Women's Rural Resource Centre

Please note that WRRC will be closed on Civic Day, Monday, August 3.

Support is still available during this time. If you need someone to talk to, our 24/7 helpline is always here: 📞 1-800-265-5390.

Together, we are raising awareness. Together, we are strengthening our communities 💙

Women’s Rural Resource Centre is excited to come together with the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation Justice Department for an awareness walk recognizing World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30.

Human trafficking is not something that only happens somewhere else. It is happening in Middlesex County and within local Indigenous communities. At WRRC, we support and walk alongside victims and survivors of human trafficking, as well as individuals who may be at risk of exploitation. We know that awareness, prevention, connection and access to safe, informed support are essential.

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is an international campaign established by the United Nations to raise awareness of human trafficking, promote and protect the rights of victims, and strengthen action to prevent exploitation.

And this work belongs to all of us ✨

We invite everyone to join us on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Wear blue, walk alongside us, listen to the voices and experiences being shared, learn more about human trafficking, and help us create communities where exploitation is recognized, challenged and prevented.

The day will include our community awareness walk, speakers and community voices, performances, drumming, opportunities for reflection and connection, and lunch together at Alexandra Park.

Every conversation creates awareness. Every person who learns the signs strengthens our collective ability to respond. Every step reminds survivors that they do not walk alone.

📅 Thursday, July 30, 2026
📍 Walk begins at WRRC – 145 Beech St., Strathroy at 10:00 a.m. and continues to Alexandra Park.

Bring your family, friends, colleagues and community.

Wear blue and walk with us as we raise necessary awareness about human trafficking in Middlesex County and beyond 💙

Thank you, YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin, for being part of our Threads of Change: Rural Experiences of Gender-Based Violence Knowledge Sharing event for service providers and professionals and for sharing this reflection on the day 💛

We totally agree and also believe that meaningful change happens when communities come together with a shared commitment to learning, listening, and action. It was an honour to bring you and other professionals together from across sectors to discuss the realities of gender-based violence in rural communities and explore how we can strengthen supports for women, children, families and individuals.

We are so grateful for your engagement, insights, and partnership. The conversations, collaboration, and collective wisdom shared throughout the day remind us that no single organization can do this work alone. Together, we can build stronger, safer, and more connected rural communities.

Thank you for standing alongside us in this work. We look forward to continuing these important conversations and collaborations in the future ✨

As wildfire smoke moves across our region, many of us are being reminded that these fires are not distant events. They are impacting real people, families, communities, and homelands across the country.

At WRRC, we want to acknowledge the communities currently facing evacuation orders, loss, uncertainty, and disruption as wildfires continue to burn. We hold particular care for Indigenous communities who are often among those most significantly impacted, forced to leave their homes, and lands behind during times of crisis. For some, the loss is even greater, as entire communities have been damaged or destroyed by fire, changing the places they call home.

To those who are living through these fires, supporting emergency response efforts, caring for loved ones, grieving losses, or navigating displacement, we are thinking of you.

The smoke in our skies serves as a reminder of our interconnectedness. What affects one community ripples outward and touches us all.

We hope those on the frontlines remain safe, that evacuees find support and comfort, that communities are able to return home safely when the time comes. For those whose homes, lands, or communities have been lost, we are holding space for this truth and the road of healing and rebuilding that lies ahead.

Our hearts go out to everyone ♥️

- The WRRC Team

The Network is hiring a new Coordinator!

‘The Network’ is the Middlesex London Network to End Gender-Based Violence and Violence Against Women Committee - a provincially funded Coordinating Committee, focusing on ending gender-based violence and violence against women.

The Network’s Coordinator facilitates committee functions by strengthening relationships, identifying collaboration opportunities, and planning initiatives to end gender-based violence.

To apply and for more details, visit the posting here:
https://pillarnonprofit.ca/job/coordinator/network

Free Parenting Course for Middlesex County Caregivers

WRRC’s Child & Youth Program is offering 6 remaining spots for Middlesex County caregivers to join a free modified Circle of Security Parenting Course.

This 4-week course is for caregivers with children ages 4 months to 6 years and will provide tools and tips to support healthy, secure attachment with children.

Dates: July 2, 9, 23 & 30, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Caradoc Sands Golf Club, Strathroy
Cost: Free
Lunch: A full lunch will be provided
Child-minding: Available for caregivers who need to bring their children

Participants are asked to attend all four sessions.

Registration is quick and simple. To register, please call Rachel at 519-802-1248 by July 1.

Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people are invited to join us for a welcoming circle to gather, create, share stories, and connect in community.

At the Waabos Workshop, participants will have the opportunity to make rabbit fur earrings or a keychain while learning about the rabbit and how rabbit fur can be used as a bundle item that provides medicine.

This workshop will be a time to connect, craft, and share knowledge in a culturally safe space.

📅 July 2, 2026, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
📍 145 Beech St., Strathroy
🍽️ Food and drinks provided
✨ Limited spots available

Questions? Contact [email protected] or 519-246-1526 x 224

Please note that WRRC will be closed on Canada Day, Wednesday, July 1.

Support is still available during this time. If you need someone to talk to, our 24/7 helpline is always here: 📞 1-800-265-5390.