"July 1 is about celebrating what makes Canada beautiful and strong. This year, more than ever, Canada Day invites Canadians to show empathy, understanding and resilience. It also offers an opportunity to reflect, reaffirm our commitment to address systemic racism and discrimination, and learn from each other with open hearts and minds. Most importantly, Canada Day allows us to hold a truthful, reconciliatory and inclusive dialogue while strengthening the ties that unite us and looking toward our country's future with hope and confidence while acknowledging darker episodes of our history."
– Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage
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The Canadian Indigenous Flag (pictured) was designed by Curtis Wilson of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation near Campbell River in 2005. Wilson called his creation “standing together in support of each other.” Read the Times Colonist article spotlighting the famous flag design, here.
At Victoria Women’s Transition House, we acknowledge, with empathy, the pain and trauma of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. We hope that our commitment to inclusivity and diversity, through an understanding of the impacts of colonization and by providing trauma-informed supports, will enable us to move forward and help alleviate some of the ongoing intersectional challenges faced by Indigenous women and children in Canada impacted by intimate partner violence and abuse.
Support is always available. Call our 24-hour Crisis and Information Line at 250-385-6611. The "Supporting Indigenous Women and Girls" webpage on the BC Society of Transition House's website provides helpful resources and information.
Photo Credit: The Flag Shop, Times Colonist Article
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Embracing the warmer days, Shelter residents and our House Manager have been spending some time together in the gardens. We are happy to be working with Green Image Lawn and Garden to get our gardens and lawn looking beautiful this summer.
VWTH has been busy recruiting, onboarding and welcoming new staff and summer students to the Shelters team.
A Children's Counsellor recently joined the team and comes with a wealth of experience in child and youth services and provides valuable feedback and counselling supports to parents and youth alike. Our new counsellor and the entire Children’s team have been working at our two Shelter locations to develop additional activities for children and youth—including mini outings and in-house projects. Our summer student Tatiana will be working closely with the Children’s team until August.
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To support staff roles and professional development interests, all Women's and Children's Counselling teams will be participating in a variety of training opportunities. These include Introduction to Trauma & Resiliency Informed Practice, Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) Collaborative Learning and LearningLinks, an online learning resource designed to enhance knowledge, skills and confidence in child and youth mental health.
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Victoria Goddess Run Charity Champion Update! |
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On June 12, Carolyn completed the 10th Annual June Victoria Goddess Run. Cheered on by her mother, partner and colleagues (pictured, bottom right) decked in colourful boas, face masks and purple VWTH t-shirts, Carolyn commenced her race at Lochside Primary School at precisely 9:15am. 27 minutes and 40 seconds later, she crossed the finish line, complete with a big smile and a satisfying run time. With the ease in COVID-19 restrictions, this was the first time in almost two years Carolyn’s mother was able to cheer for her at a finish line.
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That was a good run! shared Carolyn with a satisfied grin. Celebrations were made complete with a flower presentation, fancy bubbly (Perrier in champagne glasses) and fun group photos. Thank you, Carolyn. And a huge thank you also to families, friends and donors for their support and to the Victoria Goddess Run for choosing VWTH as their charity of choice, we are truly honoured.
With two more Victoria Goddess Runs lined up, including the October Harvest Moon Run and the December Snowflake Run, Carolyn, as well as hundreds of other participants will run and raise funds in support of VWTH.
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We are excited to announce that Victoria Women's Transition House will register as a team for the October Harvest Moon Run! The team will include Transition House staff, volunteers, family and beloved pets and will be led by our October Charity Champions Lily and adorable dog, Dandelion (pictured!).
More details to come. Keep an eye out on Facebook for more Victoria Goddess Run updates at @goddessrunbc and @VWTHS
Photo Credit: Chris Tiane
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Rose and Rook Flower Shop
Have you heard of Rook and Rose? Extended through July, purchase their fresh or dried Designer's Choice floral arrangement and 100% of the sales profits will be donated to a charity of your choice: VWTH, Living Edge or RAVEN Trust. Shop their collection, here.
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Community Support Spotlight |
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Rotary Club of Victoria—Harbourside |
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The Rotary Club of Victoria—Harbourside has been a long-term supporter of the work that we do at Victoria Women's Transition House, especially our PEACE/Children Who Witness Abuse Program. Read below to learn more about their impactful work.
Pictured: Rotary club members fundraise in various ways! Charlie Scott fundraising at an annual garage sale sorting the items for sale.
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Tell us about the Rotary Club of Victoria—Harbourside
The Rotary Club of Victoria—Harbourside is a diverse group of 90+ community leaders who together transform lives and communities locally and around the world. Our members can attend a lively weekly meeting, enjoy friendship, network, develop leadership skills and make a difference in the community. All this while having fun. See more, including membership details, at harboursiderotary.org
What inspired your recent gift to Victoria Women’s Transition House (VWTH)?
This pandemic added stress to the lives of a lot of families, women in particular. We wanted to use the funds that our members raised through our community to make a difference, especially for those who were at higher risk than the general population to be harmed physically, psychologically, emotionally, or financially. We also like to support programs that increase the quality of life of the participants, including programs that increase access to sports, creative activities, the arts, or cultural activities. When VWTH applied for funding for its Children’s Camp, it seemed like a really good fit.
Why does this cause matter to you?
Supporting youth has always been a priority for Rotary and so the work that the PEACE/Children Who Witness Abuse Children’s Camp Program resonated with our members. This cause matters to us because supporting children who have witnessed domestic abuse empowers them to make choices leading them away from perpetuating the cycle of violence.
A huge thank you to the Rotary Club of Victoria—Harbourside for their support of the PEACE/Children Who Witness Abuse Children’s Camp Project.
The article has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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Annual General Meeting (AGM) |
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The Board of Directors of Victoria Women's Transition House invite you to attend our AGM, which will be held on September 21, 2021, at 2:00pm over Zoom video conference.
Join us and a special guest speaker (TBC) for updates and highlights as we mark another year serving women and children escaping intimate partner violence and abuse.
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A Bottle Drive and Donation of Hygiene Products
Thank you to teacher Claire and students Aylin and Aliyna (pictured) for organizing a bottle drive to raise funds for Victoria Women's Transition House. They also brought in an abundance of hygiene products for our Shelter residents.
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9th Annual Raise the Roof for Shelter Fundraiser
The Modern Real Estate Team held their 9th annual Raise the Roof for Shelter fundraiser, supporting the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. This year, the team hosted a two-week-long online silent auction in June.
A huge thank you Modern Real Estate Team for choosing to support local women's shelters, including Victoria Women's Transition House. We are so grateful for their ongoing commitment to supporting shelters that provide women a safe place to escape intimate partner violence and abuse.
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Sweet Treats for All!
Thank you to Singing Bowl Granola and Sweetly Raw for donating 10% of their sales from their Vegan Caramel Crunchers and Peanut Butter Crunch Bars to women's shelters, including VWTH. We are grateful for this sweet donation!
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Island Savings Community Endowment
Thanks to the support of Island Savings Community Endowment. This grant will help support VWTH’s Violence is Preventable (VIP) interactive workshops and help to break the cycle of abuse against women and children.
First West Foundation is proud to provide grants through the Island Savings Community Endowment.
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Support of Expressive Arts Project
VWTH thanks and acknowledges the CRD Arts Commission for generous support of an IDEA grant for Healing Through the Arts: Creativity and Resilience Through COVID-19, an expressive arts project in collaboration with the Cedar Hill Arts Centre, also supported by individual donors.
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Empowering Survivors of Spousal Assault
Thanks to the Times Colonist who gave a generous donation to help fund our Spousal Assault Victim Support Program (SAVSP), which supports survivors of assault, threats or criminal harassment by an intimate partner or ex-partner.
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Support for our Stop the Violence (STV) Program
Thanks to the Government of Canada and Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) for a Safer + Stronger Grant in support of VWTH’s STV Women’s Counselling.
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- July 20 – Eid Ul-Adha
- July 24 – International Self-Care Day
- August 1–7 – World Breastfeeding Week (WBW)
- August 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
- August 12 – International Youth Day
- August 19 – World Humanitarian Day
- August 31 – International Overdose Awareness Day
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Here are some articles that we recently shared via social media:
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Victoria Women’s Transition House Society collaborates, advocates and educates to address and prevent intimate partner violence and abuse of women and children through supportive shelter, housing, counselling and other community-based services.
Victoria Women's Transition House Society is a registered charity.
Our charitable registration number is: 10817 3501 RR0001.
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Stay Connected with us on social media: |
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It is with much respect to the Lkwungen 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.
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