Our Her-story

The Women’s Resource Centre opened as a volunteer-driven, grass roots organization in 1994 under the governance of the Lincoln Community Against Violence. The Centre was designed as a safe, confidential place where local women could come, obtain emotional support and the resources, information and referrals to make positive changes in their lives.

Organizational Milestones
1993 - Lincoln Community Against Violence is incorporated as a registered charity.
1994 - Women's Resource Centre opens.
1999 - Ontario Trillium Foundation provides 3-year funding to hire a Program Manager and expand scope of services.
2000 - Service hours expanded, Community Kitchen and Respite Child Care are offered to the community.
2001 - Funding through the Ontario Women's Directorate helps us support women in West Lincoln Family Literacy Programs are developed with support from the Early Years Challenge Fund.
2002 - Sustainability of our organization increases with support from the Branscombe Family Foundation.
2003 - First Annual Walk For Families.
- Board of Directors initiates Strategic Planning Process and with support from Niagara Community Foundation host 3 successful community consultations.
2004 - Our organization begins implementing results of the Community Consultations and hires a Community Support Worker to provide individual and group counselling. In addition we hire a full-time Early Childhood Educator to facilitate our children's programs.
2005 - Our first Fall Into Jazz is a tremendous success.
- Tonya Verbeek, Olympic Medalist kicks off the 3rd Annual Walk For Families.
- Our organization faced the loss of Joan Tovenati, founder of the Women's Resource Centre. Our focus on Joan's legacy to the community continues to guide our work.
2006 - The Centre is the recipient of the Peter F. Drucker Award for Organizational Sustainability bestowed by the Centre for Community Leadership at Niagara College.
- 2006 Walk For Families becomes Meridian Walk For Families with 3-year naming sponsorship by Meridian Credit Union.
- Women's Resource Centre is the recipient of the Niagara College Many Hands Project a renovation-blitz providing over 200 volunteers and $120,000 materials to renovate our building top-to-bottom.
- Launch of the Joan Tovenati Memorial Fund.