CrossFit fundraiser supports victims of conjugal violence in Montreal

The Women Aware CrossFit fundraiser on Montreal's West Island helped to fund services for victims of domestic violence.

For survivors, by survivors.

That’s Women Aware’s modus operandi.

The Montreal non-profit helps to connect victims of conjugal violence with resources like shelters.

For president Shennel Hunte, the cause hits close to home.

“In 2013, I left an abusive relationship. [...] The physical, emotional ramifications of that were really hard to get over,” she said. “The day that someone decides to leave is like the most violent day and the most challenging day.”

Hunte says she got help from loved ones, Crime Victims Assistance Centres and court assistance.

Within a year, she came out on the other side.

“It’s actually when I first started to get into working out. I started with CrossFit. It made me feel like I could do something. It made me feel strong,” she explained.

Now she’s using the workout that empowered her to raise funds to empower others. In exchange for donations, supporters hit the gym for a CrossFit class.

“I think it’s very important to bring awareness to situations where people may not feel like they have the help. So if we can have a little circuit where we can bring people together, this is a proper opportunity for that,” trainer Vincent Rojas told CTV, while leading the class.

According to Montreal police (SPVM), incidents of conjugal violence are trending up.

Domestic violence accounted for 26 per cent of crimes against a person in 2024.

Data from Women and Gender Equality Canada shows nearly half of females aged 15 and up, who have been in an intimate relationship, have experienced abuse.

With only $44 million of federal funding allocated to gender-based violence, Hunte says there’s a big strain.

“We have one main funder and they’re great and they’ve been helping us through before COVID, during COVID, after, but they also haven’t received their envelopes, so it’s really hard,” she said.

Hunte hopes that raising awareness will also help raise funds, so Women Aware can continue its mission.