The Shield of Athena Family Services, which for the past 34 years has provided safety, healing and shelter to victims of family violence and their children throughout Montreal, is holding its annual Lilac Gala Event on November 29 at the Sofitel Golden Square Mile Hotel, located at 1155 Sherbrooke Street West in downtown Montreal, starting at 6 p.m.
The event includes a welcome cocktail reception with live jazz music; a gourmet dinner crafted by the Sofitel’s Executive Chef Oliver Perret; a performance by the Orchestre de chambre de Montréal; a silent auction and a balloon raffle that will offer a wide variety of prizes up for grabs, including original artwork and entertainment packages from some of Montreal’s finest restaurants.
“The Lilac Gala came about when we began fundraising for our Second Step Resource , so we combined it with our annual membership drive launch. We decided to use the color of lilac, the favourite colour of a woman who had been killed and represents the cause of violence against women,” said Melpa Kamateros, who is the Shield of Athena’s Executive Director.
Second Step Shelter Opening
This year’s Lilac Gala coincides with the grand opening of the Shield’s Second Step Shelter, which is the culmination of a 15-year mobilization to establish a facility that will provide long-term housing and full fledged support to help survivors and their children get the necessary means towards their healing from such a dangerous situation.
“The Second Step Shelter will be the largest shelter of this nature in the province of Quebec,” said Ms. Kamateros. “It has 17 units and a community kitchen. The purpose is to provide the next step where there will be a longer stay, as well as integrated services that will not only protect them from danger but also give them sufficient time to work on themselves where we can help them find a job and arrange their lives.”
Funds raised from the Lilac Gala are part of the Shield of Athena’s $5 million Capital Campaign, which will go towards expanding their shelters and the variety of services that are offered. “We also have to renovate our first shelter, Athena’s House, which has been around since 2004 and has seen thousands of people who needed our help come through those doors,” said Ms. Kamateros. “The kitchen is in dire need of repair, and we hope to double its size. We are also in the process of renovating our website, which we plan to relaunch early in 2026.Although the Capital Campaign is running for five years, it will continue to be an ongoing project for us.”
Ms. Kamateros is proud of what the Shield of Athena has accomplished over the past 34 years when it comes to reaching out to victims of family violence and their children; however, as a result of the COVID pandemic, there has been a huge rise in violent incidents, which means more people are admitting that they are victims and seeking help.
“According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in three women in the world experience such violence, which is a pandemic in itself. Within the actual pandemic the problem became more obvious; as victims had little time to plan leaving their violent situations, which creates one more layer of difficulty, and more cries for help. Gender-based violence is, unfortunately, a fact of life,” she said. “The Shield of Athena has become an expert when it comes to community outreach. We offer interventions and services in 17 languages, but we have to make people more aware of this vital issue, and the many resources that are available to them should that need arise.”
by Stuart Nulman
Other articles from totimes.ca – otttimes.ca – mtltimes.ca
