Building a Bigger Wave
Provincial Violence against Women
(VAW) Forum
November 7 & 8, 2011
Summary Presentation
to Coordinating Committees
Purpose of this Presentation
• To report-back on provincial forum
• To inform and engage VAWCC membership in
next steps of building a provincial network
• The presentation provides an overview of the full
report that will be available electronically in both
French and English on the website
Building a Bigger Wave
The concept of building a bigger wave comes
from the image of throwing a pebble in a pond.
The ripples go out in all directions – each little
wave of activity has an impact – it matters.
We believe that if we put our collective VAW
hands, hearts and brains together, we can make
more and bigger waves in all directions to end
violence.
What is a “network”?
Definition taken from 2003 healthcare report on
different types of joint efforts among organizations:
Network




Non-hierarchical
Loose/flexible link
Roles loosely defined
Communication is primary link
among members
Provincial Forum
With funding from Trillium and MCSS, a
provincial forum for Violence against Women
Coordinating Committees (VAWCCs) was
held Nov 7 & 8, 2011 in Toronto
The purpose of the forum was to explore
interest in creating a provincial network of
VAWCCs
Background
The South West Region Coordinating Committee
(SWRCC) is a regional committee in the Southwest
– 8 local VAWCCs
SWRCC sent an email in Sept 2010 to ask if
other VAWCCs would support a proposal to
Trillium to fund the forum
27 committees replied right away to say
YES!
Background
The Trillium proposal was approved and the
planning started
MCSS provided funding for a two-day
planning session in March 2011
20 VAWCCs from across the province sent
reps to participate in the planning
Planning Group
Together, the group decided that the purpose of the
forum was to explore interest in creating a
provincial network.
They also decided on 4 major forum goals:
1. Understand the history and current state of VAWCCs
2. Projects – to display innovative work
3. Collaboration and Inclusivity – to explore how can we
work together
4. Identify Next Steps – action items
Building a Bigger Wave
• 42 (out of a possible 48) VAW Committees
participated at the forum
• 130 participants
• Representation from OWD and MCSS
• Representation from 8 other important
stakeholder groups
Graphic recording was used to
capture the discussion points, themes
and decisions over the two days.
The full forum report includes 9 Story Maps plus PowerPoints from Presentations
Pre-forum VAWCC Survey
• An online survey collected information in advance
of the forum about committee structures,
challenges and opportunities from VAWCCs
across the province
• Excellent response rate – 62 responses
• Responses indicated strong support for formation
of provincial VAWCC network
• Survey PPT presentation and full report available
Speakers and Presentations
• The Honourable Marion Boyd
• Nneka McGregor, (survivor) – WomenatthecentrE
Project Presentations
• Neighbours, Friends & Families @ Work
• Sexual Violence Action Plan
• Sisters in Spirit
• Community Report Cards
• Ontario Woman Abuse Screening Project
Other Activities
• Forum Theatre presentation
- Another way of knowing and learning that can
take us beyond words and cognitive processes.
• Marketplace to showcase projects / initiatives
- 25 VAWCCs shared best practices and
innovation from the field
• Comfy Chair Conversation with three young
women who are leaders in their communities
Meaningful Conversations
Over the two days there were small and large group
discussions about what needs to happen to actually
end violence.
The dominant discussion point:
If we are to end VAW, we need a whole community
approach…we want to learn HOW to build a bigger
wave TOGETHER!
Meaningful Conversations – Themes*
• Inclusion is a core value and practice for VAWCCs
• VAW includes domestic and sexual violence
• Women with lived experience have a central role
• Engage youth and men in community work
- Mentor future leaders
* See the report for expanded theme discussions
Meaningful Conversations - Themes
• There are both benefits and challenges to
collaboration.
• There are strategies and structures that can help
us to build the bigger wave:
• Information sharing
• Working together on projects
• Regional and Provincial networks
Action Items
1. Begin development of the networking
mechanisms that will allow for ongoing
communication and evolution of the
provincial network
•
Create Report-back / PPT for VAWCCs
•
Create a data-base of contact info
•
Create a website
Action Items
2. Achieve something tangible together!
Propose / mobilize committees to support Sisters
in Spirit campaign – Oct 4, 2012
Our first provincial challenge to see what our
combined energies can do!
Action Items
3. Support development of regional committees
where local VAWCC are interested
Action Items
4. Develop an implementation plan for the
provincial network:
• Discussion about the mandate, scope,
membership of a provincial network
• How to network with other provincial
organizations (OAITH, OCRCC, ONVSP)
• Discuss with OWD / MCSS re government
role for the integration of domestic violence
and sexual assault coordination activities
What we need from you now…
Questions for VAWCCs
Forum participants endorsed (in principle) the idea
of creating a provincial network. Now we need the
endorsement from VAWCCs.
We need your answers to the following questions
that are available on the survey monkey. Please
assign someone to fill it out on behalf of your
committee so that we can move forward.
A report-back on the information will be shared
Questions for VAWCCs
1. Can your committee commit to participating in a
provincial network?
Decision Point: VAWCC agrees to ensure
ongoing communication by keeping the
provincial distribution list updated and by sharing
network information with membership. A contact
person is identified.
Questions for local VAWCCs
2. Would the committee be willing to support Sisters
in Spirit (SiS) on Oct 4, 2012 to show solidarity and
support? (more details will be made available)
Does the committee agree that supporting SiS is a
tangible first step to see what we can achieve
together?
Decision Point: VAWCC agrees to attend or hold
vigil / or to support Sisters in Spirit in some way
Questions for local VAWCCs
3. Assuming the committee supports the creation
of a network – does your committee support
SWRCC continuing to seek funding to support the
network development?
Decision Point: VAWCC agrees to provide letter
of support for funding requests (template can be
provided)
Questions for VAWCCs
4. Would your committee be interested in
participating as a member of a small working group
(n.10-12) to develop a network implementation
plan? The planning day would be March 27th 2012
in Toronto if (year-end) funding is available.
• We would look for diverse representation from
across the province
Questions for local VAWCCs
5. The SWRCC is willing to continue to hold the
network centre for information to flow in and out
of while a more long term solution is found
• Does that seem ok? Are you in agreement with
this?
Summary: Building the Network
• All VAWCCs reply to this PPT on Survey
Monkey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQ6CMDF
• Assuming support - Develop an
implementation plan – convene a small
workgroup in March if funding is available
• Distribute Forum Report (SWRCC
currently seeking funds for hard copy
release / will include French translation )
Summary: Building the Network
• Launch Website: Building a Bigger Wave:
Provincial VAWCC Network
• Compile and share VAWCC distribution list
• Seek funding to implement the network
• Build the bigger wave!