Abuse victim finds new strength and hope in Sistering

Kimberly Spice —

Victoria Grand may reside in an abusive environment, but she finds solace within the walls of the woman’s organization Sistering located at 962 Bloor St. W.
Grand, whose name has been changed by the editor, arrived in Toronto from Sudbury ten years ago to be with her boyfriend.

With no family or friends in the city when she arrived, Grand experienced isolation that kept her in the abusive relationship that continues today.

“My personal life is very abusive in different ways,” an emotional Grand told The Bulletin. “It’s very scary and painful to say the least. [Sistering] reminds me a bit of my childhood where it was abusive at home and I would go to school and it would be an escape. I became an A+ student. It’s kind of like that.”

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Grand said finding acceptance and comfort comes from the non-judgemental support Sistering has given her in an otherwise difficult situation.
She originally heard about the organization while sleeping at a number of shelters in the city. Grand went to visit Sistering when she needed help.

Grand wanted to work for Sistering a year ago but did not have the confidence to apply. Through continual support from the organization, the 40-year-old gained the self-assurance she needed and is now is an employee working in Harm Reduction as a peer outreach worker.

“I go to places where we have breakfasts and different things, gatherings of women, and I do a couple of workshops such as Stay Out of the Cold and Stay Alive,” Grand commented. “I don’t feel so scared and intimidated about the world around me. My personal life and my life at Sistering are very different. Sistering is keeping me going. It’s getting me out of bed and giving me a reason to live.”

Sistering helps marginalized women through support services such as food programs, health clinics, employment services, housing support, only to name a few programs offered, and has recently opened its doors as a 24-hour drop-in centre.
Sistering is holding a fundraising event, Rock n’ Brew 4 Sistering: Empowering Women at Risk, on Feb. 24 at the Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth, steps away from the Greenwood subway, starting at 7 p.m.
For more information, visit sistering.org