• President's Report
• ED's Report
• Program Reports
• Statement of Operations
• Thanks

The conclusion of another year at METRAC is a time of reflection and a time to recognize those who have helped us to respond successfully to new challenges.

In a single year, METRAC has worked through several changes in its management structure. We said a reluctant goodbye to our Interim Executive Director Pamela Cross, who continues to work as METRAC's Legal Director. We welcomed Mary Pritchard as our Executive Director. Unfortunately, her time at METRAC was short-lived and sadly, we mourn Mary's passing in 2003. Wendy Komiotis joined METRAC as the Interim Executive Director, and has been providing stable leadership since August 2003.

METRAC's Mission

The Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children works towards the goal of eliminating all forms of violence against women and children. It is committed to the right of all women and children to live free from violence and threat of violence. METRAC's work is informed by anti-oppression principles which recognize that women and children within and among diverse communities experience violence in different ways and forms, and which recognize that anti-violence measures must address the distinctive realities of women and children within and among diverse communities.

This year, METRAC completed the first phase of its organizational capacity-building project through multi-year funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. To date, we have implemented a volunteer program, and our board and staff have participated in several equity trainings. We have also initiated a Strategic Planning Process. An external "environmental scan" and focus groups with stakeholders - funders, volunteers, staff, and community members - will help move METRAC in the most effective direction over the next three years. Trillium funding has also enabled the Board to work on diversifying its funding sources to ensure the financial viability of METRAC. We wish to thank Ontario Trillium Foundation for its generous support.

In 2003, we continued to streamline our structure so that as many dollars as possible would be directed to programs. Partnerships with other organizations extended to fundraising and boosted the financial contributions we received. This year, also METRAC increased the diversity of our Board of Directors. Welcome to new board members, whose enthusiasm and belief in the work has already made them invaluable. We bid goodbye to outgoing directors - Leea Litzgus, Alison Maloney, Avril Phillip, and Sona Ruparelia. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the City of Toronto for its continued funding - METRAC would not exist without its support. We also wish to thank the Law Foundation of Ontario, the Ontario Women's Directorate, the Ontario Women's Health Council, and the United Way of Greater Toronto for providing us with project funding in 2003. We express appreciation to Hydro One and the Canadian Autoworkers Union for their support, as well as to the Royal Bank of Canada for its ongoing support. In particular, we thank Charles S. Coffey, Executive Vice-President of Government and Community Affairs, for hosting an annual luncheon where METRAC showcases our work to friends and supporters. We thank all other donors, including individuals, foundations, corporations, and unions. Without your ongoing support, our work would not be possible.

METRAC would not be successful without the continued dedication of its staff and volunteers. With the deepest appreciation I acknowledge the work of volunteers and staff, and in particular, the leadership of Pam Cross. Her demonstrated commitment and contribution to METRAC are nothing short of exemplary. I would also like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt "thank you" to my colleagues on the board.

After only five months at METRAC, I am honoured to work with the staff, board, and volunteers, whose dedication to building a safer society for women and children is clearly evident in this report. There is no doubt: 2003 has been a busy and challenging year for the organization. We experienced numerous changes at the level of programs and staffing, while maintaining and even expanding our services to the community.

A key factor in the successes achieved this year is the tireless, devoted work of METRAC staff. They expanded their workloads throughout a period of change as we set new supports in place. Together, we sustained this organization through numerous changes while still delivering responsive and effective services to the community. I applaud and thank you for your courage, skills, and hard work. I particularly wish to recognize the contributions of METRAC's previous Interim Executive Director, Pamela Cross. We express profound thanks for her work in guiding and supporting the agency through a tumultuous time of change. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Pam Thompson, our newly hired Safety Director.

METRAC said goodbye and thank you to leaving staff members Ruth Chun, Dreeni Geer, Deborah Singh, Megan Rogers, and Paula Wansbrough. Your work is deeply appreciated. In late 2003, we expressed sadness at the passing of Mary Pritchard, METRAC's former Executive Director. Mary was a cherished community member. We honour her courage and commitment to ending violence against women and children, and we will be inspired by memories of her life.

We would like to thank 2003 community partners who collaborated with us to address violence: YWCA Family Support Centre; St. Alban's Boys and Girls Club; St. Stephen's Community House; Asian Community AIDS Services; Planned Parenthood of Toronto; Leave Out Violence Everywhere; Massey Centre; Toronto Women Abuse Council; Youth Action Network; Elizabeth Fry Society; Heyy Line; Leaside Collegiate; Marc Garneau Collegiate; Loretta College; Central Commerce Collegiate; Jarvis Collegiate; Inglenook Alternative School; Greenwood Collegiate; Seneca College; York University Women's Centre; Oasis Alternative School; Loretto Abbey Collegiate; David and Marie Thompson Collegiate; Parkdale Collegiate; Scadding Court Collegiate; St. Joseph's College School; West Toronto Collegiate; East York Collegiate; University of Toronto; Samuel Hearne Middle School; Support Program for Expelled Students; Fernie House Detention Centre; Operation Springboard; INTERCEDE; 519 Church Street Community Centre; Ontario Young People's Alliance; Nellie's Women's Shelter; St. Stephen's Youth Program; Peel Committee on Sexual Assault and Peel Committee Against Women's Abuse; Zonta Club; Ontario Association for the Deaf; Canadian Tamil Women's Community Office; The Vietnamese Women's Association; Microskills; Bloor Transformation and Life Skills Centre; Working Women's Community Centre; and Prisoners with HIV/AIDS Support Action Network. To our donors and funders, thank you for supporting METRAC and for your affirmation of the value of our services. Our vital work would not survive without your resources.

METRAC's dedicated volunteers worked many hours and helped us maintain high-quality programs. Thank you for your tremendous work in supporting us. It has also been a privilege working with a Board of Directors so ready to commit their time and energy and so dedicated to the cause. METRAC's board volunteered an incredible number of hours this year to provide support and direction to the organization. Thanks to all of our Directors for your great support and guidance during a challenging year.

As the next year approaches, I look forward to supporting the board and staff in their search for a new Executive Director to continue improving the efficiency with which METRAC operates, to amplify the long-term strategic plan, and to solidify and increase financial support so that the organization can continue to act on its vision of building a society that is Safer for Women and Children, Safer for Everyone.

President's Report | ED's Report | Program Reports
Statement of Operations | Thanks

In 2003, METRAC's Safety Program focused on building its capacity to address safety issues for women and diverse communities across Toronto and beyond. We continued to broaden our understanding of safety and violence and the unique ways that marginalized communities are targeted - for instance, through discriminatory attitudes, actions, and policies. We revised our Safety Audit Resource Kit to better reflect this understanding.

We kicked off our 4th Annual Community Safety Night with a Public Launch - a new and successful aspect of this event. It brought together community agencies, neighbourhood groups, residents, local government, and media to speak about safety in Toronto. City Councillors who contributed to safety in their wards during the previous year were recognized with "Safety Star Awards". Following the Launch, we held a training session about using METRAC's Safety Audit Kit. On September 16, 2003, diverse community groups went out to the streets in their neighbourhoods across Toronto, identifying safety concerns and developing ideas for positive action.

METRAC also continued as a member of the City of Toronto's Taskforce on Community Safety. Through a motion put forward by METRAC, it was announced that four new positions on the Taskforce would be reserved for organizations that serve People of Colour - this was a very positive change for community safety in Toronto. Additionally, we continued meeting with city staff about creating a comprehensive and responsive system to gather information from Safety Audits as part of our work on the Safety Audit Working Group.

Building on METRAC's campus safety work, we conducted large scale Campus Safety Audits for the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University. These Campus Audits used several strategies to identify safety concerns, including campus walkabouts, stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and online surveys. Other Safety Audits were conducted in a variety of community places, including parks, workplaces, and schools.

The THRIVE coalition, convened in 2002 by METRAC, continued to bring together community agencies to raise awareness about violence in the lives of Women of Colour. The Coalition developed a racial profiling pilot project to explore the gendered aspect of this form of violence. In addition, the Coalition supported community efforts to promote women's rights and safety in Iraq.

Contact Pam Thompson at safety@metrac.org or 416-392-3137.

In the first year of a three-year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, we completed several resource development activities that will strengthen METRAC's financial capacity. We reviewed the resource development history of METRAC. Along with the Fundraising Committee, we drafted a Resource Development Plan that outlines activities for us reach our 2-year fundraising goal: a direct mail campaign, a corporate and foundation campaign, and a special events program. METRAC's board also passed a resolution to adopt the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy's Code of Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability and a policy on Donors' Bill of Rights.

A noteworthy fundraising initiative was our Annual Royal Bank (RBC) Luncheon on December 8th, 2003, with Judy Rebick as guest speaker and METRAC President Kimberly Morris and Executive Vice President of RBC Finanical Group Charles Coffey as hosts. It was coordinated by board member Kerry Hughes and Kathryn Anderson and Rosie Savoury of RBC. 150 guests attended, and through their generosity we raised $11,000 to support METRAC. We thank those who contributed to making the luncheon a success.

President's Report | ED's Report | Program Reports
Statement of Operations | Thanks

President's Report | ED's Report | Program Reports
Statement of Operations | Thanks

METRAC's sincere thanks goes to (in alphabetical order): AOL Canada; Betsy Atkinson Murray; Anne Butler Slaght Foundation; Bishop Strachan School; Blake Cassels & Graydon; Body Shop; Canada Catering Ltd.; Canadian Auto Workers Union; Canadian National Railway Canada; Canadian Women's Foundation; Chum Charitable Foundation; Citibank Canada; City of Toronto, Community and Neighbourhood Services; Elle Canada; Ericsson; Famous Players; Flare Magazine; Helen Graham; Graeme Harris; Robert Hough; Hydro One Inc.; Jo-Elle Spa; Law Foundation of Ontario; Linda Lundstrom; Loblaws Company East; Mac's Convenience; Ontario Trillium Foundation; Ontario Women's Directorate; Paramount Canada's Wonderland; Pizza Pizza; Royal Bank of Canada; Silver Tree Foundation; Stockwood Spies; TD Canada Trust; United Way of Greater Toronto; Mark Wellings; Yoga Sanctuary. Special thanks to donors who wish to remain anonymous and to all individuals who donated generously.

YWAVSB Peer Facilitators: Afshan Ali*, Ash, Emma Beltran, Tamika Boyce, Farrah Byckalo-Khan, Ruth Chun*, Saroja Coelho, Lindsay Kretschmer*, Patricia Lee*, Ruthann Lee*, David Lewis, Natasha Lindsay, Alana Lowe, Ariella Meinhard, Beth O'Connor, Rowena Rivera*, MJ Rwigema, Jehangir Saleh, Adam Welch*, Melinda Zakye

President's Report | ED's Report | Program Reports
Statement of Operations | Thanks