WHEREAS, the Town of Tillsonburg received the delegation from Joanna Piatkowski, Manager of Ingamo Homes on May 13, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Resolution # 2024-213 was passed by Council at the May 13, 2024 Town of Tillsonburg Council Meeting:
- THAT the delegation from Joanna Piatkowski regarding Gender-Based Violence in Oxford County be received as information; and
- THAT Town of Tillsonburg Council supports Bill 173 Intimate Partner Violence and a letter be sent to the Province on behalf of Town Council; and
WHEREAS the 401 corridor has been well documented as a primary route for sex traffickers to transport and sell victims of commercial sexual exploitation; and
WHEREAS the Oxford County police received 1570 calls regarding domestic violence in 2023 alone; and
WHEREAS in that time period, the statistics of IPV has increased 900%, the number of women and children in shelter in Oxford was 140, the number of women turned away due to capacity constraints In Oxford County was 73 and 796 individuals identified that required/could have benefited from specialized sexual violence supports through Oxford County Community Health Care team, Ingamo Homes & Domestic Abuse Services Oxford (DASO); and
WHEREAS these organizations are actively looking to prevent domestic violence and assist people in Tillsonburg; and
WHEREAS the installment of a purple bench would be a declaration and a strong message to victims of Intimate Partner Violence that they need not suffer violence in private and that they are part of a community that will stand with them, support them, and that the Town of Tillsonburg does not tolerate this violence in our community; and
WHEREAS the Downtown Tillsonburg Business Improvement Association is willing to assist with the space for purple bench installment as well as responsibility for the care and condition, including snow removal; and
WHEREAS Maglin Site Furniture Ltd. is willing to donate the bench and plaque at no cost to the Town; and
WHEREAS the plaque will be engraved and will include resources for people that are dealing with domestic violence, gender-based violence (GBV) or Intimate partner violence (IPV). The resources would include contact for DASO (Domestic Abuse Services Oxford), Ingamo and DART (Domestic Abuse Resource Team); and
WHEREAS, DASO and Ingamo have requested space from Town of Tillsonburg for Tillsonburg needs; and
WHEREAS it is estimated that approximately 85% off all women who are experiencing violence in the home right now aren’t even aware of GBV services, which means they don’t even know that DASO and/or Ingamo exist;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED:
- THAT Council supports the purple bench campaign; and
- THAT Staff be directed to work with the downtown BIA to install a suitable visible location for the purple bench with a plaque; and
- THAT the CAO and Director of Operations and Development be authorized to complete any necessary agreements needed to execute the donation and placement of the bench; and
- THAT staff be directed to bring a report back to Council exploring the possibility of providing office space usage once a week or bimonthly for Ingamo Homes, DART and DASO team in order for them to provide local awareness and accessible support.