Friday, March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD), and this year’s theme is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”. It’s a global day to recognize and celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and girls. It’s also a time to raise awareness of the progress made towards achieving gender equality and the work that remains to be done.

Women Supporting Women for Safety, Equality and Inclusion 

To celebrate IWD, Women Supporting Women for Safety, Equality and Inclusion will be hosted at Victoria City Hall on March 8 from 11am-3pm. Facilitated panels will discuss the themes of women’s safety, equality and inclusion with local presenters offering expertise on diverse aspects reflecting the experience of Indigenous and women refugees, counselling and advocacy services, women in trade unions, and intercultural and peace movement perspectives. VWTH is hosting one of the community information tables and for entertainment, the Raging Grannies and Poet Laureate, Marie Metaphor Specht will perform with songs by Gabriela Dominguez. Refreshments will also be available. 

International Women's Day Weekend 

VWTH will take part in the Oakland’s Community Association International Women’s Day Weekend, March 8 – 10 at 1-2827 Belmont Avenue. The VWTH Community Education Coordinator will lead a presentation and discussion on “Navigating Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence” from 12 – 1pm on Sunday, March 10. Registration for all workshops is required. To register for a workshop, email events@oaklandsca.com. Admission is by donation with all proceeds directed to VWTH programs and services. 

10 Remarkable Women Tours 

Also on IWD, the Zonta Club of Victoria will host an interesting and interactive event, “10 Remarkable Women Tours”. Choose one of three 90-minute tours (at 10am, 1pm or 4pm) and hear 10 graveside presentations about the lives and loves of these 10 Remarkable Women now resting in Ross Bay Cemetery. 

Fundraising SUP Event 

On Thursday, March 7, 5-6pm, Mer Tales Ocean Journeys and South Island SUP are hosting an International Women's Day Fundraising Paddle at Gonzales Beach (1809 Crescent Road). Proceeds from the stand up paddleboard (SUP) event will be donated to VWTH. Thank you! Click here to sign up.

PhotoVoice Project

Photography is a powerful tool for documenting life, telling stories and sharing experiences through a lens. Enter PhotoVoice, a new VWTH 50+ program where, over an eight-week period, participants are empowered and encouraged to express their personal voice through photography. The theme for this project is “What does HOME mean to you?” and supports clients to explore this idea individually and together as a group, then take photos to illustrate the theme. By the end of the project, clients will have a created an exhibition of their work, complete with personal narrative about each piece. 

Goddess Run

Thank you to Cathy Noel, the Goddess Run organizing committee, the participating sponsors and donors and all of the inspirational 700+ runners and walkers who took part in the Goddess Run at Elk/Beaver Lake on March 3.

Over $15,000 was raised for local charities, including Victoria Women’s Transition House. Team Peninsula Powerhouse was one of the top fundraising teams, with funds raised going directly to VWTH. Our thanks to Team Lead, Deborah Rogers and VWTH Family Law Advocate and Powerhouse member, Natalie, (pictured here) as well as the entire Powerhouse team. Way to go Goddesses! We are so grateful for your support! 

Self-Care Day

Thank you to Country Grocer in Royal Oak for donating delicious chocolates to help make Self-Care (Valentine’s) Day special for the women and children at our Emergency Shelter. Residents spent the day celebrating themselves with a little self-care by making a natural face/body exfoliant. Special thanks to the kind volunteers who made each resident self-care packages and chocolate cupcakes. Children staying at the shelter got gift bags too. The day closed with a special dinner, shared together.   

It was 1974 when the first Emergency Shelter was opened by Victoria Women’s Transition House, which means that 2024 is our 50^th Anniversary! This milestone will be marked in a number of ways over the coming year, with opportunities to remember our history, recognize and honour the people who have ensured our continued success, and spread the word about the work that still needs to be done to create communities free of intimate partner violence.

As we prepare our anniversary plans, we would love to hear from you! Do you have memories that you would like to share? Were you a past member of staff, volunteer, board member or client? Please add your contact information to our “Alumni” list through the form on our website – you can share a story with us there too!

You can also email communications@vwth.bc.ca to share a story, memory, or to let us know what VWTH means to you.

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.