Zonta International, a leading global service and advocacy organization active in 64 countries, envisions a world where no woman or girl lives in fear of violence.

With more than 25,000 members in 1,093 clubs, Zonta works tirelessly to build a better world for women and girls. Each year, Zonta Clubs worldwide participate in the Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign, part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, running from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day).

“Women’s rights are human rights,” says Judith Ainsworth, leader of Zonta Club in the Kanata-Stittsville area. “This year, the Kanata-Stittsville community took a meaningful step toward change by focusing on allyship with boys and men.”

As part of the local 2025 Zonta Says NO campaign, members of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) partnered with the Zonta Club, linking arms to show solidarity and support.

The partnership reflects the shared commitment of OPS and Zonta to the safety and security of the community. Police officers play a critical role in addressing domestic violence and abuse, and this campaign offered an opportunity to publicly reinforce that commitment.

At the Huntmar station, club Zontians joined officers for a photo with the Zonta Says NO banner. Present were Inspector Isabelle Lemieux, OPS support dog Cindy, Acting Staff Sergeant Andrew Pidcock, Sergeant John Drader, and Constable Darren Joseph, all proudly standing together to send a clear message: violence against women will not be tolerated.

Also part of the picture is Kristy Taylor, Operations Manager with Shelter Movers in Ottawa. A volunteer-powered organization, Shelter Movers is referral-based and supports people leaving situations of violence with free moving and storage services. “We want to take away some of the stress involved in someone’s decision to leave,” Kristy says. “In high-risk situations, we call on the Ottawa Police for support and they will be present with us during a move.”

“We support approximately 20 moves a month,” Kristy explains. “We work with about 45 partners in the greater Ottawa area and on the Quebec side as well. We are always looking for dedicated volunteers.”

By coming together, the OPS, Shelter Movers, and Zonta Club of Kanata-Stittsville demonstrate that community safety and gender equality are shared responsibilities, and meaningful change happens when organizations with similar missions come together.