It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Vicki Trerise, one of the co-founders of Nellie’s. Over 50 years ago, Vicki, along with a group of women activists including advocate June Callwood, realized that in the city of Toronto there were only 40 beds available for homeless women, and over 400 beds for homeless men. Moved to action by this inequality, the women founded Nellie’s as a 16-bed shelter in 1973.
At only 23 years old, Vicki led the Toronto Women’s Housing Committee in negotiating for a monthly grant from Toronto’s social services and housing committee, which would allow them to operate a short-term emergency hostel for women. In their proposal, the committee explained that the city was seeing a dramatic increase in the number of women seeking assistance from the limited number of services available to them. Looking ahead to the future, the proposal noted that “the Committee is concerned with the shortage of facilities for women and the fact that demand for women’s shelters is increasing steadily and, probably, irreversibly.”
In successfully establishing one of Canada’s first women’s shelters, Vicki and her peers saw the writing on the wall, so to speak, and that the need for women’s shelters was only going to increase in the future. After 50 years, we wish we could say that Nellie’s wasn’t needed as much as ever — but it is. Vicki’s obituary refers to her as a “trailblazer for women’s rights in Canada” and “a champion for the disadvantaged and marginalized citizens in our country”, and her key role in establishing Nellie’s certainly proves that.
In 1980, Vicki was awarded the inaugural Constance E. Hamilton Award for Women’s Equality from the city of Toronto. The recommendation for the award said that “Ms. Trerise’s contribution to the cause of women in crisis is beyond measure. Thousands of women have been given a haven from their problems, and ultimately a fresh start, because of the commitment and dedication of Vicki Trerise, who saw the need and following in the footsteps of Nellie McClung, ‘got the job done.’”
Vicki’s early vision and fearless advocacy helped lay the foundation for what Nellie’s has become today — more than just a bed, we are a safe space, where women and their children are empowered to create a new path. We are profoundly grateful for her leadership, her courage, and the lasting impact of her work. Nellie’s exists because Vicki Trerise saw what was needed, and took action. We carry her legacy forward with deep respect and enduring thanks.