Claims of Women's Shelter

November 7, 2003 permalink

Doreen Armstrong
Executive Director
Family Transition Place
20 Bredin Parkway
Orangeville Ontario L9W 4Z9

Dear Ms Armstrong:

I recently received a document distributed by Family Transition Place throughout Dufferin County titled: "Imagine a community of safety, support and hope". I have a number of questions relating to the facts cited in the document.

First, you say: "Research and experience tells us that family violence and woman abuse is a pervasive issue that damages the overall health and well being of our entire community". Since your experience differs from mine, can you give a citation for the research you allude to?

Second, in a section titled "What abusers say" there are statements:

I wish that I had some healthy male role models as a child.

It would have helped if I had a connection with both my parents growing up.

I have personally interviewed several women who took shelter in Family Transition Place. Four of them reported that their experiences were relayed to the Children's Aid Society by your staff, and as a result their children were taken from them and placed in foster care. Why does this activity take place in an organization such as yours that recognizes the importance of parents to their children? And I further note that since you do not admit men to your shelter, any children coming to your facility have already lost their father. None of the women I have spoken to have reported that you made an effort to restore the relationship between the child and his father. What efforts, if any, do you make to keep children in contact with their fathers?

Finally, on the last page you state "Family Transition Place must raise $263,000 this year to continue providing services for abused women and children. To date our community has been generous, but we have not yet reached our goal. Your donation is needed". It has appeared in the past that your organization enjoyed support from the taxpayers through funding by the Province of Ontario. Can you send me a financial statement for Family Transition Place?

Yours truly,

Robert T McQuaid
RR 5
Orangeville Ontario L9W 2Z2