In Conversation with Margaret Newall, 2022 YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction
Margaret Newall has a long history of community activism and women-focused philanthropy. She co-founded both Research and Education for Solutions to Violence and Abuse (RESOLVE) and the Prairieaction Foundation, serving as the foundation’s Chair for 10 years. Margaret has raised millions of dollars to promote research and education toward ending domestic violence.
On June 9, you will receive YWCA Toronto’s Woman of Distinction President’s Award. How do you feel about receiving this award?
I feel very honoured to receive YWCA Toronto’s Women of Distinction Award. It makes me feel humbled to be compared to others who have done so much.
What does it mean to champion the rights of women and girls?
To champion the rights of women and girls means championing human rights. Women and girls deserve the chance to choose their own futures rather than having them imposed.
Growing up on a farm in Saskatchewan, no limits were placed on me or my sisters. We were encouraged to pursue any interests we had. It was not until I entered grade school that I gradually realized that not everyone was as fortunate as I was. I saw experiences of discrimination for the first time.
On December 6, 1989, while visiting friends in Montreal, I was made further aware of the impacts of gender-based violence with news of the École Polytechnique massacre. The tragedy led to women’s groups joining forces with the government to address domestic violence across Canada. I joined the effort to help support research because I had seen how family violence affects children at varying ages when the violence is not addressed or does not end. Notably, the impact violence on the mental health of children increases over time if no supports are put in place to support their healing.
You are a recognized leader who is deeply committed to research and philanthropy as key tools to advance ending gender-based violence and domestic violence. Why are these tools important? What other tools have you employed to advance this work?
Fundraising for research with Prairieaction on family violence meant approaching people in powerful positions, mostly men. It meant explaining to them how family violence costs society, and it meant using stories of individual families like their own to help them relate to the issue in a personal way. For example, I would share how some women and families were not accessing shelters because they felt that their pets would be killed if left behind. Research helped the Calgary Humane Society to develop an initiative wherein they would assist women and families fleeing violence by taking in their pets, in turn, allowing them to leave. This example illustrates why research is important. Through research, we were able to identify one of the reasons why women and families were hesitant to flee violence and use that research to find a solution.
I also incorporated statistics and story-telling in my presentations which helped to underscore the importance of finding solutions to the funders we approached.
One story I told was of a little boy aged three who witnessed abuse in his family. The help that is given at that point to the family costs a relatively low amount. If the problem is not solved at that point, however, we go on to describe the same little boy at age six. By this age, he is exhibiting behavioural challenges and the cost increases to provide supportive programming. Additionally, when the boy is a teenager, if he is not supported to heal, the cost has mushroomed. The more you put off addressing the impact of family violence, the more it will cost over time.
What do you envision for the future in your sector?
Optimists can get more done than pessimists. I hope that there are activists to carry on the work to find sustainable solutions to end violence against women and family violence.
If you could tell young girls and gender diverse youth anything, what would it be?
Trust yourself. You are worthy of respect.
As we amplify your remarkable accomplishments, what do you want our audience to remember most?
Remember what Dr. Seuss says, in The Lorax, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”