VWTH Summer Update

Children's Programs - Summer Update

PEACE Camps

The PEACE/Children Who Witness Abuse team are holding youth summer camps again this year and it’s proving to be a fun and energetic time, with lots of room for growth and connection. Camp participants spend group time together each day exploring relevant psychoeducation topics, learning skills and getting to know each other. In the afternoons they head out to a different destination where they can have fun, try new activities and further their new friendships. This summer’s activities have included kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, Wild Play Adventure Course (including ziplining!), a visit to Mary’s Therapeutic Farm and more! The PEACE camp program will also be offering opportunities for our young clients and their mother/caregiver to enjoy wilderness activities together at Prospect Lake with VWTH in partnership with Power to Be.

Families in Shelter

At our Emergency Shelter, the Children’s Activity Workers have been keeping children staying at the Shelter busy and engaged with lots of different activities. Tots and youth have enjoyed trips to the Beacon Hill Petting Zoo, WildPlay Adventure Course, Langford PlayZone, Quazars Arcade, Miniature World, and Cinecenta (movies!) so far this summer. They are looking forward to future adventures at Butterfly Gardens, Esquimalt Waterpark, Sidney Aquarium, and lots of other parks through the remainder of the summer.

Our PEACE Camps program is supported by Peninsula Co-op, Rotary Club of Victoria-Harbourside, TLC Fund for Kids, the Norgaard Foundation and individual donors.

Both PEACE Camps and the Families in Shelter project are funded, in part, by the Barbara and Philip Potash Foundation.

Program Information - Family Law Advocacy

What is the Family Law Advocate role at VWTH?

A Family Law Advocate (FLA) provides individuals with support as they navigate through their family law matters. Advocates can only give information, they can’t advise. At Transition House the FLA role supports our community programs and clients. For instance, when family law related questions come up at the Shelter our FLA gets involved, meets one-on-one with the client, and provides information. The types of issues that our FLA supports clients with are around safety, including Protection Orders, child support, spousal support and eventually issues such as property division and parenting time and responsibilities. The lives of our clients are often very complex, and our FLA acts as navigator: informing about the resources available, identifying legal needs and providing reassurance.

Who does the FLA help?

The VWTH FLA works with clients from many of our programs including those staying at the Emergency Shelter and second stage housing. They are also in close contact with the Spousal Assault Victim Support team based at the courthouse, as family law issues are often identified within the criminal law cases there.

What is the advantage of having the FLA work alongside other programs?

With so much going on in our clients’ lives, it is helpful to have the FLA support right here operating alongside other VWTH programs. Our FLA can understand a client’s whole situation, and the factors that might impact their next steps. For clients at the Shelter, there’s the added convenience of on-site child minding, meaning clients can turn full attention to their discussions, which can be more effective and efficient. There are also opportunities for the FLA to share knowledge with other VWTH staff, or, for example with volunteers undertaking Crisis Line training.

“Empowering women with information and watching them educate themselves and get their feet under them for the next phase of their life is special, and very lovely to watch.” – VWTH Family Law Advocate

The Family Law Advocacy Program is funded by the Viveka Fund through the Victoria Foundation, Provincial funding through the Civil Forfeiture Grant Program, and individual donors.

Summer Markets

This summer our Community Education Coordinator, Maya, is trialing a new initiative. Along with volunteers, Maya will be hosting a VWTH information booth at several local farmer’s markets throughout the summer and fall. These markets are an opportunity to reach folks we may not otherwise have the chance to speak with and make new connections within our community. Our booth made its debut at the Oaklands Sunset Market on July 5 with great success.

If you’d like to stop by the VWTH booth at an upcoming farmer’s market, check out the schedule below!

OAKLANDS MARKET (4pm - 7:30pm), 2827 Belmont Avenue. Wednesdays: July 19 & 26, August 16 & 23.
ESQUIMALT MARKET (4pm - 7:30pm), Memorial Park. Thursdays: July 20, August 3, 10 & 31, September 14.
MOSS ST. MARKET (9am - 2pm), Sir James Douglas school grounds. Saturdays: August 12, September 9.
GOLDSTREAM MARKET (9am - 2pm), Veteran’s memorial Park. Saturday September 23.

Volunteers are integral to this initiative, a special thank you to our Volunteer Program Coordinator, Danielle, and all the volunteers who are helping to make this Community Education opportunity possible!

Garden Project

Once again, VWTH is involved with 'Get Growing, Victoria!', an initiative created by the City of Victoria and delivered in partnership with grassroots groups, non-profit and community organizations. Together these organizations provide gardening materials and educational resources at no cost to encourage communities to grow food, grow gardeners, and grow community.

‘Get Growing, Victoria’ delivered veggie seedlings earlier this year, which were distributed to residents of our second stage housing to plant on their balconies, counselling and group clients, and to the Shelter.

Shelter residents and their children, working with volunteers and staff, planted the seedlings in the container gardens on-site. The plants have been tended and are growing well, and volunteers and residents will be incorporating the produce into delicious Shelter meals through the summer and into fall. Thank you to ‘Get Growing, Victoria’ for the green thumb opportunity!

AGM - Save the date

Victoria Women's Transition House Annual General Meeting

Date: Tuesday, September 26

Time: 10 am - 12 noon

Location: In person at the Cedar Hill Golf Course Clubhouse, 1400 Derby Road and via Zoom (link will be sent with RSVP)

Special Guest: Susan Robinson, Victim Service Worker, Regional Domestic Violence Unit speaking on Technology Facilitated Gender Based Violence

If you would like to join us at our AGM, please RSVP to Laura Reniero: laurar@vwth.bc.ca

Light refreshments will be served. Lots of free parking available.

Community Support

Thank you to Huntingdon Manor for hosting a Canada Day fundraising Pancake Breakfast for VWTH. Nearly 1,000 hungry visitors came through the pancake station keeping staff extra busy! The by-donation breakfast raised over $1,800, presented to VWTH's Communications Manager Deborah by Julia Canton and Erin Cassels.

Thank you to Brooks Running Canada for a recent donation of brand-new running shoes and sports bras. These have been very gratefully received by members of our 50+ Walking Group STRIDE.

Brandon Kot from Kot Auto Group - Victoria Hyundai dropped by the Community Office to present a cheque to our Development and Communications Director, Susan. Thanks to 'Operation 100' Victoria Hyundai raised $10,000 from car sales for Victoria Women's Transition House. Thank you!

Kahla Lichi, Chair of the PSAC Women's Committee, and Monica Racz, Treasurer, presented donations collected from the Public Servants Alliance of Canada (PSAC), Vancouver Island Regional Women's Committee, Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and Union of National Defence Employees (UNDE). We are very grateful for the support - thank you!