About Us
We advocate for alternatives to the criminal justice system and raise awareness about systemic oppressions that criminalize women and gender diverse communities
A Brief History— from a one-room office in 1952
1951-1952
In 1951, a group of women from the First Unitarian Church Toronto met to discuss prison reform with Agnes MacPhail, Canada’s first female Member of Parliament. This meeting resulted in the founding of the Elizabeth Fry Society, Toronto Branch incorporating as a non-profit in 1952.
From a one-room office on Jarvis Street, the agency has grown into its current location which provides counselling, support programs, and transitional housing.
How a prison visit led to years of Women’s Advocacy
1780-1812
Elizabeth Fry was an English woman, born in 1780 into a wealthy Quaker family. In 1812, she began visiting women imprisoned in London’s infamous Newgate Prison. She was appalled by the conditions of poor and illiterate women incarcerated with their children and campaigned for their rights. Elizabeth Fry established a school for the children in prison and created work projects for women to gain skills so they would be able to earn money after their release. She also advocated for female guards and better conditions, her persistence and compassion led to real change for women in prison.
Phyllis Haslam — a tireless advocate for the welfare of women
1953-1978
Phyllis Haslam was the Executive Director of Elizabeth Fry Toronto from 1953 until 1978. A tireless advocate for the welfare of women, Phyllis Haslam spearheaded the organization’s considerable growth. The principles by which she led the organization continue to guide Elizabeth Fry Toronto today.
Before her death in 1991, Phyllis Haslam witnessed the building of 215 Wellesley Street House which was the realization of her most profound dreams: caring and professional residential services, counselling programs designed to meet client needs in a sensitive and timely fashion, and community outreach.
OUR MISSION
Elizabeth Fry Toronto works alongside women and gender diverse people to change the structural inequalities that lead to criminalization, providing housing, counselling, employment, court and community-based supports.
OUR VISION
Safe and just communities with strong, restorative alternatives to prison.
OUR VALUES
Abolitionism
We understand that most crimes arise from conditions of poverty, racism, colonialism and structural inequality. Addressing these root causes of crime is critical to its prevention. Alongside our partners, we work to replace carceral logic, which isolates and dispossesses, with a commitment to transformative justice that heals both the individual and the community. We work towards a world where well-resourced and broad-based community supports are the leading responses to harm, making prisons unnecessary. We advance meaningful, well-resourced and just alternatives to confinement that keep communities safe.
TRAUMA & VIOLENCE-INFORMED
We recognize the central role that intergenerational trauma, violence, and discrimination play in the choices women and gender diverse people make to survive, and we commit to embedding trauma- and violence-informed principles across our services, leadership, and internal culture.
EVIDENCE-BASED
Research, evidence and lived experience guide our work, helping us challenge stigma, scapegoating and harmful narratives. We monitor, evaluate, and continuously learn from our work to ensure its ongoing relevance, reflect diverse perspectives and drive positive impacts.
COLLABORATIVE, RESTORATIVE & REFLECTIVE
We recognize that meaningful change cannot be achieved in isolation. We work in partnership to build restorative, community-based responses to harm. We advance accountable, healing and preventative responses to harm beyond punishment. We collaborate, listen, and learn, adapting our approaches when they fall short of our values.
LIVED & LIVING EXPERIENCE
Women and gender diverse people who have experiences of over-policing, under-protection and incarceration know best what they need to build the lives they want. We commit to engaging their expertise throughout our organization in ways that can govern, guide, and push us to be the best resource we can.
INTERSECTIONAL EQUALITY
Criminalization is shaped by structural racism, gender oppression, gender-based violence, and intergenerational trauma. We know that the prevention of crime requires interventions based on equity and substantive equality. We work according to our belief that all people have the right to live in safer communities free from violence in all its forms.
Elizabeth Fry Toronto Staff
MEET OUR COMPASSIONATE & COMMUNITY-FOCUSED TEAM
Kelly Potvin (she/her), Executive Director, ext. 256
kpotvin@efrytoronto.org
Lucy Gudgeon (she/her), Director of Programs, ext. 250
lgudgeon@efrytoronto.org
Allyson Samuel (she/her), Director of Finance and Administration, ext. 240
asamuel@efrytoronto.org
Ermelina Balla (she/her), Manager of Community Outreach and Employment Supports, ext. 253
eballa@efrytoronto.org
Nazarene Njeru, (she/her), Program Manager, Community Support, ext. 238
nnjeru@efrytoronto.org
Nilani Sabanayakam (she/her), Manager, Housing Program, ext. 224
nsabanayakam@efrytoronto.org
Nadine Casemore (she/her), Manager, Phyllis Haslam Residential Program, ext. 268
ncasemore@efrytoronto.org
Just In Time (JIT)
justintime@efrytoronto.org
Chanté DuBreuil (she/her), CTI Counsellor, ext. 251
cdubreuil@efrytoronto.
Audrey Noguera (she/her), CTI Counsellor, ext. 255
anoguera@efrytoronto.org
Record Suspension
recordsuspensions@efrytoronto.org
Madhura Pancha (she/her), Record Suspension Counsellor, ext. 260
mpancha@efrytoronto.org
Women’s Empowerment through Business (WEB)
web@efrytoronto.org
Rishika Kundaria (she/her), Employment Program Coordinator, ext. 226
rkundaria@efrytoronto.org
Nyokani Natana (she/her), Employment Program Coordinator, ext. 244
nnatana@efrytoronto.org
Reintegration Services
Rachel Lim (she/her), Reintegration Counsellor, ext. 232
rlim@efrytoronto.org
General Counselling Services
Alexandra Jemide (she/her), General Counsellor, ext. 298
ajemide@efrytoronto.org
Suzan Abdelnour (she/her), General Counsellor, ext. 243
sabdelnour@efrytoronto.org
Sherrette Thomas (she/her), General Counsellor
Partner Assault Response (PAR)
Shulamit Sappire (she/they), PAR Counsellor, ext. 249
ssappire@efrytoronto.org
Denisse Ramirez (she/her), PAR Counsellor, ext. 247
dramirez@efrytoronto.org
Standing Strong: Trauma Recovery and Empowerment
Karen Hoi Lam Wong (she/her), Counsellor, ext. 298
hwong@efrytoronto.org
Julia Marchese (she/her), Counsellor, ext. 252
jmarchese@efrytoronto.org
Direct Accountability Program (DAP)
cjwcollegepark@efrytoronto.org
Shawnita Donaldson (she/her), DAP Counsellor, ext. 227
sdonaldson@efrytoronto.org
Victoria Di Prospero (she/her), DAP Counsellor
Bail Court Navigator-Brain Injury Project
Megan Rodrigues (she/her), Bail Court Navigator, ext. 259
mrodrigues@efrytoronto.org
Hannah Li (she/her), Bail Court Navigator, ext. 263
hli@efrytoronto.org
Reach Out to Women (Jean Tweed Centre)
Stephanie Archambault (she/her), Counsellor
C: 416-803-3487
stephaniearchambault@jeantweed.com
Shehan Abeynaike (he/him), Finance Coordinator, ext. 237
sabeynaike@efrytoronto.org
Rey Bedana, (he/him), Facilities Coordinator, ext. 246
rbedana@efrytoronto.org
Paz Humana (she/her), Reception and Administration Coordinator, ext. 230
phumana@efrytoronto.org
Residential Staff, ext. 233
residencestaff@efrytoronto.org
Mar Barud (she/her), Housing Success Worker, ext. 264
mbarud@efrytoronto.org
Lakmini Wijayawickrama (she/her), Housing Success Worker, ext. 265
lwijayawickrama@efrytoronto.org
Helen Lee (she/her), Housing Success Worker, ext. 269
hlee@efrytoronto.org
Olivia Darwin (she/her), Volunteer and Resource Development Coordinator, ext. 248
odarwin@efrytoronto.org
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
COMMITED LEADERS, GUIDED BY A SHARED MISSION.
Lauriana Mandody
President
Bhavan
Sodhi
Vice-President
Cara-Marie O'Hagan
Treasurer
Shabnum
Durrani
Director
Moka
Dawkins
Director
Tanisha
Evans
Anna Kay
Bailey
Lauren
Winkler
Jessica Chandrashekar
Director
Thank You to our Donors & Partners
Today, as many women and gender diverse people face increasing criminalization and barriers to support, your dedication to our mission is more meaningful than ever. Breaking cycles of trauma, poverty and incarceration are possible with investments like yours into the community.