FGWRC was founded more than 40 years ago. While some of our services may have changed to meet community needs, we remain grounded in our original vision to provide free supports and resources for women, children and, more recently, gender diverse people.

None of what we do would be possible without you, our caring community.

We invite you to ‘step inside’ to see the many ways you change lives during a typical day at the Centre…

9 a.m. A woman comes in for her first-ever counselling appointment. She’s a little nervous, but after a warm welcome at the door and with a fresh cup of hot coffee in hand, she’s ready. In the calm and comfort of the counselling room, the woman shares her story of five years of emotional and physical abuse at the hands of her partner. She fled twice before, but without access to mental health supports or help finding a secure home, she ended up going back. Now she’s sure if she goes back a third time, she won’t survive, and she’s terrified. In the weeks and months to follow, she will find the supports she needs at FGWRC – weekly counselling, connections to legal resources, help finding a safe place to live, and more – so she never has to live in fear in her own home again.

9:30 a.m. It’s time for the weekly drop-in. Soon, women arrive for coffee, conversation, and a simple craft. Laughter and stories fill the room as connections are made and support flows naturally.

A newcomer sits quietly at first but soon finds herself chatting with the woman beside her, who gently says, “You’re not alone—you’re in the right place.”
A small moment, but a powerful one. For some women, this room is the first space they’ve felt welcome in a long time.

Friendships form here. Confidence grows here. And many women who start at drop-in later take workshops or begin counselling, once they feel safe enough to take that next step.

1:00 p.m. After lunch, staff set up the group room for the afternoon workshop. Twelve chairs are placed in a circle; art supplies and handouts are laid out on the tables.
Today’s topic: rebuilding trust after trauma.

One woman arrives early and quietly wipes away tears as she chooses her seat. Another shares that this workshop is her “weekly reset.” Over the next two hours, women listen, learn, create, and discover small but meaningful ways to heal. Many leave lighter, saying things like, “I didn’t know how much I needed this.”

Workshops happen throughout the day on topics like mental health, self-care, legal info, parenting, or crafts. Up to 12 women gather, learning, sharing, and leaving with new tools, confidence, or just the comfort of being understood.

Meanwhile, our receptionist greets women coming in for food, hygiene items, self-care supplies, or guidance to community resources.

One woman, in tears, admits she hasn’t eaten since yesterday. She leaves with food, shampoo, menstrual products—and a sense of relief she didn’t expect to find today.

Nearby, a young girl meets with our child counsellor. She’s been struggling with nightmares after witnessing violence at home. In a quiet room filled with toys, art supplies, and gentle reassurance, she begins to name her feelings and learn ways to feel safe again. Her mom later says she’s smiling more, sleeping better, and slowly “coming back to herself.”

By 4 p.m., the last sessions wrap up, chairs are stacked, supplies put away, and the lights go off. The Centre may be quiet, but the impact of the day lingers—conversations shared, connections strengthened, and small moments of care that make all the difference.

A woman now feels strong enough to take her next step toward safety.
A child has one more tool to help calm her fears.
A newcomer found a room full of people who welcomed her without question.
And twelve women leave a workshop with new understanding, new confidence, or simply the comfort of being seen.

With your support, these moments add up. With your support, lives are changed—one conversation, one workshop, one brave first step at a time.

To find out more about how lives are changed every day at FGWRC and ways you can help, please visit Support Us – Fort Garry Women’s Resource Centre.