The price tag to turn plans into progress for the Big Hill Haven Women's Shelter is $25,000. That is the cost for a needs assessment that will help shape what Cochrane's first dedicated emergency women's and children's shelter will look like.
The price tag to turn plans into progress for the Big Hill Haven Women's Shelter is $25,000.
That is the cost for a needs assessment that will help shape what Cochrane's first dedicated emergency women's and children's shelter will look like.
Chair and co-founder Margaret Van Tighem is encouraging Cochranites - who have overwhelmed her with their support for the future shelter - to dig out their wallets for an evening of libations and nosh, including silent and live auction items on Oct. 14 at the GlenEagles Country Club.
“Once we get the needs assessment going, we start fundraising for the building, ” said Van Tighem, who is encouraging potential partners and sponsors from the Cochrane business community to get in touch with her about possible partnerships that could help with site acquisition or construction costs.
“I've worked in non-profit for a number of years, ” said Van Tighem, who most recently worked in an 87-bed men's treatment centre and who is herself a recovering alcoholic of 16 years.
“Working with people who are marginalized or at-risk in any way can be overwhelming … but it is so rewarding, ” she said.
The eight-member board and their supporters hope to be shovel-ready by the spring and well underway in a year.
Council hopeful Bella Fallis is taking this task with her on the campaign trail.
“You won't believe the response I'm getting, ” said the artisan entrepreneur. “I've actually run into women who went looking for help and there wasn't anything for them … something has to be done. ”
Fallis has penned a letter that she is circulating, with the express hope to boost ticket sales for the event.
In her letter, she writes that the cause is “very close to my heart and a big part of my (campaign) platform ” and that this shelter would “empower women to access and receive the range of services and resources they are entitled to and often required to overcome their experiences of abuse. ”
She also writes that over the last decade “over 103,343 women and 108,955 children have been turned away from women's shelters across Alberta, according to the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS). ”
Statistics also revealed in 2013 Alberta was among the top three provinces with the highest rates of intimate partner violence.
Susan Flowers, another Cochranite who is campaigning for a seat on town council, is supportive of the project and is hopeful the grant dollars for operations can be secured to ensure the shelter has longevity.
The retired manager of Cochrane Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) said the need was identified more than 10 years ago.
“It's been noticeable for quite a few years … it's one of those things, when can you afford to manage it? I know they're working on their needs assessment now - but the need is definitely there, ” said Flowers, who said she would be “happy to help out ” with the project down the road and that FCSS helped the shelter team achieve its charitable status since its inception in 2016.
Once the needs assessment is complete and the charity is able to issue tax receipts, the shelter will apply for every provincial grant possible to move forward with capital and operations costs.
“On any given night, 3,491 women and their 2,724 children sleep in shelters because it isn't safe at home ” and that “approximately every six days a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner ” - as stated on the Cochrane shelter website, according to 2014 Statistics Canada figures.
Cochrane and Area Victims Services presented last fall to town council, reporting a 25 per cent increase in demand for services, with the bulk of their caseload being common assaults.
Former Cochrane Eagle publisher Jack Tennant - who has long been a supporter of such initiatives, including the Eagle's Nest Family Shelter in nearby Morley, will emcee with the event.
“It's an unfortunate reality about the world today - when you get more people, you have more problems, ” said Tennant, who was the first media person permitted entry to a Calgary women's shelter in the 1980s and said he realized early on that the issue of domestic violence was bigger than believed.
A reciprocity model that women's shelters are based on means that Cochrane would take overflow from any other women's shelter, as space permits.
Women and children in need of such services are currently directed to Calgary.
“This is happening … it's not an if it will happen, it's when it will happen, ” said Van Tighem, commending her co-founders Jacquie Coulas and Patti Fischer for their hard work to get the ball rolling, as well as the current board - of which Fischer is vice-chair - for their continued efforts.
Six local women birthed the concept of Big Hill Haven last year - five of which had personally experienced domestic abuse.
Big Hill Haven is a registered charity and will provide safe emergency housing for women and children for up to three weeks, connecting them with resources to get them into the next level of housing and supports required.
Additional long-term goals include a 24-hour confidential crisis phone line; a legal advocacy program; individual and group supports; transition and outreach support programs; and emergency transportation.
To date, the shelter has raised nearly $10,000. At $100/plate for the event, as well as silent and live auction items - to be auctioneered by John Copithorne - the shelter team hopes to raise enough funds to pay for the needs assessment and start adding to the pot for the future building.
Monique Auffrey, executive director of Discovery House, will be the featured guest speaker.
To purchase tickets or to learn more at bighillhaven.com.
