Victoria Women's Transition House
Community Office #100-3060 Cedar Hill Rd V8T 3J5 Victoria, BC, Canada

Happy Family Day! Although we may not be able to get together in person with the people who, for each of us, make up our family, we hope that you are still able to find a way to safely celebrate with your family or social bubble. #mondaymotivation #vwth

February marks Valentine’s Day and Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. We connected with VWTH counsellors and staff to compile a list of six self-care tips for teens and adults to consider when in a relationship or thinking about exploring a relationship. #VWTHcanhelp #TDVAM #knowyourworth

This year's Stolen Sisters Memorial will take place on Sunday, February 14 from 8 am-10 am outside the Legislature building. The Stolen Sisters memorial remembers and honours the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S) and raises awareness of the injustice and overrepresentation of indigenous women, girls and two-spirit as victims of violence. Organizers of the memorial request that visiting members of the public respect COVID-19 safety guidelines.

FEMINIST FRIDAY: Despite the trimmed down film release schedule because of COVID-19, filmmakers such as Birds of Prey’s Cathy Yan and Wonder Woman 1984’s Patty Jenkins took charge of some of 2020's biggest film releases. An annual report by San Diego State University found that women accounted for 16% of directors working on the 100 highest-grossing films in 2020, up from 12% in 2019 and only 4% in 2018.

Today, people around the world will celebrate the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. To everyone celebrating, we wish you good health and prosperity.

Our January E-News is out! Read it here: www.transitionhouse.net/january-e-news-2021/

Today is #moosehidecampaignday. This powerful movement is unifying many to raise awareness and take a stand against violence towards women and children. For more information, visit: https://events.moosehidecampaign.ca/

#VWTHcanhelp #TDVAM #Knowyourworth

In a report published in September 2020, 64% of women said they were harassed, mostly by strangers, on Twitter, while a quarter said they were abused on Facebook.

Janette Bertrand, age 95, began her journalism and broadcasting career in the 1940’s. As a feminist, Bertrand defended women’s rights, broke taboos about domestic violence and inspired many. Bertrand has started the memoir project called Écrire sa vie!, or Write Your Life and it has inspired hundreds to share their memoirs.

What is gaslighting? Gaslighting is a harmful form of psychological manipulation and is a commonly used by abusers to gain power and control in a relationship. Today's awareness article highlights gaslighting, a message from a VWTH client, our Stopping the Violence Program and a piece that discusses why women and girls may stay in abusive relationships. Read the full article here: www.transitionhouse.net//Article-3_VictimsSurvivorsofCrime... Help is always available. Our 24-hour Crisis & Information Line 250.385.6611 is open to anyone seeking information and support. #victimsweek #orangetheworld #spreadtheword #16days #VWTH

From everyone at Victoria Women's Transition House, we wish you all a safe, healthy and prosperous 2021!

Today's awareness article highlights the story of Tara, a survivor of intimate partner violence, her two children and our Regional Domestic Violence Unit (RDVU). Read the full article here: www.transitionhouse.net//Article-2_VictimsSurvivorsofCrime Help is always available. Our 24-hour Crisis & Information Line 250.385.6611 is open to anyone seeking information and support.... #victimsweek #orangetheworld #16days #VWTH

Thank you to Chelsea Woods, Founder of Trailhead Photography who this Holiday season will be offering safe and physically distanced photoshoots, by donation only. 100% of the proceeds will be split between Victoria Women's Transition House and Raincoast Dog Rescue Society. For more info and to book a photoshoot, visit www.trailheadphotography.com.

Today is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Women need support as they face intimate partner violence while experiencing restricted movement, social isolation and economic insecurity as a result of the #COVID19 pandemic. Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation that’s been perpetuated for decades. It’s pervasive, but it’s not inevitable, unless we stay silent. Let's speak out & break the cycle of abuse. ... Learn more and read about how you can get involved in the #16days awareness campaign to end violence against women here: www.un.org/en/observances/ending-violence-against-women-day #victimsweek #orangetheworld #16days #VWTH UN Women

Today's awareness article highlights various forms of abuse and the story of two couples navigating the pressures of COVID-19. Where violence factors at home already exist, pandemic triggers can make the abuse even worse. Read the full article here: www.transitionhouse.net//Article-1_VictimsSurvivorsofCrime There is hope and support is always available. Our confidential, 24-Hour Crisis and Information Line is always open, call 250.385.6611.... #Victimsweek #OrangetheWorld #VWTH

Abuse can come in many forms. This includes emotional abuse, physical and sexual violence, threats, financial control, social control, destruction of property or harming pets. "It's not what you know, it's someone you know." Help is available. Victoria Women’s Transition House offers emergency shelter, counselling, support, and education so you can make safe decisions. For more information, call 250.385.6611 or visit transitionhouse.net. #victimsweek

FEMINIST FRIDAY: Kamala Devi Harris has made history as the first female vice-president of the U.S. For Canadian women and girls, especially women and girls of colour, the new U.S. vice-president-elect is a source of excitement, representation, hope and possibility.

November 19 and 20 mark World Day for Prevention of Abuse and Violence Against Children and National Child Day, respectively. Awareness days such as these serve as reminders to respect and protect all children from harm. Highlighting some of the impacts abuse can have on children, this video also informs on the services VWTH provides to support and empower women and children escaping violence and abuse. Help is always available. Our 24-hour Crisis & Information Line (250.385.6611) is open to anyone seeking information and support. Visit our website www.transitionhouse.net. #NationalChildDay #VWTH

November 2228 is national Victims and Survivors of Crime Week. This year, VWTH is launching a week-long project called Celebrating Courage, Renewing CommitmentDomestic Violence & Abuse Awareness. We will be raising community awareness of the supports and services available to support victims and survivors of intimate partner violence and abusewomen, older women and children who witness abuse. Watch for our daily articles and posts exploring topics on violence and abuse,... emergency shelter, counselling and resource supports as well as inspirational stories and quotes by courageous survivors. Join us in our efforts to create awareness and education about the impact of domestic abuse on women and children. We thank the Department of Justice Canada and the Times Colonist for their support of this project. #victimsweek

The time of leaving an abusive relationship is the highest-risk time, shared Makenna Rielly, VWTH's executive director in an interview with CTV Vancouver Island. As a whole, the first priority is to make sure people are safe and receive support tools. Individuals, friends and family members can call the confidential 24-hour Crisis & Information Line at 250-385-6611.

A well co-ordinated domestic violence disaster-response protocol must include technology, said Wendy Aujla, a Sociology PhD candidate at the University of Alberta. "As technology advances, service providers must continue refining their emergency protocols.

There has been a sharp rise in the need for safe shelter space for women and children escaping intimate partner violence and abuse during the pandemic. We have more clients accessing our shelter locations than ever before, shared Susan Howard, our development director on the 5pm CHEK News Newscast last night. Watch the full story: