Strategic Plan 2022-2025
INSPIRING POSITIVE CHANGE
WELCOME FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe Muskoka first opened its doors in 1989. Since that time, we have strived to, and continue to, serve and support those in our community. Our staff, volunteers, and Board members are dedicated to to preventing and reducing homelessness and criminalization through services and advocacy.
We have experienced dramatic growth and continuous change over the past few years. This has helped to clarify and prioritize our purpose and define how we want to contribute to those we serve. These changes are also the impetus for updating our Strategic Plan.
We brought together staff, Board members, community stakeholders, funders, and service users to create a Strategic Plan that is inclusive, impactful, and sets the foundation for our organization for years to come.
We have learned from our experience, specifically during the past two years of a world-wide pandemic, the importance of community and collaboration. With increases in marginalization, victimization, and criminalization, our services continue to be needed for so many.
We hope that you see in this Strategic Plan a committed organization working to ensure people have access to the supports and services they need to live a healthy and healing life.
Meaghan Chambers, Executive Director
Christina Garisto, President of the Board of Directors
Who was elizabeth fry
Elizabeth Fry (Gurney) was born into a family of Quakers in 1780 in England. Her mother’s
father, the Scottish theologian Robert Barclay, played an important role in defining early Quaker beliefs.
It was fortunate for all concerned that Quakers believed in the equality of women (250 years
before women won the vote), otherwise Elizabeth Fry’s unusual talents in the area of prison reform might never have been realized.
Her insight, persistence, organizational ability and her willingness to see a “divine light” in
every person resulted in striking reforms taking place in the manner in which women and
children were treated in London’s Newgate Prison.
She was a strong proponent of humane treatment for prisoners and regarded by many as a
leading expert in prison reform. Elizabeth Fry also helped the homeless, establishing a “nightly shelter” in London after seeing a body of a young boy in the winter of 1819-20. She also promoted the idea of rehabilitation instead of harsh punishment which was taken on by the city authorities in London as well as many other authorities and prisons. Most of her life was spent in England, although she did visit Ireland and continental Europe. She also offered advice to the Americas, Russia and Australia. She died in 1845 at the age of 66 years.
The first Canadian Elizabeth Fry Society was established in Vancouver in 1939. The
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) was originally conceived of in 1969 and
was incorporated as a voluntary non-profit organization in 1978.
Today there are 24 local member societies located across this land known as Canada and offer
critical front-line services to their communities. Each organization is self-governing, with its own
board of directors, executive director, staff, and volunteer team. Local societies collaborate on key issues, best practices, and funding proposals.
Before her death, Elizabeth Fry was a major driving force behind new legislation to improve the
treatment of prisoners, including the need to protect incarcerated women from sexual violence and exploitation. Societies today remain inspired by her work and continue to advocate for prison abolition and decarceration of women, girls, lgbtq2sia+, indigenous and other overrepresented and marginalized populations.
who we serve
​Serves youth and adults accessing services and supports in Simcoe County and Muskoka who are at risk of or experiencing criminalization and homelessness, with expertise is service delivery for women and gender diverse individuals.
Our approach
Solution focused organization that operates services that are inclusive, client centered and trauma informed delivered through harm reduction, justice reform and housing focused approaches
Our IMpact 2021-2022
JOYCE KOPE HOUSE: PROVIDED SHELTER
AND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT TO 457
WOMEN AND GENDER DIVERSE
INDIVIDUALS
CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS DELIVERED TO 26
INDIVIDUALS
GROUP PROGRAM SESSIONS AND GUIDED
INDEPENDENT LEARNING TO 338 WOMEN
AT CENTRAL NORTH CORRECTIONAL
CENTRE
RURAL AND REMOTE PROGRAMMING
DELIVERED TO 227 PARTICIPANTS
SAFE INDEPENDENT CHOICES PROGRAM
DELIVERED TO 195 PARTICIPANTS IN 1:1,
GROUP AND WORKSHOPS
DIRECT ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM
HAD 310 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
YOUTH JUSTICE PROGRAMS:
EXTRAJUDICIAL MEASURES: 102
EXTRAJUDICIAL SANCTIONS: 57
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: 16
COLLECTED $45, 744 AND DISTRIBUTED IN
RESTITUTION
REPORTING CENTRE PROVIDED PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES TO 33 INDIVIDUALS ON PAROLE.
POST INCARCERATION PROGRAM DELIVERED
TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT TO 45 INDIVIDUALS
DISCHARGED FROM CENTRAL NORTH
CORRECTIONAL CENTRE WITH WHO WERE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
SIMCOE YOUTH TRUSTEE PROGRAM: 101
MUSKOKA YOUTH TRUSTEE PROGRAM: 14
ALEX PLACE, YOUTH TRANSITIONAL HOME: 6
TOTAL UNIQUE INDEVIDUALS SERVED 1,927
History of events
The first Canadian Elizabeth Fry Society in Canada opened in Vancouver in 1939. • The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies was formed in 1969, and as of 1985 there were 19 member societies across the county. • The Council of Elizabeth Fry Societies of Ontario (CEFSO) was established in 1952, initially meeting informally in the communities with member societies. CEFSO was formally registered as a nonprofit corporation in 1985. EFSSM remains an active member of CEFSO in membership ...
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County (EFSSC) was co-founded by Paula King and Joyce Kope in January of 1989. • The Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in February 1991 and became a Canada Revenue Agency: Charitable Organization in the same year. • Letters patent was issued March 5, 1991. • In 1994, a nine-bed half-way house (Maple House) was officially opened following the purchase of 102 Maple Avenue. • In 2002, Maple House was renovated ...
In 2001, the Elizabeth Fry Society was chosen by the Ministry of Child and Youth Services and the Ministry of the Attorney General to administer a pilot Youth Justice Committee project. • In 2005, the Elizabeth Fry Society received funding from Ministry of Children and Youth Services to provide Extrajudicial Sanctions, Extrajudicial Measures Programs and Restorative Justice Programs. • In 2006, Community Programs (Anger Management, Substance Use Program, Anti-theft, and healthy Relationships) ..
• In 2010, Direct Accountability Program was developed and implemented. • In 2012, we received funding from United Way Simcoe Muskoka to deliver Community Programs to residence in Muskoka. We started delivering programs in Probation Offices throughout the region. It later expanded to many other Muskoka Community organizations. Community Core Programs offered through Simcoe County were closed in 2014 due to lack of funding. • In 2013 the Mental Health Worker Program was created to supp
• In 2020, Joyce Kope House moved into a temporary hotel model at the Comfort Inn in Barrie during the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic. • In 2021, Post Incarceration Transition Program was established. • In 2021, Joyce Kope House moved to the Travelodge in Barrie and expanded emergency shelter space for up to 70 women daily, as the pandemic continues to impact those experiencing homelessness. • In early spring of 2022, Home for Good Project collaboration with the District of Muskoka was imple