Our hearts are filled with gratitude from the immense kindness and generosity of the community this holiday season. From toy drives to bake sales to gift card donations, and so much more, you helped make the season a very special one for our clients impacted by intimate partner violence.

Back in November, we faced a significant challenge when the Canada Post strike began to take a toll on the donations we would have typically received during the season. We reached out to the community for help. So many of you answered our call by making donations in other ways – through our website donation form, social media, by phone, and through the support of our friends at Maximum Express Couriers. Maximum Express kindly offered to pick up monetary donations for non-profit organizations around the region, including Victoria Women’s Transition House (VWTH), during the postal strike, and we are truly grateful to them for providing this thoughtful service.

We are thrilled to announce that, because of you, our Winter Campaign fundraising goal of $275,000 has been exceeded! We’re still working on tallying up the results, but at this moment we are at just over $300,000 in donations. We made it through the postal strike, and we will be able to continue to provide the life-changing support programs and services to hundreds of courageous women and their children who turn to us each year. Thank you!

The Holiday season at Victoria Women’s Transition House is always a bustling atmosphere of kindness and hopefulness as we experience so many thoughtful acts of support toward our clients. Staff and volunteers work hard to make the time as special as they can for those who stay with us. From festive dinners to weekly crafts, wreath-making to holiday decorating, clients across our sites enjoyed celebrating and sharing together.

The Holiday Hamper Program once again made a huge difference to our clients during this time of year. Thanks to 148 Hamper donors, we were able to provide 214 women and 240 children with Gift Card Hampers so they could experience the joy of the season.

Thanks to our friends at Dance Victoria and their donors who also helped bring a little sugarplum holiday magic to our clients through their Nutcracker Kids program, offering complimentary tickets to The Nutcracker, performed by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet with the Victoria Symphony.

Thank you all for warming many hearts through your caring generosity.

A favourite Holiday gift can come in many forms – for VWTH this year, our favourite gift came to us as 4 floors and 50 units of safe space, with on-site supports, for women and children fleeing from intimate partner violence.

We are so excited to announce that our West Second Stage Transitional Housing Program is open this month to its first residents as our clients begin to move into this brand-new building. The building, which is in a confidential location, features studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with some pet friendly units and accessible units.

It will provide women and their children with much-needed transitional homes for up to 24 months, with rent geared to their income.

Each unit offers a fully equipped kitchen, with fridge, oven, microwave and cooking supplies.

Walters & Watson

Friday, January 17

This Friday, local Victoria musicians Walters & Watson (www.blakewalters.com) bring their repertoire of original acoustic pop tunes to Caffe Fantastico to help raise funds for the VWTH and those impacted by intimate partner violence. Opener Jill Chouinard will read a selection of her poetry deftly weaving the personal and the political. The night will also feature raffles for prizes from local vendors.

For tickets, please follow this link.

Fashion Splash

Saturday, February 15

Nomad Market Events is once again hosting Victoria's premier local designer fashion event, Fashion Splash, at the Victoria Scottish Community Centre, on Saturday, February 15. The event features a runway-style fashion show showcasing the talented local fashion industry here on Vancouver Island.

Victoria Women’s Transition House is excited and honoured to be the beneficiary of the Fashion Splash silent auction proceeds.

For more information and to buy tickets, please visit their website. 

Victoria Goddess Run

Sunday, March 2

Introducing the VWTH Charity Champion

Victoria Women’s Transition House is proud to be one of the charity partners of the 14th annual Victoria Goddess Run taking place on Sunday, March 2 at Beaver Lake.

If you’re looking to set a fitness goal this year, the 5K or 10K walk or run along this lake-side trail route may be a perfect fit for you. It’s an accessible goal for anyone – including this year’s VWTH Charity Champion, VWTH’s Executive Director, Makenna Rielly, and the members of her team, the “Koipanions”. Makenna is proving that Goddesses of all ages and experience levels can participate in this walk/run, making a difference not only in personal health and wellness, but also with our community as a whole.

“In celebration of our 50^th anniversary this year, I hope to make the set goal of raising $5,000,” says Makenna. “We have our new second stage transitional housing program, and the funds will go towards children’s programming. I am honestly not an athlete in any way, but I do care about my health as an aging person so walking 8,000 steps a day is a good goal, and being the Charity Champion has motivated me to walk every day, even in the rain. The Goddess Run is about compassion with a goal to help raise funds, combined with a not-too-strenuous venue and an emphasis on fun. The Koipanions will proudly wear our Koi fish hats to help keep us motivated, to laugh, to live life, to work on fitness goals, and to raise funds for and awareness about gender-based violence along the way."

Goddess Run registration and fundraising is now underway. Please lace up those runners today and join us at this fun, inspiring event.

You can also support Makenna and the Koipanions' VWTH fundraising efforts here. All donations over $10 to VWTH through the Goddess Run will receive a tax receipt.

The VWTH Outreach Support Program provides both one on one and/or group support to those who are currently experiencing intimate partner violence or have experienced intimate partner violence in the past. For more information, please call our Community Office at 250-592-2927.

Living Life to the Fullest

January 16 - March 6, 1 - 3:30pm

This group offers you the opportunity to assess your thoughts, gain confidence and develop new coping mechanisms for dealing with life’s challenges. In eight interactive sessions, you will learn more about YOU and how you can be and feel the very best for yourself.

Slow Flow

January 20 - March 17, 4 - 4:50pm

Participate in this Yoga Flow to cultivate balance, strength, and restoration through mindful movement. Together, we'll stretch, breathe, and empower our bodies and minds to find centeredness on and off the mat.

Stillness Collective

Friday, January 31 - March 21, 12 - 1pm

The Stillness Collective is a calm corner for those seeking peace and clarity through guided meditation. Explore the power of silence, breath, and inner peace in a supportive community space. 

Y Group

Wednesdays, 12 - 2pm

This is a safe and compassionate space where survivors of intimate partner violence can heal, share, and support each other. Here, we empower one another to reclaim strength, build resilience, and move forward together.

Territory Acknowledgment

It is with much respect to the Lekwungen and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples of the WSÁNEĆ, Esquimalt, and Songhees Nations, on whose traditional territories the Victoria Women’s Transition House Society is located, that we make this acknowledgment with the expressed shared hope to live in communities free of intimate partner violence.