Remember. Walk. Empower.
Join hundreds of community members to raise awareness, honour survivors and move beyond violence.
Break the Silence Around
Gender-Based Violence
Voices Empower is more than a walk. It’s a powerful movement towards breaking the silence around gender-based violence, which too often results in the tragedy of femicide. Femicide is broadly defined as gender-related killing of women and girls by men.
Together, we raise awareness, honour survivors and support services that help women, gender-diverse people and children move beyond violence.
Join us on November 21st at 1pm to create a safer community, one step at a time!
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Why We Are Breaking the Silence
Every 6 days in Ontario, a woman is killed
in an act of femicide.
In 2025 alone, there were at least 128 femicides nationwide, with 43 in Ontario between November 2024 and November 2025.
The increase and escalation of violence calls for action.
We cannot stay silent.
When we come together for Voices Empower, we honour those who’ve been lost, stand with survivors and raise funds to keep women, gender-diverse individuals and children safe today and prevent violence from happening tomorrow.
Join us on November 21st, 2026, at 1:00 pm in Waterloo Public Square.
Form a team, wear your best purple outfit and show your support for our neighbours who are impacted by violence.
Together, we can prevent future femicides.
Event Details
- Location: warm up at Waterloo Public Square
- Date: November 21st, 2026 at 1pm
- Total distance: 5.5 km
- Total walking time: 1.5 hrs
- Pace: Slow to Moderate
- Surface: Paved
- Sticker and sign-making stations
- Poppy’s bagels and hot chocolate provided
- Registration: $6
How to Break the Silence With Us
This work is far too difficult to do alone. Seeing our community stand with us through fundraising for Voices Empower every year creates the support needed to end gender-based violence.
Step 1: Register!
SImply start by signing up. Choose from Individual, Team or Corporate Participation. Through your unique fundraising link, you can raise essential funds by sharing it with your network.
Step 2: Raise Awareness!
Inspire others to give and break the silence on femicide. Share our social media posts with your network to help raise funds and awareness. Follow us at @WomensCrisisSWR
Step 3: Join Voices Empower!
Show up to share your support. Join us in Waterloo Town Square on November 21st at 1:00 pm. There will be interactive activities before the walk. After, there will be snacks, prizes and more!
Fundraise Your Way!
Do it yourself, with others or as a company.
Individual Impact
Organize your own fundraiser!
Whether it’s organizing a charity run, hosting a bake sale, or starting a birthday fundraiser on social media, you can make a difference in countless ways.
Choose an activity you love, set a goal, and invite friends and family to support your cause.
Connect with other participants walking for Voices Empower: Break the Silence by using #VoicesEmpower on social media.
Team Fundraising
Unite for a Cause!
Gather your friends, family or community group to join forces and make a bigger impact.
Set team goals, stay motivated and enjoy fun activities together while raising awareness and funds for those experiencing domestic violence.
Your teamwork can change lives. Plus, enjoy a great day outside and get the whole family involved — parents, kids, cousins and pets!
Business for a Cause
Corporate Challenge!
Engage your colleagues in a meaningful team-building experience by committing to all walk 6km together.
Host company-wide events, set collective goals and encourage friendly competition to boost your fundraising efforts. Learn about sponsorship opportunities here.
Share your journey on social media using #VoicesEmpower and tagging us to see your company’s name featured on our channels. Together, we can make a powerful impact.
Your Voice. Your Way. Your Impact.
Not everyone participates the same way and that’s exactly what makes our community powerful! Although walking is one great way to raise awareness, there are other avenues to support this event. Whether you organize a smaller walk with friends, fundraise with a team, donate to the cause, or share our message with your network, you are helping move us closer to a future free from violence.
What You Could Win
Contests and Prizes
Early Registration Prize
Register as an Individual or as a Team and raise $200 by October 1st and you will be entered to win a special prize as a thank you.
$500 Fundraising Giveaway
Every participant who fundraises $500 or more will be entered into a draw to win a $100 One4all giftcard! Once you have fundraised $500, your name will be automatically entered to win! The winner will be chosen on November 21st during the event by a random draw.
$1,000 Fundraising Giveaway
Our top fundraisers will be entered into a draw for the grand prize of a 7-night stay in a beautiful, two-bedroom condo in the heart of Mont Tremblant! Once you have raised $1000, your name will be entered to win! You will receive an extra entry for every additional $500 you fundraise. The winner will be chosen on November 30th during the event by a random draw.
Top Individual Fundraiser
The overall top fundraiser of Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence will receive a pair of headphones! The winner of this prize will be announced during the event and will be based on the top fundraiser on CanadaHelps as of 1:00 pm on November 21st.
Top Team Fundraiser
The overall top team fundraiser of Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence will receive a $200 One4all gift card! The winner of this prize will be announced during the event and will be based on the top fundraiser on CanadaHelps as of 1:00 pm on November 21st.
Raising Awareness
Shining a Light on Gender-Based Violence
Voices Empower is about honouring the lives lost and working towards preventing future violence from happening. Increasing people’s awareness about the tragic reality of gender-based violence is the first step.
We know sharing with your network can be scary or intimidating, but we want to set you up for success, which is why our Supporter Success Kit will provide all the information you need.
Fundraise Tips
Set Challenges
Challenge friends to a fitness goal, like running a 5K, and ask for donations to support your cause.
Host An Event
Organize events that bring people together to raise funds and awareness, like a trivia night!
Spread the Word
Post about your fundraiser on social media and encourage friends to donate and share with their circles.
Check out our Supporter Success Kit for more information on how to crowdfund, fundraising tips and to learn about why we are walking to break the silence.
Have questions?
How do I participate in Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence?
To participate, simply register online here.
Your first step is to decide how you will be participating: on your own, as the captain of a team, or with your company.
It’s easy to register:
1. Choose to ‘Join a Team’, ‘Create a Team’, or ‘Join as an Individual’ listed above
2. Complete the registration form to access your personal fundraising page and/or team fundraising page
What are the important dates to remember?
- Register and raise $200 by October 1st for a chance to win the early registration prize
- Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence: November 21st, 2026 at 1:00 pm
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 the ‘Join a team’ button and search for that team
- Click ‘Join this team’ next to the correct search result and complete the registration form to create your personal fundraising page
Is there a registration fee?
There is a $6 donation required to register for your CanadaHelps page to honour the woman killed every six days in Canada by an intimate partner.
All participants are urged to create a personal goal and fundraise online via your personal fundraising page. Every dollar makes a difference in the lives of women and children moving beyond violence.
Once registered, each participant will receive a toolkit with some simple fundraising tips and info to help you reach your goal.
Is there a fundraising minimum?
Fundraising for Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence can be done from anywhere! Bring your creativity to life with this campaign and gain inspiration from our fundraising tips.
There is no fundraising minimum required to participate but we encourage each participant to set a personalized goal to support women and children moving beyond violence.
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.
Social media is a great tool to keep your friends up to date and to ask for donations! Each crowdfunding participant will receive 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, Instagram or LinkedIn.
For more ideas on how to fundraise, check out our event Supporter Success Kit!
How do I make an online donation?
You are encouraged to create a personal fundraising page and email your personal link to family and friends. You can use this link in social media posts, texts or emails to your family and friends.
Once they click the link, they can click ‘Donate Now’, and complete the form to donate.
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.
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.
What will you do with the funds that I raise?
All proceeds raised through Voices Empower: Walk to Break the Silence helps provide emergency shelter, outreach services, prevention and education to women and children moving beyond violence in Waterloo Region.
You can learn more about our impact here.
Who do I contact if I have questions or need technical support?
Please email fundraising@wcswr.org if you need support setting up your fundraising page, or have any questions at all!
Everyone is encouraged to post pictures of your walk on social media and share why you are walking using the hashtag #VoicesEmpower.
How do I become an event sponser?
We are currently seeking event sponsors to help us reach our fundraising goal! Learn more sponsorship information here.
If you’re interested in sponsoring or would like more information, please contact our Communications and Fundraising team at fundraising@wcswr.org
I can't walk 6km. Can I still participate in Voices Empower?
Absolutely. Voices Empower is about bringing our community together to stand alongside women and children moving beyond violence. While the 6km walk is one way to participate, there are many ways to be part of the movement.
You can:
- Join us for the opening kick-off, interactive activities and community gathering
- Walk part of the route at your own pace
- Create your own fundraiser or team activity
- Host a fundraiser in your workplace, school or community space
- Share the campaign with your network
Every action helps raise awareness and support survivors.
Special Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Want to give back to our community in an impactful way?
Become a Sponsor!
We are currently seeking event sponsors. Sponsors help us greatly in reaching our fundraising goal, which allows Women’s Crisis Services to support over 1,500 women and children in Waterloo region every year.
As a sponsor, your company will have the unique opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to creating safer, happier lives for women and children. In return for your sponsorship, we offer a powerful marketing platform to connect with a dedicated community of donors and supporters.
If you’re interested in sponsoring or would like more information, please contact us at fundraising@wcswr.org
