Every November, at the Voices Empower: Break the Silence event, in a sea of purple, there are a group of women who stand out in radiant orange. They are from the Zonta Club of Kitchener-Waterloo. This 6km Walk is a community awareness powerhouse in the region that illuminates the alarming rates of femicides across Canada and encourages participants to crowdfund to tackle one of the root causes – domestic violence (DV), specifically intimate partner violence (IPV). It is widely supported by individual and community groups with attendance and crowdfunding both increasing significantly over the years.  

One consistent supporter is Zonta. As a community-focused organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through advocacy, service, education, and charitable support its no surprise that its members show up every fall to walk 6km in honour of the women who are killed every six days in our country. Zonta brings together professional women who work collaboratively to create positive change both locally and internationally; addresses issues that affect women and girls while supporting programs that promote equality, opportunity, and safety. 

A key focus of the organization is advocacy. The club actively supports efforts to end gender-based violence, promoting awareness and action on issues that disproportionately affect women and girls. Through public education campaigns and community engagement, Zonta encourages individuals and organizations to support safer and more equitable communities. 

The missions of Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR) and Zonta are closely aligned and for decades, both have demonstrated the power of volunteer leadership, community engagement advocacy, service, education, and fundraising, to create meaningful change for women and girls. Events like Voices Empower prove that local action can contribute to a more equitable and inclusive world.