Optimism Place looking for volunteers to bring Not OK. campaign to workplaces

After recruiting some volunteers to distribute Not OK. campaign materials in workplaces, Optimism Place is hoping to get more volunteers to expand distribution.

Optimism Place Women’s Shelter and Support Services is looking for volunteers in Stratford and North Perth to distribute materials from the Not OK. campaign in the region’s workplaces and businesses to raise awareness on intimate partner violence (IPV). Donna Jean Forster, executive director of Optimism Place, said that some volunteers came on board after the initial social media post on Jan. 16.

In addition to physical materials like tear-off posters in women’s washrooms and workplace washrooms, there is an online resource for workplaces found on the Not OK. campaign website, https://itsnotok.ca/be-a-workplace-champion. The web page lists signs employees may be experiencing IPV such as visible distress, isolation from colleagues and frequent disruptions. Employers can also explore Make It Our Business training, explore resources and request materials.

"In addition to having campaign materials, we can support people and we want to do that, but workplaces also have an obligation to support their employees who are experiencing intimate partner violence,” Forster said.

Bill 177, for example, mandates that Ontario workplaces must accommodate the needs of an employee or a child of an employee experiencing domestic violence by either providing time off or adjusting work hours unless it would cause the employer undue financial or safety hardships.

Forster said workplaces must ensure that their policies regarding IPV must be up-to-date and clearly written so employees can understand what happens if they experience IPV.

“If they're experiencing intimate partner violence, how do they disclose that in their workplace? What is available to them from their workplace if they're experiencing intimate partner violence? What happens when they disclose? Is it kept confidential? All of that should be included in the policy and employees should know about it,” she said.

Since launching the Not OK. campaign on Nov. 25, 2025, there have been more than 1,000 website visitors and materials distributed across Stratford and Perth County public spaces like arenas and libraries.

"People have been really positive and we're hoping that continues, especially as spring arrives and it's easier for people to distribute the materials when you don't have to deal with the snowbanks,” Forster said.

Anyone interested in volunteering to distribute materials to workplaces can either send an email to donnajean@optimismplace.com or call 519-271-5310 ext. 112.