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My Sister’s Place receives over $45,000 grant for technology upgrades 

October 26, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

My Sister’s Place in Alliston has benefited from a $45,400 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which it plans to use to upgrade its technology to ensure a secure system for confidential information.

The 16-bed facility provides a safe place for women and their children who are living with the consequences of violence and abuse. The facility has been operating at its current location for 40 years.

“We are an emergency shelter for women and children who are fleeing violence,” explained Deborah Herrington, My Sister’s Place executive director. “We are funded for 16 beds. We’re busy, which is sad, but that’s why we are here. In our emergency shelter, women and children can stay for up to eight weeks. We cover all of South Simcoe so we’re in five municipalities. Some people will come from out of the area for safety, and some will want to stay in the area because this is where their life is.”

While the main house that houses guests is around 150 years old and requires constant maintenance, the funds from the grant will go specifically to the facility’s information technology.

“This money is specifically for upgrading our information technology and keeping all of our confidential information safe,” Deborah explained. “We have a lot of our facilities that are obsolete because our money doesn’t go to IT first, it goes to services first. This will upgrade our computer systems and IT services and bring them up to date, and that will take all of that money we are getting. This is super important for us because keeping information safe is very important and we need to be up to date with all of those procedures.”

Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson visited the shelter on Wednesday, Oct. 14, to learn more about the important work that is being done with the grant funds. 

“For nearly 40 years, My Sister’s Place has been a trusted source of safety and support for women and children experiencing violence and abuse in Simcoe County,” said Saunderson. “This important provincial investment will help strengthen the organization’s ability to deliver essential services to those who depend on them. My sincere thanks to Deborah Herrington and the team for their unwavering dedication and the positive impact they have on our communities every day.”

Building security is also a priority at My Sister’s Place, with cameras, door codes, and even bullet-resistant glass.

“We have a great relationship locally with the OPP,” Deborah said. “They are fantastic with us. We have safety levels that we go through depending on who is in shelter. We’ll call and put those safety measures in place and the OPP steps up to the plate whenever we need them. When we’re at a high-risk level, that is the point that we speak to the OPP. They do regular drive-bys and pop in sometimes. If we need them and call them, they get here pretty fast.”

My Sister’s Place has to raise funds through the year to meet their operating budget. Their biggest fundraiser of the year is the Hats, Heels and High Tea event.

“Hats, Heels and High Tea started out when we realized we were missing a demographic, and that was our aging population and how to involve them in what we do and educate them in what we do, and in a way that was meaningful for them,” said Deborah. “Now, all these years later it’s a great fundraiser and we keep it local. It sells out really fast.”

The shelter applies for grants every year and relies on donations to fill the funding gaps.

My Sister’s Place provides a valuable service to the community and helps keep women and children safe during a time of transition. 

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