Northwestern Ontario Women's Centre marks International Women's Day with new leader
CBC
Gwen O’Reilly says progress made in the women’s movement has ebbed and flowed over the years.
“Things were worse in many ways back then but there are new challenges now,” she said.
“The violence that women are facing is worse than I remember it being 30 years ago, and the context is more complicated now as well — so things change and things stay the same.”
O’Reilly is retiring after serving as executive director of the Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre for 35 years.
The organization provides a myriad of services for women and gender-diverse people in Thunder Bay, Ont., including information and referrals, public education, a sexual violence program in partnership with Faye Peterson House, gender-based violence advocacy, and food security through the Good Food Box.
Katie Bortolin is taking the helm at the end of March, bringing years of experience working in women’s shelters, providing intimate partner violence relief, and helping people get into housing.
“I have really developed this brick by brick and have looked at all of the different ways that women have been disenfranchised through the system,” Bortolin said. “I am hopeful that I will be able to carry Gwen’s role in helping people move from victim to survivor.”
Thunder Bay declared intimate partner violence as an epidemic in 2023. As well, women in the city face geographic isolation, a housing crisis and gaps in social services, she explained.
Still, “it is a community with a lot of courage.”
“There are so many good community advocates and organizations that are doing such good work — but it is a community that is plagued by really unique challenges,” said Bortolin.
A flag raising ceremony was held at city hall Thursday ahead of International Women’s Day this Sunday, which served as an opportunity to celebrate O’Reilly’s retirement and Bortolin’s new role.
As O’Reilly passed over the proverbial torch, she gifted Bortolin a golden hammer “intended to smash patriarchy.”
More than 30 people gathered for the event and gave O’Reilly a standing ovation for her years of service.
“I'm so confident in her abilities because she has a vision for the centre,” O’Reilly said of Bortolin.
WARNING: This story discusses child sexual abuse material and contains graphic details of alleged sexual assault
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