Author Heather Marshall addresses International Women’s Day Breakfast in London

The 26th annual breakfast was one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the London Abused Women's Centre.

The London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC) hosted the 26th Annual International Women’s Day (IWD) Breakfast Friday morning at RBC Place London.

The event serves as LAWC’s most significant fundraiser of the year, with all proceeds directed towards providing essential frontline services and support to women and girls who have experienced abuse, assault, exploitation, trafficking, and non-state torture.

This year’s event featured bestselling author Heather Marshall, known for her novel ‘Looking for Jane’. Marshall, who previously worked in politics and communications in London, draws inspiration for her fiction from real-life scenarios that profoundly impact the lives of women and girls. Her work often critically examines the failings of political and judicial systems.

During a question-and-answer session with LAWC Executive Director Jenn Dunn, Marshall shared her personal connection to this theme.

“There was legislation on the books in Ontario that allowed for women to be incarcerated for not having committed a crime, for just subjective misbehavior,” she said.

“So, when I read that, that just infuriated me.”

Marshall’s latest book, ‘Liberty Street’, delves into the history of a former prison for women in Toronto.

It has just been released and sits among the top five bestsellers of Canadian books.

Dunn has highlighted the IWD Breakfast as an important reminder of the ongoing work dedicated to addressing gender-based violence.

“We need to continue to provide immediate access to service,” Dun said.

“So, if a woman calls in or walks in, she can speak with somebody right away within the same week, whatever works for her schedule. That’s first and foremost. That’s number one. And that’s why we exist. We want to also put a focus on education, prevention, awareness raising and advocating for system change and policy change. And really educating, even, young men and boys.”