Royal LePage® Night Light Walk highlights critical need for transitional housing amidst National Housing Crisis
TORONTO, October 20th, 2025 – This week, thousands of people across twelve Canadian cities are walking to raise awareness and crucial funds for local women’s second-stage housing/transitional shelters and housing support programs. The third annual Royal LePage® Shelter Foundation™ Night Light Walk™, presented by TD, addresses the urgent need for safe, affordable housing for individuals and families escaping domestic violence.
According to Women’s Shelters Canada, 99.5% of shelter staff and survivors report their community is facing a housing crisis.[1] Intimate partner violence impacts 44% of women and girls in an intimate partner relationship.[2] And, on any given day in Canada, 3,000 women and their 2,500 children are living in an emergency shelter to escape family violence.[3] While these emergency shelters provide immediate safety, they are not meant to meet long-term housing needs.
Second-stage housing – longer-term accommodation for women no longer fleeing immediate abuse, but still needing support and safety – is vital. Due to a shortage of this type of housing and underfunding of existing second-stage housing, survivors are left without a clear path to long-term stability. Funds raised by Night Light Walk participants expand transitional housing initiatives through new builds and renovations, and provide essential resources like trauma counselling, legal assistance and positive parenting programs. In communities without transitional housing, funds support emergency shelter programs, where longer-term and affordable housing is sought.
Last year alone, over $315,000 was raised at the Night Light Walk. This contributes to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation’s total of over $52 million raised since its inception in 1998, supporting over 200 local women’s transitional shelters and national partners.
“Far too many women and children in Canada are forced to flee their homes because of domestic violence. For those at risk, a local shelter is often their only refuge,” said Phil Soper, President and CEO, Royal LePage. “The Night Light Walk is a powerful nationwide event, organized by Royal LePage Realtors and made possible by overwhelming community support. Together, we are shining a light on this epidemic, and the funds we raise provide critical support and truly change lives.”
The event features an illuminated three-kilometer walk in each participating city, where attendees carry lights symbolizing hope for a future free from the threat of domestic violence. The walk under the stars follows a route lined with local residents and businesses displaying lights, creating a visible chain of compassion. An opening ceremony offers inspiring words from shelter representatives and community leaders, accompanied by music and reflection.
“With shelters nationwide facing constant challenges to provide critical support for women and children escaping family violence, the time to act is now,” said Lisa Gibbs, Executive Director of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. “Seeing the community come together to support this event is inspiring, and highlights the importance of Royal LePage’s continued advocacy for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. We are also grateful to our local realtors, shelter representatives, and our presenting sponsor, TD Bank, and to Make Space Storage for their commitment to raising funds and awareness for this important cause.”
Join us for a life-saving three-kilometer walk under the stars and help shine a light on the path to ending domestic violence. Here’s how you can take part:
- Register and Fundraise: Sign up online and commit to raising a minimum of $50. Every dollar makes a difference.
- Walks are taking place on October 21st in Victoria and Belleville, and on October 23rd in Coquitlam, Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Windsor, London, Guelph, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.
- Light the way: Join the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Night Light Walk, presented by TD, in a city near you.
- Spread the Word: Encourage friends, family and colleagues to join you in making a difference. Share the event on social media using the hashtag #NightLightWalk.
- Learn More: You can learn more about the work of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation in the 2024 Impact Report.
The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation is grateful to all the sponsors helping make this important event happen including Presenting Sponsor TD, Route Sponsor Make Space Storage, and Burson for helping spread this important message.
About the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation
Since its founding in 1998, the Royal LePage® Shelter FoundationTD has proudly grown to become the largest public foundation in Canada dedicated exclusively to funding women’s shelters and domestic violence prevention. Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company with its own charitable foundation. The Shelter Foundation has raised more than $52 million to-date and currently supports 200 local women’s shelters and national partners. Agents donate a portion of their commissions, and Royal LePage offices across Canada host local fundraising events such as the Night Light Walk. Every dollar raised goes directly to helping the more than 50,000 women and children who are served each year by the shelters and support programs we fund.
Media Contact:
Tinsae Woldetensae
Burson on behalf of Royal LePage
tinsae.woldetensae@bursonglobal.com
[1] Shelter Voices: Crisis within Crisis | Women’s Shelters Canada
[2] Intimate partner violence | Government of Canada
[3] Intimate partner violence, substance use, and health comorbidities among women: A narrative review | Frontiers in Psychology
