness and funds and post about your progress with #VoicesEmpower to be featured on our website
How to Participate
Join us in walking on November 18, 2023, at 1:00pm to support women and children in Waterloo Region experiencing domestic violence. All you need to do is create your fundraising page to get started. Sign up, collect pledges, wear your best purple outfit, and walk 6km to help break the silence and show support for women and children experiencing domestic violence. There’s no registration fees, or fundraising minimums — so please join us Saturday, November 18th! We cannot wait to come together as a community and show our support!
The walk will begin at 1:00pm in Uptown Square in Waterloo, we will then walk to Carl Zehr Square and return to Uptown Square. Don’t let the cold deter you – after the walk we will have heaters, hot paws and hot chocolate!
Contests & Giveaways
Early Registration Contest
Register as an Individual or as a Team and raise $100 by October 1st for a chance to win a WCSWR prize pack!
$250 Fundraising Prize
$500 Fundraiser Giveaway!
$1000 Fundraiser Giveaway!
Top Individual Fundraiser Giveaway!
Top Team Fundraiser Prize Pack
Stay tuned! Our top fundraising team will win a one of a kind group experience. We will share more details in the coming weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Participation
1. How do I participate in Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence?
To participate in Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence, all you need to do to get started is register online. Click on the registration section below to learn more about CanadaHelps and how to get started.
Your first step is to decide how you will be participating: on your own, as the captain of a team, or with your organization.
Important dates to remember:
- Register and raise $100 by October 1st for a chance to win the early registration prize
- Walk to Break the Silence: November 18th, 2023
Registration
1. How do I register for Voices Empower? What happens next?
It’s easy to register online today:
- Click ‘Register Now’ at the top of the page. You’ll be directed to our CanadaHelps Event page.
- Choose to ‘Join a Team’, ‘ Create a Team’, or ‘Join as an Individual’
- Complete the registration form to access your personal fundraising page and/or team fundraising page
Our CanadaHelps Event page is designed to enable you to have fundraising page for each team member to fundraise from their own networks, joined together as a team.
The team option when you join ensures that everyone involved in your walking group is able to manage their own personal fundraising page.
2. How do I join a team that already exists?
To join a team that is already registered, you will need to know the Team Name or the Team Captain’s Name to find them. From there, it’s simple:
- Click ‘Join a Team’ on the Homepage
- Or, search the Team Name or Team Captain’s Name on the Homepage
- Click the ‘Join this team’ button next to the correct search result
- Complete the registration form to access your personal fundraising page.
3. Is there a registration fee
There is no registration fee, or fundraising minimums to register for Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence. All participants are encouraged to create a personal fundraising goal and donate online via your personal fundraising page.
Fundraising
1. How do I fundraise? Is there a fundraising minimum?
Fundraising for Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence can be done from anywhere! There is no fundraising minimum required to participate. We are grateful for all your fundraising efforts and encourage you to share results throughout your experience.
2. What will you do with the funds that I raise?
All proceeds raised through Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence support women and children moving beyond violence in Waterloo Region.
Tips to Fundraise
1. I’ve never fundraised before, do you have any tips?
It all starts with an ask! If your close friends and family know a cause is important to you, then they are likely to donate! Mention your fundraising page at your next family dinner or send personalized messages to those who mean the most to you asking for their support.
For more ideas on how to fundraise, check out our event Race Kit
2. How should I utilize social media?
Social media is a great tool to keep your friends up to date and to ask for donations! Each crowdfunding participant will recieve a link that connects your friends and family to donate to your page.
For post ideas check us out on social media at @WomensCrisisSWR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn. Our Race Kit also includes post ideas for you!
Check out our event Race Kit. It has everything you need to reach your fundraising goals!
Donation
1. How do I make an online donation?
There are a couple of different ways you can donate. Participants are encouraged to create a personal fundraising page, and email that link to family and friends. This link will take you to the sender’s fundraising page. When you click on that link, you should be redirected to their page where you see a donate button. Click ‘Donate Now’ and complete the form to make your donation.
You may also see a post on social media and the process is the same. Click on the link that’s included in the post, which should take you to the event or personal fundraising page. Click ‘Donate Now’, and complete the form to make your donation.
You can also visit our event webpage and click ‘Make a Donation’ at the top of the homepage. From there you can search for the person or team you wish to donate to you.
2. When will I receive my tax receipt?
All online donors will receive an official tax receipt to the email address provided when completing their donation. If you have trouble finding your tax receipt, please contact fundraising@wcswr.org.
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Merch Sponsor
Become a Sponsor
We are currently seeking event sponsors to help us reach our fundraising goal!
If you’re interested in sponsoring, or would like more information, please contact our
Communications and Fundraising team – fundraising@wcswr.org