Victoria Women's Transition House November E-Newsletter

In her own words...

" In the 30 days that I stayed at the VWTH Emergency Shelter, I achieved what I thought would be impossible. I feel stronger and independent.

I feel like I am beginning

to feel like me again."

~ Former VWTH Emergency Shelter Resident

2017 Christmas Hamper Program

Are you looking for ways to spread some cheer this Holiday Season?

The VWTH Christmas Hamper Program is a great way for members of the community to support the many women and children who have used VWTH services in the past year and who may be spending a challenging first Christmas on their own.

Our Hamper Program matches donor companies, groups or individuals with clients - women, with and without children, including older women and single women. Donors assemble hamper items according to the client 'wish list' and drop off the completed hamper at the VWTH Community Office during Christmas Hamper "Weekend" from December 6-8.

If you are interested in being a donor for the Hamper Program, please complete our online donor form. Upon receipt of your form, we will contact you to provide additional information and match you with a VWTH client or family. Families with children are always very popular with donors at Christmas Hamper time, but single women and older women are sometimes forgotten. Please consider requesting a single woman or older woman when you fill out your Form.

Thank you for considering involvement in our Hamper Program.

For more information about the Hamper Program , please visit our website at transitionhouse.net/donate/christmas-hamper-program .

For other inquiries about the Hamper Program, you may also contact: 250.380.7527 ext. 110 or [email protected] .

Donating Grocery Gift Cards is another way to help our clients this holiday season.

Gift Cards are offered to clients leaving our emergency shelter, to help women and their families purchase groceries, fresh produce and other essentials. So this season, when you're out doing your grocery shopping or Christmas gift buying, please consider adding something to your list as a gift for a Transition House resident.

Gift cards from Fairway Market, Walmart, Thrifty Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, or other groceries and pharmacies, in increments of $20 and $50 are most practical and can be dropped off during regular office hours or mailed to our Community Office, #100-3060 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria, BC V8T 3J5. Please include your name and return address so we can send you a note of appreciation. Thank you.

VWTH Emergency Shelter Wish List

The VWTH Emergency Shelter is in need of the following items. As you may not be aware, many of the women who stay at our Shelter often leave their homes in such a hurry that they do not have the opportunity to pack basic necessities to take with them.

If you would like to donate any of these items, please contact our Community Office at 250.592.2927 ext. 213. or [email protected]. We are grateful for your help and support!

Community Support

Our sincere thanks to all who participated in and supported

Cherish: A Glamorous Evening of Fashion and Philanthropy on October 26th at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

Special thanks to Kirsty Thomson of Willow Wealth Management of Raymond James our LEAD SPONSOR and to our amazing Cherish team: Kari McLay | Tulipe Noire Boutique, Donna Andersen-White | hughes Clothing, Dale Olsen | Outlooks for Men, John Carreiro | Carreiro The Studio, Jody Hollis | Beautycounter & Living Hollis Style, Stephanie Macpherson, Trina Mendria | Artsee Eyewear, DJ Jansom, Chris Tang, Atmos Events and our emcee, Tess van Straaten.

We could not have done this event without the support of our Community Champions:

Artsee Eyewear; Beautycounter; Best Life by Design-Miriam Byrne; BMO; Bosdet Homes - Hand Crafted Real Estate, Victoria, BC; BPM Indoor Cycling Inc.; Bridgehouse Asset Managers; Brown Henderson Melbye; Cardino Shoes; Connor Clark & Lunn Private Capital Ltd; Cooper Union Decor; Cosmedica; Derma Spa; Dicastri Lidstone; Dr. Michael J. Murray (Murray Chiropractic Group with Dr. Ashley Murray & Dr. Mike Hadbavny); Eileen Fisher; Julie Rust- Newport Realty Stimpson; CPA Monk Office; Niche Women's Tours; Robert W. Cameron Law; Russell Investments; Seascape Inn; Smart Dolphins IT Solutions Inc; Style Stick; Tulipe Noire Clothing; Vintage Hot Tubs Pool Patio & Billiards; Young Living - Susan Seale Western Interior Design Group Ltd.

And thank you to Oak Bay Beach Hotel, our talented dancers/models, volunteers, guests, and our many sponsors and donors to our Silent Auction and mystery envelopes!

Upcoming Events

Fashion Fridays - Holiday Glam Ladies Luncheon

Friday, November 17 @ 12:30 - 2:00 pm

Table 21 at the Double Tree

by Hilton Hotel & Suites (777 Douglas St)

Get your Holiday GLAM on and Join us for Lunch, Fashions & Fun!

Posh Intertainment presents Fashion Fridays - Holiday Glam Ladies Luncheon, showcasing local Victoria designers and retail fashions.

$5 of every ticket goes to Victoria Woman's Transition House.

Seating is limited. Purchase your tickets at Eventbrite. For more information, email: [email protected].

Sip & Shop

Saturday, November 18 @ 6:30 - 9:00 pm

Pharmasave Broadmead ( 3 10-777 Royal Oak Drive)

Join us for an exclusive after hours shopping night!

The perfect local evening to enjoy with friends and family while you sip + shop.
Enjoy makeovers, mini manicures, skin consultations, the latest fashions and accessories, entertainment, hors d'oeuvres and bubbly. The first 100 guests will receive an exclusive gift.

Special guests include members of the Saanich Firefighters hosting a "Spicy Lips" contest as well as signing their recently published cookbook, Fire to Fork, the Firefighters' Cookbook.

All proceeds from the tickets, silent auction and mystery envelopes will benefit the Victoria Women's Transition House.

Tickets: $15

Purchase your tickets now!

Introducing our new Community Education

& Volunteer Coordinator

Meet Carol Bilson

VWTH Community Education & Volunteer Coordinator

Originally from Santiago, Chile, Carol is a mestiza woman (Mapuche and Spanish) and aligns with the pronouns she, her and hers. A gender-based violence facilitator, anti-oppressive community advocate and men's wellness program developer, Carol previously coordinated the anti-violence project at the University of Victoria's on-campus Sexual Assault Centre. At UVic, Carol championed consent and prevention education, including much of the social context for the newly initiated Bill 23 - the Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act. Along with the office of Judicial Affairs and Student Advocacy, Carol also helped established the first restorative processes for people who assault or cause harm on campus and was instrumental in initiating the Men's Circle at UVic which aims to challenge gender-based violence and dominant constructions of masculinity.

As a community educator for the Victoria Women's Transition House, Carol works from an intersection feminist framework and an anti-oppressive and trauma-informed lens. Carol believes it is critically important that all genders who experience intimate partner or sexualized violence, as well as those who cause harm, have access to services that are not re-traumatizing or create further barriers to accessing help.

Carol currently lives and plays on Lkwungen/WSANEC homelands with her partner and two children and you can often find them hiking along trails and making crafts from found forest and ocean treasures. She is delighted to join the staff at Victoria Women's Transition House.

Volunteer with VWTH!

So many of our programs and services rely on the time and expertise of our amazing volunteers. Come join our team! To learn more about the different ways you can volunteer with Victoria Women's Transition House, please contact Carol at [email protected].

You can make a difference.

Please donate today.

Victoria Women's Transition House Society, working collaboratively, provides shelter, support, counselling and education to women of all ages, with or without children, so that they can live free from the effects of abuse in intimate relationships. The Society strives to prevent and eliminate abuse through education, advocacy and partnerships.

Victoria Women's Transition House Society is a registered charity.

Our charitable registration number is: 10817 3501 RR0001.

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