A 35 Year Reflection of the Kelowna Women's Shelter

Photo Credit: Kelowna Women's Shelter/Facebook

April 12-18, 2015 is Prevention of Violence Against Women Week. As part of its efforts to focus attention on the ongoing issue of family violence, and galvanize the community to take action to help prevent it, the Kelowna Women’s Shelter submitted this article.

2015 marks the 35^th anniversary of the Kelowna Women’s Shelter. Since it opened its doors in 1980, the Shelter has helped thousands of women and children who have experienced domestic violence and abuse get a fresh start with emergency housing, and a range of other free and confidential services. Here are some historical highlights:

1980- Kelowna Women’s Shelter opens doors. Shelter services include housing, crisis intervention and support counselling, education, and information on violence against women.

1987-Weekly drop-in support group launches

1990-Supportive counselling and activity program for children, which later becomes Children Who Witness Abuse (CWWA) and later the SuperNOVA program, launches.

1998-Inside/Out Violence Prevention Program for Youth launches as pilot project at two secondary schools. The program now reaches about 400 children a year.

2003-Kelowna Women’s Shelter Thrift Store opens.

2008-Shelter purchases and renovates adjacent residential property to establish second stage housing facility for up to four, single women.

2011-“Tree of Hope” funds therapeutic trauma counselling program.

2013 – Kelowna Women’s Shelter Thrift Store celebrates 10 year anniversary and relocates to Industrial Avenue from downtown.

2013-2014 – More than 290 community volunteers give in excess of 12,000 hours of their time at the Shelter and Thrift Store.

2015 – Kelowna Women’s Shelter celebrates 35 years of changing lives

The Kelowna Women’s Shelter is a non-profit organization that offers emergency transitional housing, counseling, support and education to women and their children who have experienced abuse. For more information, or to make a donation, visit kelownawomensshelter.ca or call 250-763-1040.