February 14, 2025
The Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counselling Centre of Durham Region is a registered charitable organization dedicated to empowering women, youth, children, gender diverse and those with disabilities from diverse backgrounds. We provide free, confidential, and culturally responsive counselling, to help survivors of violence heal, rebuild their lives, and thrive as active, respected members of society.
Since 1993, we have been a trusted voice and advocate in the community, working to raise awareness, break cycles of violence, and promote equity, inclusion and social justice.
We are committed to ensuring that every woman and service recipient regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, income, immigration status, age, ability, or social identity—has equitable access to our services and programs.
At WMRCC there is no closed door! Everyone is welcome. No one is turned away.
We provide compassionate, culturally sensitive, and client-centered support through the following programs:
We are Registered Charitable Organization dedicated mainly to the eradication of violence against immigrant, newcomer women, children and youth.
The organization was founded in 1993 to provide services and increase public awareness of the rising incidence of woman assault in our community.
The organization works from integrated feminist, anti-racist and anti-oppression perspectives.
WMRCC of Durham acknowledges the financial support from our funders:
WMRCC of Durham is always in need of volunteers who can share their skills, talent, time, wisdom and knowledge with others. WMRCC of Durham values the contribution made by volunteers and volunteers are integral part of the agency. Volunteers at the agency contribute in different programs and services including outreach support, administrative duties, fundraising, workshops, case aide support, mentorship and accompaniment. Your involvement as a volunteer makes a difference in other peoples lives.
The Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counselling Centre of Durham Region (WMRCC) was founded out of a powerful need for social change. In the early 1990s, no agency in the Region specifically addressed the unique challenges faced by multicultural, immigrant, and refugee women experiencing violence. Recognizing this critical gap, a committed group of volunteers took action. With support from Barbara Rahder and associates, they conducted a comprehensive needs assessment and a series of focus groups with women from diverse backgrounds who had experienced abuse.
The results were clear: there was an urgent need for a dedicated counselling centre that could offer trauma-informed care, culturally responsive support. In response, the Women’s Rights Action Coalition of Durham (WRAC) was established in 1993. As the organization grew and its scope expanded, the name was changed in 2003 to the Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counselling Centre of Durham (WMRCC), better reflecting its mission, services, and the communities it serves.
Since its inception, WMRCC has remained at the forefront of addressing gender-based violence and supporting the holistic well-being of women and families. The Centre provides vital services including trauma-informed counselling, crisis intervention, mentorship, youth programming, children programming, seniors programming, newcomer support, women with disabilities programming, and economic empowerment initiatives like the Worker Cooperative Development Program.
In 2001, WMRCC was honored with a nomination for the Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s Award of Excellence—recognizing its outstanding contributions to equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in the community. Also, in 2010, the organization was honoured with the same award from the Town of Ajax.
WMRCC provides services from intersectionality of gender-based violence and other forms of oppressions. The organization stands firmly against all forms of violence, discrimination, and oppression. The organization upholds the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, confidentiality, and social justice. Every program and service are guided by a deep respect for the lived experiences of women and a commitment to building a resilient, empowered, and inclusive community.
It feels so good to have someone to talk to; someone who understands the issue and sensitive to my feelings. I am always looking forward to coming to my counselling session every week!
Today I hesitated quite a bit before coming to this session. I contemplated cancelling the appointment but here I am leaving a different individual from the one who walked in. I feel so much lighter after my session. These counselling sessions present an opportunity to feel free and clear my mind of negative and other thoughts of hopelessness.
This agency was there for me in the early nineties when majority of the community did not know how to deal with a Muslim woman like me, for that I will always be grateful.
