About EFry Toronto
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.
About EFry Toronto
Our Vision
Our Values
COMPASSION
ACCOUNTABILITY
EXCELLENCE
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Meet the EFry Toronto Team
Kelly Potvin (she/her), Executive Director, ext 256
kpotvin@efrytoronto.org
Ermelina Balla (she/her), Manager of Community Outreach and Employment Supports, ext 253
eballa@efrytoronto.org
Iren Tajbakhsh (she/her), Manager of Counselling and Court Services, ext 238
itajbakhsh@efrytoronto.org
Lucy Gudgeon (she/her), Manager of Residential and Housing Program, ext 250
lgudgeon@efrytoronto.org
Building Employment Strategies Together (BEST)
Cynthia Richards (she/her), BEST/ Pre-Employment Counsellor, ext 244
crichards@efrytoronto.org
My Start-Up
Halyna Vinnichenko (she/her), Employment Program Coordinator, ext 226
416-436-6188
hvinnichenko@efrytoronto.org
Meera Umasuthan (she/her), Employment Program Coordinator, ext 241
mumasuthan@efrytoronto.org
WE LEARN
Leslie-Ann Fullerton (she/her), Project Supervisor, Community Outreach and Employment Support, ext 298
647-222-4271
lfullerton@efrytoronto.org
Building Employment Strategies Togeth
Reintegration Services
Emily Irwin (she/her), Reintegration Counsellor, ext 232
647-612-5652 eirwin@efrytoronto.org
General Counselling Services
Sherrette Thomas (she/her), General Counsellor, ext 243
Juliana Bruyn (she/her), General Counsellor, ext 249
416-435-1557 jbruyn@efrytoronto.org
Caroline Jones (she/her), General Counsellor, ext 231
Partner Assault Response (PAR)
Myroslava Stadnyk (she/her), PAR Counsellor, ext 247
TREM (Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model)
Nana Boateng (she/her), TREM Counsellor, ext 261
Chloë Foisy-Marquis (she/her), TREM Counsellor, ext 262
416-931-5215
Direct Accountability Program (DAP)
cjwcollegepark@efrytoronto.org
Victoria Di Prospero (she/her), DAP/CJW Counsellor, ext 227
416-705-2920
Reach Out to Women (Jean Tweed Centre)
Stephanie Archambault (she/her), Counsellor, ext 254
416-803-3487
Allyson Samuel (she/her), Director of Finance and Administration, ext 240
asamuel@efrytoronto.org
Shehan Abeynaike (he/him), Finance Coordinator, ext 237
sabeynaike@efrytoronto.org
Richard Opoku-Boateng (he/him), Facilities Coordinator, ext 246
rboateng@efrytoronto.org
Paz Humana (she/her), Reception and Administration Coordinator, ext 230
phumana@efrytoronto.org
Nilani Sabanayakam (she/her), CTI Housing Counsellor, ext 224
nsabanayakam@efrytoronto.org
Residential Staff, ext 233
residencestaff@efrytoronto.org
Sabra Rezaei (she/her, they/them), Volunteer and Community Services Coordinator, ext 248
srezaei@efrytoronto.org
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Shabnum Durrani
Lauriana Mandody
Michelle Smith
Dr. Flora Matheson
Lieran Docherty
Tanisha Evans
Anna Kay Bailey
Katherine Ward
Thank You to our Donors & Partners
In light of the COVID-19 crisis, your support becomes more crucial and necessary in ensuring that we are able to provide services to women who are relying on us now more than ever.
Our Programs & Services-and the many women we help depend on your support.