Announcing Our New Executive Director: Laverne Blake
Laverne Blake, Executive Director Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter
We are delighted to announce Laverne Blake is the new Executive Director of Ernestine’s. Laverne has brought a deep commitment, inclusion, and innovation to Ernestine’s for over 20 years, and most recently has been seamlessly leading our team as Acting Executive Director.
Laverne first joined Ernestine’s as a front-line counsellor, directly supporting gender-based violence survivors. As she advanced to supervisor, manager and director roles, she remained focused on improving and evolving our programs and services to best serve survivors. In the past few years, she has spearheaded the development of our current four-year strategic plan, advocated to broaden our mission statement to be gender-inclusive, and continued to foster a warm environment to ensure staff feel supported as we do this difficult but essential work. With her support and guidance, the team at Ernestine’s has also brought together all outreach services under the Community Crisis Response Program. “We’ve renamed our outreach program to reflect the world today,” Laverne explains. “Gender-based violence has reached a crisis point, and we are seeing more and more survivors with complex mental health or immigration needs. The Community Crisis Response Program is tailored for each individual. This personalized approach meets each survivor where they are at, helping to break cycles of violence for good.”
As Laverne steps into this role, she’s inspired by retiring Executive Director Sharlene Tygesen’s legacy. Across her 34 years at Ernestine’s, Sharlene’s grassroots leadership grew the collective into a multi-service organization that now serves women, two-spirit, trans, non-binary, and all gender diverse survivors, and their children. “Sharlene ensured that Ernestine’s always recognized that children’s rights were separate from parents’ rights and that children are our most vulnerable clients,” she says. Laverne also credits Sharlene for championing an inclusive focus. “Without her, there's no way that our mission would have been able to change to be more gender-inclusive — it couldn’t have been done without her support. Her legacy is ensuring that all survivors have access to supportive services. She is very passionate and committed to the work, and always supporting women, individuals and children. That’s what I want to take forward.”
“It is truly an honour to lead an incredible team that shows up every single day for survivors and their children as they begin to rebuild their lives free from violence.”
She’s doing exactly that. Laverne is deeply committed to survivors of gender-based violence and she holds deep institutional knowledge. Her values-driven leadership provides a purposeful foundation — but she’s also keenly interested in innovation and evolving to meet the changing needs of the world we’re living in.
In her first six months as Executive Director, Laverne is prioritizing updating shelter infrastructure following last fall’s flood that revealed extensive and costly damage. “I want to ensure this never happens again,” she says. The plan is already well underway, with structural repairs completed, and the Child & Youth spaces now fully renovated and reopened.
She also recently learned that Ernestine’s will be actively involved in Ontario’s pilot of the Canadian MARAC Pilot, a model that coordinates a multi-agency response for high-risk domestic violence. “We will be one of the organizations spearheading a gender-based violence risk model table, supporting high-risk clients with multiple partner agencies,” Laverne shares. “I’m very excited that we’re going to be part of that. It will be extremely significant for us, and it has the potential to be a real step forward in improving survivors’ experiences and disrupting cycles of gender-based violence.”
In order to provide the best possible support for survivors who turn to Ernestine’s, Laverne is also focused on prioritizing sustainable funding and ensuring stability for the team. “Operating a shelter is 24/7 work. You’re constantly responding. Our work is not a typical workday,” Laverne explains. “We need to support our team so they can support survivors. So I am very mindful of employee wellness and competitive compensation. One of the challenges we’re enduring in our sector — not just at Ernestine’s — is losing folks to other sectors that receive more government funding. We need to be funded at a level that sustains delivery of exceptional services. That’s something I’ll be strongly advocating for.”
“Laverne’s deep commitment to survivors, her extensive experience at Ernestine’s, and her values-driven leadership make her exceptionally well positioned to guide the organization into its next chapter.”
Above all, she says, she’s honoured to continue leading an incredible team that shares her deep commitment to supporting survivors with dignity, compassion and respect. “I couldn’t do this without an amazing team that shows up every single day for survivors and their children who turn to Ernestine’s for help. It truly is an honour to empower survivors as they begin to build a new life, free of violence.”
To read the official announcement from the Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter Board of Directors, please click here.
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About Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter
Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter provides safety, support, and advocacy for women, children, and gender-diverse individuals fleeing gender-based violence. Through emergency shelter, counselling, outreach, and community partnerships, Ernestine’s works to empower survivors, promote safety, and support individuals and families as they rebuild their lives free from violence.
Support Our Work
Every day, survivors and their children turn to Ernestine’s in moments of crisis. The support of our community helps ensure that we can continue providing safe shelter, critical services, and pathways to healing. If you would like to learn more about Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter or support our work, please visit the support us page or reach out to engagement@ernestines.ca