VWTH November News

November is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Canada. At Victoria Women’s Transition House we prefer to use the term intimate partner violence, but our message is the same: there is no place for violence and abuse within a relationship, and women and children have a right to live in safety and without fear. Thanks to our donors and supporters, VWTH is able to provide not just emergency shelter, but also tools and supports for women as they start to build a life after intimate partner violence. There is still much work to be done to make our society one that is free of violence. We encourage everyone to be informed about the types of abuse, to recognize the signs, and to know how to provide non-judgmental support to a women experiencing abuse.

Abuse includes

Threatening to hurt you, your children or pets
Hurting you physically
Forcing you to have sex
Isolating you from friends and family
Tracking your emails, phone calls, and internet use
Controlling your finances
Controlling where you go, or what you do.

If someone close to you discloses abuse it can be difficult to hear, but you may be the only person she can trust. Be attentive, believe what she says, tell her you care, and show her you are willing to help. You can call our 24hr Crisis and Information Line if she is not able to, or ready.

Updates

Halloween at the Shelter

Children staying at our Shelter enjoyed some spooky, and sweet, treats for Halloween this year! Staff and volunteers made sure it was a fun experience for all who wanted to join in. Sharing special occasions is important to our Shelter residents and the extra effort that goes into creating these festivities is valued and appreciated. We think the staff probably had fun too!

BCSTH Annual Training Forum

Senior staff along with members of the PEACE/Children Who Witness Abuse team recently attended the BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH) Annual Training Forum. PEACE Program Counsellor Paulina met Key Note Speaker Barbara Coloroso, the internationally recognized speaker and author in the areas of parenting, teaching, school discipline, nonviolent conflict resolution, reconciliatory justice, and grieving.

Senior Program Manager Karlee Grant presented, alongside the Public Guardian and Trustees of BC (PGT) and Vancouver Coastal Health, a workshop titled “Are you my safe space: Working together to meet the needs of older women”.

Stepping Stones Program

Our Stepping Stones support group has started another session. It's specifically designed to help women who have left an intimate partner violence relationship within the past year and who are former residents of the VWTH Shelter. Understanding how hard it is to step out on your own after leaving a violent relationship, the group is there to help women take that first step - and work together to feel empowered in taking every step that comes after. The sessions focus on teaching healthy relationships, self compassion, how to honour strengths and create community.

Thank You

Generous donors from Carlton House of Oak Bay shared these cuddly friends. They will be making their way to the Shelter to provide comfort to new arrivals. Thank you for thinking of our residents <3

There’s a fully stocked fridge at the Shelter, with extra produce for our residents at Harrison Place thanks to our ongoing partnership with the Food Share Network. Our Food Coordinator shared: “It is fantastic! We are able to pick up as many as 10 mixed boxes of groceries a week. We can access donated bread and treats too when they’re available. Our volunteer meets me every week to go through all the produce, sort and bag it. We also bring over short-dated milk when we can.”

At a time of rising food costs this support makes a world of difference to so many. Thank you!

Coming soon at Transition House

Collecting donations for our Gift Card Hamper Program

Imagine the difference a Holiday Hamper of gift cards could make for a woman, and her children, facing the holidays in our Shelter, or in transitional housing while putting her life back together after fleeing a violent relationship. With help from our Hamper donors, Victoria Women’s Transition House will again provide Gift Card hampers to our clients, to empower them to purchase gifts for their kids and food for their celebrations. But we need your help and your gift card donations. Please find all the details for our Hamper Program on our website.

Holiday Fund Drive – Coming Soon!

Help Victoria Women’s Transition House help women and children fleeing violence and abuse. Watch for our Holiday Fund Drive mail package including informative newsletter and donation insert – coming to mailboxes and the Times Colonist soon!

We're Hiring

Interested in working at Victoria Women's Transition House? We are a vibrant, collaborative organization looking for exceptional people to help us grow as we work towards our mission of ending intimate partner violence Please take a look at current employment opportunities and requirements on our website.

In Case You Missed It...

Here are some articles that we recently shared on social media:

October was Women’s History Month and we enjoyed looking through the Women of Impact Gallery. "By sharing their stories, we can cement their place in history and inspire others to follow in their footsteps." – Government of Canada
We celebrated Carmen Callil this month. The fearless feminist who founded a publishing house to ensure that women's voices were heard passed away on October 17th – Washington Post
Important and overlooked research into brain injuries in women who've experienced intimate partner violence, thanks to Lori Cuthbert of The Vancouver Sun for this important story – The Vancouver Sun
The Globe and Mail share stories from survivors of intimate partner violence, along with their suggestions for positive change, including education for boys, affordable housing, trauma-informed training for professionals and financial support during transition. – Globe and Mail

You can make a difference. Donate today.

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.

Territory Acknowledgment

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.