Leaving an abusive situation is rarely as simple as walking out the door.
There are belongings to move, somewhere safe to store them, transportation to arrange, children to consider, and often very little time to make it all happen.
For the past decade, Shelter Movers has focused on that critical piece of the journey.
The Canadian charity provides free moving and secure storage services to survivors of gender-based violence, helping individuals and families transition out of unsafe homes without adding the cost of a move to an already difficult situation.
This November, Shelter Movers marks its 10th anniversary, having completed more than 10,000 moves since 2016. The organization says it is now powered by more than 1,000 volunteers nationally and works with shelters, community organizations and referral agencies to coordinate moves with safety and confidentiality at the centre. Shelter Movers
That scale is significant, but the individual circumstances behind each move are what matter.
In 2025 alone, Shelter Movers completed more than 1,600 moves. According to the organization, 63 per cent of survivors said they would have needed to take on debt to pay for a move themselves, while 93 per cent reported feeling safe and supported through the process.
The service is designed to remove exactly that kind of barrier.
A survivor is typically referred through a community agency or public partner. Shelter Movers then works with the survivor and referral partner to plan the move before trained volunteers carry it out. Some situations require additional safety measures. The charity reports that approximately 20 per cent of moves are considered high risk and involve police or security presence. Shelter Movers
What began in Toronto has since expanded across the country. Shelter Movers launched in 2016 and grew from its original Toronto operation into communities including Ottawa, Southwestern Ontario, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Shelter Movers
Chief Operating Officer Vicky Sage, who was involved from the organization’s earliest days, describes that growth as a national movement built around a simple principle: people should not have to leave abuse alone.
That idea will be at the centre of A Moving Affair, Shelter Movers’ annual fundraising gala, taking place Friday, November 6 at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto.
The evening will include a three-course dinner, auction, storytelling and live entertainment, with proceeds supporting Shelter Movers’ national moving and storage operations. The organization’s 2025 gala raised $650,000, which it says directly supported more than 300 individuals and their children as they moved to safety. Shelter Movers
For a site that often celebrates where to eat, what to see and how to enjoy Toronto, this is also part of the city worth paying attention to.
Sometimes making life better looks like a concert, a new restaurant or an unforgettable night out.
Sometimes it looks like a truck, a team of volunteers, and someone knowing they do not have to make one of the hardest moves of their life alone.
A Moving Affair
Friday, November 6, 2026
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
👉 Learn more, donate or purchase gala tickets: Shelter Movers
For anyone currently experiencing gender-based violence, Shelter Movers works through referral partners and community agencies. Its website also provides information about accessing support and moving services.
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