Casa de Paso is an interactive platform of digital docu-narratives by seven women and children residents of North York Women’s Shelter in partnership with conSECUENCIAS collective. The stories illustrate the past, present and future of women and children living in Toronto’s shelter system fleeing intimate partner violence. www.casadepaso.com

CREDITS

Facilitation | Editing | Camera
Alexandra Gelis
Victoria Mata
Juan Pablo Pinto-Mendoza

Sound Composition (selected films)
Brandon Valdivia

Sound Support (selected films)
Erik Betlem

Facilitation Support
Edna Carolina Gonzalez Barona

Language interpretation by
The Barbara Schlifer Clinic
Addis Embiyalao
Onar Usar

This project was facilitated by
conSECUENCIAS Collective
www.consecuencias.org

With the support of
North York Women's Shelter
www.nyws.ca

funded by
Ontario Arts Council
http://www.arts.on.ca/

Toronto, 2017

Natasha
Good Old Times is an unrehearsed and honest story about the woman’s life before meeting her ex-husband. The colourful and playful balloons, while shielding her from direct view of the camera, intensify the tension of the room when the creator struggles to control her emotions.

Why did I leave? shows the creation of a painting that narrates with brush strokes and words a story about the power of love for her daughter being the catalyst to escape an abusive situation.  Set to a beautiful and dramatic track this video inspires hope and resilience.
 
In the video What Do I Want For My Future? the creator explains her desire to have peace with the presence of her children’s father in their lives. We can see her putting puzzle pieces together, and doing yoga to the sound of “Blackbird.”

Martha
Fresh Water  is a narrated collage of sticks and pebbles while reminiscing on one of the creator’s  positive memories camping with her best friend on a very special beach by a lake where she remembers what it felt like to be supported.

I Could Not Go On is a poetic visual representation of a woman’s gradual isolation and diminishing of her social and family circle as a consequence of her partner’s abuse. This testimony details the creator’s exit strategy and her navigation of Toronto’s violence against women services that assist her to finding shelter.

Trampoline Home shows us carefree mother and child playing and bouncing on trampoline in a backyard, while having conversations about the boy’s dreams that range from turning into a dog to becoming a karate teacher. With the soundtrack of “This little light of mine” it has an air of innocence and possibility.

Tending the Wild
The Element is a journey through the power of nature and the grounding qualities of being in harmony with the element.

Looking Out  is an intimate look into solitude through  woman’s traveling memoires and her discovery of feeling strong, grounded and connected.

Women’s Power
What Gives Me Strength is a powerful video showing a pregnant woman putting on boxing gloves and practicing throwing a few punches while telling a story of how she started training to become a kickboxing champion in Turkey in 2014.

Healthy Relationships Before Marriage is an intimate view of the creator surfing the internet for images and resources on intimate partner violence.  The creator tells her story, and shares advice on what the society needs, including the vital role that education about healthy relationships and self-defence classes.

The Future: Forgetting the Past shows a mother lovingly attending to her baby’s needs, in a peaceful and relaxed setting, while she talks about her wishes for the future.

Ethiope
Missing My Family shows mouthwatering images of Ethiopian food being cooked; while we can almost savour it ourselves, we are transported to her memories of home.

What Made Me Leave tells a story of how a mother feels after leaving her abusive husband. The creator’s journey to safety is long and painful leaving her feeling in utter despair to finally finding safety and shelter.

What I Want For My Future is a simple and beautiful video, showing the creation of a vision board by a mother with her child about her dreams for the future.

Sadaf
How The House Influences Me shows two staged phone conversations between friends, making us aware that both positivity and negativity are contagious and that the narrator derives her strength from positivity.

Emergency Resources

Assaulted Women’s Helpline
This is a toll-free crisis telephone service operating province-wide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Trained counsellors can help victims determine their options, provide information about local supports such as shelters and sexual assault centres and help them develop an immediate safety plan. Interpreters in 150 languages are available to respond to callers.
Tel (GTA): 416-863-0511 | Tel (ON): 1-866-863-0511
TTY: 1-866-863-7868
#SAFE (#7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido, Telus phone
Website: www.awhl.org

Barbara Schlifer Commerative Clinic
A counselling, legal, interpretation, information and referral service for women who are survivors of violence in Toronto
(416) 323-9149
http://www.schliferclinic.com/

Children’s Aid Society (report child abuse)
416-924-4640

Fem’aide (Francophone women)
Fem’aide offers French-speaking women who have experienced gender-based violence, support, information and referral to appropriate front-line services within their communities, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
1-800-668-6868
https://kidshelpphone.ca/

Legal Aid Ontario
Legal Aid Ontario's toll-free number connects low-income Ontarians to legal aid services, assistance and information.
Service is available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Best time to call: 9 to 10 a.m.
416-979-1446 | 1-800-668-8258
https://www.legalaid.on.ca/en/

ShelterSafe.ca
Shelter Safe is an online resource to help women and their children seeking safety from violence and abuse. The clickable map will serve as a fast resource to connect women with the nearest shelter that can offer safety, hope and support. Has a Hide button, that quickly closes this page and opens a safe alternative if the abuser is nearby.
https://www.sheltersafe.ca

Talk4healing (Aboriginal women) is a free & culturally safe telephone help line for Aboriginal Women living in Northern Ontario
1-855-554-4325
https://www.talk4healing.com/

Toronto Housing Connections (for permanent housing)
Housing Connections manages the centralized waiting list for subsidized housing in the City of Toronto, supporting singles, seniors and families through the process of applying for and waiting for subsidized housing.
416-981-6111
https://www.housingconnections.ca/

Toronto Rape Crisis Centre
The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape provides a free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week crisis line service. The Crisis Line is a private and confidential crisis intervention / support service.
Tel: 416-597-8808
TTY: 416-597-1214
Email: crisis@trccmwar.ca
Website: ttps://trccmwar.ca

TTY for Deaf Persons
416-364-8762

Victim Services (DVERS home alarm)
Mobile Emergency Response System (DVERS) is a personal alarm installed in the home of an individual who is at high risk of violence.
416-808-7077

Youthline (LGBTQ youth)
Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our telephone, text and chat services. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer
Tel: 1-800-268-9688 | Text: 647-694-4275
http://www.youthline.ca/

Youthlink (free youth counselling)
416-967-1773
http://youthlink.ca/

YWCA Here to Help (for children who have witnessed abuse)
YWCA Toronto Here to Help is a free 12-week parenting program for children 4-16 years of age and their mothers who have been exposed to woman abuse.
416-266-1232 x22
mpalma@ywcatoronto.org

VAW/Emergency shelters in Toronto

Anduhyaun Shelter
P: 416-920-1492 ext 221 | F: 416-920-6134
http://anduhyaun.org/

Dr Roz’s Healing Place
416-264-4357
http://www.drrozshealingplace.com/