North York Women's Shelter's community hub to be named after van attack victim Anne Marie D'Amico
The brother of van attack victim Annie Marie D’Amico says his sister would be thrilled to see that her name will be permanently linked to a one-of-a-kind community hub aimed at helping women and children escape violence and get a fresh start.
The Anne Marie D’Amico Foundation has been raising funds for a new community hub for the North York Women’s Shelter and on Tuesday, the shelter is expected to announce that the centre will be named in honour of D’Amico, who was one of 10 people killed during the Yonge Street van attack in April 2018.
“The community hub is unique. I think it is the only one in the country, definitely the only one in the city, and it is essentially a space where women in the community can access resources that they may not be able to access,” D’Amico’s brother Nick told CP24 on Tuesday morning.
“The residents of the North York Women's Shelter will be able to get there as well and use the legal resources, family resources, all sorts of different things to kind of help them rebuild and just kind of start their life anew.”
He said the foundation has set a goal to raise $1 million dollars for the shelter and they have already surpassed the $500,000 mark.
“We decided we wanted to support the North York Women's Shelter shortly after the incident and we heard about what they were doing, they were in the middle of a huge renovation, a big rebuild and we just realized that what they are doing is just so fantastic,” Nick D’Amico said.
"They are just kind of breaking the mould for how shelters are operating. This community hub is really a way to reach more people in the community so we said this is just a perfect way to get involved.”
The shelter will be unveiling the name of the new community hub at an event this evening and Mayor John Tory will be in attendance.
“Having this named after her kind of embodies who she was. I think she would be very thrilled but I think she would also say we have more work to do to continue raising funds and raising awareness for our cause,” D’Amico's brother added.
“Having her name associated with something so beautiful... it really just inspires us to keep going and really just helps us remember the person she was.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
4th Indian national arrested, charged with murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Homicide investigators in B.C. say murder charges have been laid against a fourth Indian national in connection to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara last year.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Man ticketed after allegedly trespassing again at Drake's Bridle Path mansion to get his bike
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Biden calls Trump 'unhinged,' says 'something snapped' in former president after he lost 2020 U.S. election
U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday called Donald Trump “clearly unhinged” and claimed that “something snapped” in the former president after he lost the 2020 election.
Wildfire that forced evacuation of Fort Nelson, B.C., caused by tree falling on wires, mayor says
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Switzerland's Nemo wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest
Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with 'The Code,' an operatic ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing their nongender identity.
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.