report to the community - Rowan House Emergency Shelter

2014-2015
REPORT
TO THE
COMMUNITY
April 01/14 – March 31/15
In-Shelter Program
Total residents admitted: 227 people
(98 women + 129 children)
Average length of stay
Number of Days
Residents
2 days or less
32
3-5 days
16
6-10 days
40
11-15 days
15
16-20 days
14
21-30 days
34
31-62
54
63 or more days
14
Child Support Program
Total children
served - 121
Visits to the Child
Support Room – 2088
Program Hours - 3458
Outreach Services Program
Total clients served - 60 in addition
to on-going support for the residents
of Rowan House.
Page 2
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
Total number of people turned
away from the Shelter in the past
year: 354 people
(201 women + 153 children)
Number of calls on
24/7 Crisis Line: 1217
Branches Preventative
Education Program
Healthy Relationships
Community Group
participants - 33
Number of in-house
groups – 89
Number of students receiving
class presentations – 2280
Number of classroom
presentations - 93
“
Page 2: Shelter Statistics
I know coming to Rowan House was the
best decision of my family's life. I have
been able to grow into the mom I
wanted to be and boost my confidence
to a whole new level .
Page 13: Executive Summary: Journey to
Trauma-Informed Practice
Page 3: Our Mission, Vision & Values
”
Page 14-15: Outreach Services
Page 4: Greetings from Our Board
Page 16: Resource Development
Page 5: Greetings from Our Executive
Director
Page 17-18: In the Community
Page 6-7: 15th Anniversary: A History of
Rowan House Emergency Shelter
Page 19: Volunteers
Page 20: Images of Hope & Healing Gala
2015
Page 8: A Story of Hope & Healing
Page 9: In-Shelter Programming
Page 21: Thank You from the Gala
Committee
Page 10: Child Support Program
Page 22: Our Partnerships
Page 11: Branches Preventative Education
Program
Page 23: Contact Us
Page 12: Our Model of Trauma Informed
Services
MISSION
Our Mission at the Rowan House Emergency
Shelter is to provide crisis intervention, longterm support and education for those
affected by family violence in rural communities.
VISION
That every person is safe and secure and lives without abuse.
CORE VALUES
Safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment.
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
Page 3
A
s we reflect on another eventful and positive year, your
Rowan House Society Board looks forward to ensuring
we continue to offer the services the community needs.
We are determined that the issue of domestic violence
remains at the forefront of people‟s minds – from the
Premier to the citizens of Alberta. We believe this is everybody‟s
problem!
This year we continue to build on the strong growth of our Society.
We are operating at capacity in the Shelter, and the in-shelter and
external programs continue to grow. We are privileged to have a
passionate and dedicated group of staff and volunteers without
whom we would be unable to operate so effectively.
The Society recognizes that the needs of a survivor and her children don‟t stop when she
leaves the Shelter. Many need ongoing support, particularly suitable and affordable housing.
We are pleased to have developed relationships with a number of partners in order to provide
transitional housing to women leaving the shelter. We are conducting a feasibility study to
identify other new opportunities for transitional housing support.
Trauma Informed Practice has been a cornerstone of Rowan House‟s philosophy for some
time now. The Board has determined that Rowan House should be recognized as leaders in
best practice for family violence prevention, so we have adopted the Trauma Informed
approach to Board business as well. This means that Trauma Informed Practices are
embedded in every aspect of Rowan House Society activities. We believe that we are the first
organization to do so in Alberta.
We are also proud to recognize our Executive Director as an outstanding leader in domestic
violence prevention. In 2014, Sherrie Botten was recognized by the Government of Alberta
with an Inspiration Award for Promoting Leadership in Family Violence Prevention. Sherrie is an
internationally recognized speaker on Trauma Informed Practice, and has been invited to
speak at conferences in Hawaii and Amsterdam.
In closing, we would like to take the opportunity to express our deep gratitude for the tireless
support from our community of donors, volunteers and supporters. We could not offer the help
that is so badly needed without this continued foundation of support from our community. We
appreciate all you contribute, and look forward to another successful year working alongside
you all.
Chris Tulloch, Rowan House Society Board Chair
Page 4
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
“
Shelters save lives, strengthen
families and improve
communities.
(Alberta Council of Women’s
Shelters)
I
am pleased to present our 2015 Report to the Community. The
past year has been a busy one as we further develop our service
delivery model to deal with the heightened level of trauma we are
seeing after the damaging Floods of 2013. Rowan House has
consistently been full to capacity throughout the year. We can
accommodate 24 women and children in our 7 bedrooms. There have
been many weeks where we have more than half of these beds
occupied by children. Some days are pretty hectic at Rowan House!
Women often arrive with just the clothes they and their children are wearing. We provide
everything they need while they live with us. They often come from horrible situations and are
seeking refuge to regroup before moving back into the community to safely care for
themselves and their children. We provide crisis counselling and support for them along their
journey.
”
This year we have dedicated resources to ensure everything we do is through a traumainformed lens. With the help of funding from The Calgary Foundation, we were able to access
the expertise of a trauma specialist and ensure Rowan House Society is trauma-informed in all
of our work, from front line practice to organizational and Board functions. We have looked at
the following focus areas: Organizational Commitment, Physical and Sensory Environment.
Intake and Assessment, Program and Services, Staff Support, External Relationships and
Evaluation and Feedback. We asked these questions as we went through all 7 focus areas:
What are we doing well? What can we do better? What are the first steps? We wanted to
build on what we were already doing well.
We are conscious of potential triggers and work to ensure our environment is welcoming,
accessible, inclusive, non-stigmatizing, non‐triggering, non-re-traumatizing, and physically safe
for both people receiving services and staff members.
Self-care for residents and staff is of utmost importance at Rowan House. There is more detail
further in this report on our trauma-informed practice and visual (a tree) we have created to
highlight our core values of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment.
Because Rowan House Emergency Shelter is a short-term crisis facility, women need to find
safe affordable housing quickly after arrival. This has been a struggle for many of the women
we see. Rowan House Society has embarked on a journey towards transitional housing for the
women that are leaving the emergency shelter. We are in the process of completing a
feasibility study to determine how best to proceed with this much needed resource for our
families. The study will be completed later in 2015 and decisions made on how Rowan House
Society will proceed.
Thank you to our wonderful community supporters and government stakeholders. We can only
do this work with your support!
Sherrie, Executive Director
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
Page 5
O
ver the past 15 years Rowan
House Emergency Shelter
has moved from a tiny two
bedroom basement suite
near Black Diamond where
we opened in January 2000, to a state of
the art, high security 24 bed facility in
High River.
Since opening, Rowan House
Emergency Shelter has provided family
violence prevention and intervention
services to the communities in the MD of
Foothills and area. Originally named
Eagle Women‟s Emergency Shelter, the
shelter was only large enough to house
two women with up to three children
each. Funding for outreach was later
secured and outreach support began in 2003. Very soon after, it was determined that a larger,
secure facility was needed. The large area served, from Calgary in the north, to Claresholm in
the south and Vulcan to the east, also meant a more central location should be explored.
A feasibility study was commissioned and in 2006 the completed study confirmed there was a
need for a larger facility as the old one simply could no longer accommodate the need. More
women and children were being turned away due to lack of space than were being housed.
The shelter also needed to be high security to better support the families that were accessing
help. The study also showed that High River was more central to the area being served. High
River was also very receptive to the relocation of the emergency shelter and the domestic
violence programming it supported.
In July 2007, the name of the shelter was changed to Rowan House Emergency Shelter. The
Rowan tree is also known as the Mountain Ash. The berries, often retained through the winter,
symbolize the endurance of Life through the dark of the year and the tree itself was said to
afford protection to the dwelling by which it grew. Rowan trees have traditionally been
associated with peace, sanctuary, privacy, and beauty. The Rowan tree symbolizes what we
at Rowan House stand for. By 2008, plans were in place for a capital campaign to raise the
dollars needed to build a new emergency shelter located in High River.
In 2009, the Branches preventative education program was launched and prevention work
began in the community. This program has expanded every year to a point where over 3000
students are involved at all age levels and numerous community groups, service clubs and
individuals have participated in presentations on Healthy Relationships, domestic violence
education, the impact of family violence on children, dating violence and anti-bullying.
Page 6
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
“
Thanks you for being the
“lifesavers” that you are.
I hope you know the work you
do with these children is so
valued. Keep up the amazing
work.
”
In the fall of 2009 land was acquired and the $3 million capital campaign began. By June 2011
the funds had been secured to begin the build of an 8500 square foot facility with 7 bedrooms,
one being wheel-chair accessible, having a multi-sensory room, a spiritual room and
programming space. Official sod-turning happened in June and construction commenced in
early Fall 2011. The new shelter was complete by June 2012. The old facility was closed and the
move to the new location was finalized. With this move to a larger facility, huge growth
occurred. We now needed more staff and more resources. We opened to clients on July 30,
2012 and by noon had 3 intake calls and were full to capacity 2 days later! We quickly
expanded from the 10 originally funded beds, to 18 beds.
Eleven months after opening, we were hit by the June 2013 Floods. We had over 3 feet of
water in our lower floor and lost all of the children‟s center, staff areas and programming space,
including the multi-sensory and spiritual rooms. Two thirds of staff were also personally impacted
and a rebuild of the shelter was necessary. After only 2 months, Rowan House opened without
the use of the lower floor and operated on a smaller scale until the remediation of the building
was complete. We reopened in January 2014, stronger than ever and fully operational. We had
more secure funding and were able to open all 24 of our available beds.
Due to the impact of the disaster, we decided to undergo a review of our practice ensuring we
were trauma-informed in everything we do. The increasing level of trauma we see in our families
and the lack of safe affordable housing for women leaving the shelter has resulted in our
exploration of transitional housing. We are currently completing a feasibility study to best
determine how to proceed into transitional housing for women fleeing family violence.
Our prevention work continues to grow as we look to bring an end to family violence. The
support of the community enabled Rowan House to build and rebuild. We continue to look to
the community in order to support the families that struggle to leave abusive relationships
behind.
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
Page 7
A
lice came to Rowan House after leaving her
alcoholic and abusive husband almost two
months earlier. She, along with her 2 year old
son and 5 year old daughter, had been staying
with friends. Alice reported that she left her husband, as
she could not have her children witness the violence any
more. Alice's husband had been physically abusive
toward her previously and she was also being abused
verbally and financially.
Alice's family was homeless; her daughter Sarah (changed
name) was having difficulties at school. Alice was
overwhelmed by all of the things she had to do. She was
feeling some guilt over leaving her husband, but at the
same time was determined to do whatever it took over time to become safe.
Alice had no transportation of her own but was very motivated to attend appointments and
meetings. Acquiring an Emergency Protection Order, getting a separation agreement, making
custody arrangements for her children, acquiring housing and income support, accessing
Alberta Works to get new glasses, attending Al-Anon meetings and arranging counseling for
her daughter were among the issues facing this 26 year old woman. Alice was involved in
resident meetings every morning, along with goal meetings and general discussions with Crisis
Intervention Workers. She took advantage of educational sessions in the house, along with
healing circles. Staff supported Alice through referrals for legal issues, finding housing, safety
planning, danger assessment, accessing income support and one-time funding for women
fleeing abuse. Providing transportation, accompanying clients to meetings and the planning
and de-briefing of these meetings was part of the support provided. Alice was involved in the
Child Support Program, Outreach Services and Healthy Relationships Group. Alice reported
that it was the first time she had experienced a large group of encouraging women. She also
commented on the instances of laughing, crying and joking.
Alice is now living on her own with her children, working enough regular hours to support her
family. Her son plays soccer and her daughter is in Brownies; they laugh and play together. In
Alice's own words; "I know coming to Rowan House was the best decision of my family's life. I
have been able to grow into the mom I wanted to be and boost my confidence to a whole
new level. I have been up and down through my life and now I am on a positive upbeat high
that I've only been able to achieve since coming to Rowan. If I could pass on the best advice
to any woman coming to Rowan House it is to live each day for yourself. You are worth so
much more than you know. If you accept all the greatness you are you'll be able to soar to
new levels you never thought you would achieve. This is the best place to heal, grow and
educate yourself. Bless each family and woman in their journey to greatness.”
Page 8
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
“
The help and support that the
Rowan House Staff have provided
for me is something I will never
forget. They made a crappy
situation strengthen me, rather than
consume me.
O
ur Residential program provides a safe, supportive environment for women and
children who find themselves in a crisis situation and in need of emergency
housing. We have trauma-informed crisis intervention workers who operate our
24-hour crisis line, provide solution-focused counselling, safety planning, and
community referrals and client advocacy in a number of areas. Women often come to us
with nothing but the clothes on their back. We have 24 beds and provide food and other
basic necessities as families work to transition back into the community, all at no cost to them.
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
”
Page 9
O
ur Child Support program is operated by staff trained to work with children who
have witnessed abuse and the developmental issues that this may cause. “A
child who lives with violence is forever changed, but not forever „damaged.‟
There‟s a lot we can do to make tomorrow better.” – Linda Baker & Allison
Cunningham, Little Eyes, Little Ears. The program focuses on building self-esteem and teaching
children coping skills for managing anxiety. We also offer moms individual sessions that help
foster and strengthen the
relationship mother and
child have.
The Child Support
program continues to
evolve. The concept of
Trauma Informed
Practice underlies all
planning and activities.
Grounding strategies
have become a natural
part of the program for
children. A variety of
breathing strategies are
used such as cookies
and cake breathing and
volcano breathing. Children‟s books and videos on many social emotional issues are
frequently the jumping off point for important discussions with children and parents. Children
are given choices about their play activities and decisions when any difficulties arise.
Cooperative strategies are taught and modeled for the children to practice. Regular trips to
the Parent Link Centre provide a pleasant outing for moms and kids while providing another
support network especially important for families after they leave the shelter. Teen activities
have expanded to include the creation of vision boards, masks, bird houses and dream
catchers.
Intake and further meetings are held with Child Support staff and families allowing important
connections to develop. Recent training in Circle of Courage and Strength Based Resiliency
has broadened topics of discussion to include Triggers, Building Protective Factors and much
more. Educational and parenting strategies are also facilitated. Referrals to other agencies
can be suggested and facilitated.
Healing Minds, Bodies and Spirits is a new project that addresses the needs of children dealing
with anxiety and trauma. Training and materials will be used to help children self-regulate and
monitor their emotions, decrease aggressive behaviours and promote healthy peer
relationships.
Page 10
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
“
If it wasn’t for your group and
support and for the women’s
shelter being there I don’t think I
would have had the strength to
be able to continue the fight.
A
t Rowan House we strongly believe prevention and education are the most
effective ways of ending violence within our community. We strive to increase our
involvement with families, children, indigenous populations, schools, community
groups, agencies and the media in order to provide the best possible education
in regard to family violence. The Branches Program includes a series of free presentations
delivered to schools and community groups, Healthy Relationships Groups offered to
residents and women of the community, general domestic violence education and
awareness along with education for other professionals in the community.
”
The school presentations
focus on students in
grades 2,5,8 and 11, and
are delivered to schools
throughout the large
Foothills area served by
Rowan House. Topics
such as What is a Bully?,
Kindness, Empathy,
Friendship, Standing Up
to Bullying, Healthy
Relationships, SelfEsteem/Authenticity,
Dating Violence and Are
You Ready to be in a
Relationship? are presented in an interactive manner. The Branches School programing has
expanded to provide the opportunity for up to three different presentations to the same
classes to promote continuity and build relationships with students.
Healthy Relationships Groups are offered separately to residents and women of the
community. Women who have been affected by domestic violence are able to support and
learn from each other and staff facilitators as they continue on their journey. Topics covered
in these sessions include Domestic Violence and the Cycle of Violence, Effects of Abuse and
Coping Skills, Children Exposed to Violence, Healthy Boundaries and Healthy Self-Esteem,
Healthy Relationships, Moving Forward, Safety Planning and Community Resources. Domestic
Violence education is also offered to interested community agencies .
Awareness has been a strong focus this year with our Family Violence Prevention Month
purple ribbon campaign and our 1 Billion Rising march through High River. The voice against
domestic violence is growing louder.
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
Page 11
Page 12
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
“
At Rowan House,
I am heard.
A
fter the devastating June 2013 floods in Southern Alberta, Rowan House Emergency
Shelter in High River began the journey towards a trauma-informed service delivery
model. Rowan House is one of the first women‟s emergency shelters in Alberta to
embark upon a journey to formally develop into a trauma-informed domestic
violence service. Developing trauma-informed services is considered a best-practice approach
in the literature for all human services. With respect to trauma-informed domestic violence (DV)
services, much of the literature comes from the United States and suggests that offering traumainformed domestic violence services recognizes the pervasiveness of trauma and its impacts on
a survivor‟s ability to cope, to access services, and to feel safe in a new environment (Fallot &
Harris, 2006; 2009). In domestic violence services, many women and children have experienced
multiple and complex traumatic events in addition to the trauma associated with domestic
violence. As such, the more a shelter incorporates trauma-informed approaches into its
services, the more opportunity for shelter clients and staff alike to experience an environment
that operates within a “do no harm” philosophy ((National Center on Domestic Violence,
Trauma & Mental Health, 2012)).
”
The literature suggests that taking a
trauma-informed approach builds
awareness among staff and clients of:
how common trauma is; how its impact
can be central to one‟s development;
the wide range of adaptations people
make to cope and survive; and the
relationship of trauma with other issues
such as substance use and abuse, high
risk behaviours, homelessness, poor
physical health, re-victimization and
mental health concerns.
In essence, Rowan House has adopted the philosophy identified in the literature on traumainformed care to put safety first and specifically avoid re-traumatizing those who seek their
services and those who are on their staff. This knowledge is the foundation of any organizational
culture of trauma-informed care and it has become the foundation of Rowan House
Emergency Shelter. Because trauma-informed practice changes the question from “what‟s
wrong with you” to “what‟s happened to you”, Rowan House practices changed to reflect this
understanding. By expanding on this paradigm shift, we were able to develop a strong traumainformed practice in all aspects of our service delivery. As a result, our new statement of
practice after fully engaging all aspects of our agency became: Rowan House Trauma
Informed services take into account an understanding of trauma in all aspects of service
delivery. Safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment are the core values
at Rowan House.
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
Page 13
T
he Outreach program is designed to address and meet the needs of women who
have experienced abuse, are experiencing abuse, or are at risk of experiencing
abuse, through one-on-one contact and support. Clients need not reside at the
shelter to access these services. The Outreach worker‟s caseload is predominately
women in the community who are unable to come into the shelter but require services to
keep themselves and their children safe from abuse. They also meet for follow-up with
women and children after they leave the shelter.
The Rowan House Outreach team provides solution focused counselling, goal setting,
advocacy and referrals to resources and community supports. Integral to the program is the
one-on-one domestic abuse education, safety planning and parenting information and
strategies. All facets of the program reflect the Trauma Informed Philosophy at Rowan
House.
Outreach works closely with many agencies and helps clients with referrals to Income
Support, basic needs (housing, clothing, and food), parenting programs, community
resources, in-home support services, counseling, mental health, addiction services,
education and employment. Ongoing and professional financial and legal advice is
available on a regular basis at Rowan House.
The Outreach team also facilitates a one-on-one Healthy Relationships course that covers
the topics of:

What is Domestic Violence?

Cycle of Abuse

Why is He Abusive?

How the Abuse Affects Me

Effects of Domestic Abuse on
Children

Boundaries

Healing and Self Care
a) Moving Forward and New
Relationships
b) Strengthening the
Relationship and
Communication
Page 14
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
“
I felt your sincerity that I haven’t felt from
anybody else. It was such a blessing as well and
to realize that there are people that would be
able to help us in our situation especially
emotionally that is what matters most.
The important topics of
Co-parenting, Anxiety
and Stress, Effects of
Trauma and Grief and
Loss are also discussed
when appropriate.
”
Rowan House is a
place of hope and
healing, this healing
addresses the whole
person. The Outreach
program is very active
in the facilitation of
activities that nourish
the mind, body and
spirit. Volunteers come
in and teach yoga, provide Reiki treatments, and facilitate grounding techniques such as
meditation and safety statements. Self-care is important to healing and self-esteem.
Residents enjoy spa nights, jewelry making, haircuts, journaling, arts and crafts projects and
gratitude practices. The kitchen is often full of cooking and baking with skills, culture and
favorite recipes shared. Most of the time, children make up more than half of our residents at
Rowan House and we are delighted to have a volunteer leading children‟s yoga this year.
Typically the children in shelter have experienced a lot of trauma and moving into the shelter
is yet one more transition in their lives. Family activities such as sundae nights, cup cake
decorating, fondue and kebob gatherings bring some joy into the house; while games,
karaoke, holiday events, sing-a-longs
and other adventures in creativity
make Rowan House feel like a
healthy home for all.
For the first time we have four
subsidized housing units available for
our residents to rent as they leave
the crisis shelter.
The work done by the Outreach
team goes a long way in preventing
violence, building resiliency and
helping more families stay safe.
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
Page 15
R
owan House Emergency Shelter
would like to take this opportunity
to once again thank the Foothills
community for its ongoing
support.
Through good times, community tragedy
and times of economic uncertainty,
people have seen the need for the
programs and services we provide and
have stepped up - whether through
monetary or in-kind donations, third party
fundraisers or attending one of our events
throughout the year. We are continually in awe of your commitment and generosity.
The Artesia - Wish to Connect fundraiser was a resounding success with the group donating
$36,500 to Rowan House! The EMCO golf tournament organized on our behalf brought in just
over $12,000 and the Okotoks and High River Charity Check Stops put on annually by our
partners with RCMP and Victim‟s Services raised over $9,000 collectively.
We‟d also like to recognize a few of our donors who contributed at the Branches (5000+)
level and up. Thank you to Roger and Ruth Gluckie, Hollis Richter, Brian Olson, Shopper‟s Drug
Mart-Life Foundation, Annapolis Capital Limited, the Fraser Family Foundation, Dennis Dressler
and the High River Bank of Montreal.
We are grateful to both the Millarville Fair and the Half-Marathon Committees for bringing us
on for their two fantastic events each year and continuing to help us raise much needed
funds and awareness; and we‟d like to send out a heartfelt thank you to the Sands‟ family for
their support of Rowan House through their own personal tragedy. Their fundraiser in memory
of their daughter Amy brought in just over $5,300 this year. These dollars are used to support
our prevention program that provides education on healthy relationships to community
members.
Rowan House appreciates ALL community members who contributed a variety of resources
essential to the daily operations of the shelter. We rely on your support as we work to
fundraise $800,000 of our over $1.8 million dollar budget to maintain the standard level of
care we have set in our first three years operating in our new, secure facility. It‟s because of
you that we can continue to support women and children fleeing family violence, as well as
provide education and awareness to one day break the cycle.
In Gratitude,
The Resource Development Team
Page 16
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
“
If I could pass on the best advice to
any woman coming to Rowan House it
is to live each day for yourself. You are
worth so much more than you know.
”
From top left to right: Charity Checkstop, 1
Billion Rising, Westmount School‟s Socktober
Campaign, High River Santa Clause Parade,
Sheep River Health Trust/The Eagle 100.9
Radiothon.
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
Page 17
From top left to right:
Artesia Wish to
Connect Fundraiser,
Sheep Creek Arts
Council Crop Fest,
Soup Sisters at
Diamond Willow
Artisan Retreat,
Save the Homeless
Fundraiser,
Millarville Half
Marathon,
Millarville Fair
Page 18
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
“
I am truly thankful that I made
that first reluctant call to Rowan
House, and credit its amazing
staff for all they have done, and
continue to do for me.
C
ommunity support is vital
to Rowan House.
Volunteers are an integral
part of many programs
with regular, scheduled shifts in Child
Support, donation upkeep, household
maintenance and grocery shopping.
Our annual Gala is organized by
countless hours given by a dedicated
team. Soup for the residents is
lovingly made by Soup Sisters and
many special events and fairs are
attended by volunteers as well. We
are also grateful to those who donate
their time to provide yoga classes, Reiki treatments and occasional massages for our residents.
These are just some of the ways volunteers enrich Rowan House. This year a new part time
coordinator has been very busy meeting and matching the always welcome volunteers to jobs
for Rowan House.
”
“I‟ve had a lot of hardships in my travels, but just being here makes things a lot simpler for me.
… They (staff) sure know how to make one feel they are at home, the comfort I felt, no fear or
shame did I feel; you wonderful ladies have no idea what this has meant to me. I sure felt I
could truly be open with each and every one of you, no matter what it was about. “
- December 2014
“I think it says a lot that I came into Rowan House crying and I am leaving doing the same.
When I came, I was scared, I felt alone. …Now that I am leaving, I no longer have the fear of
change, I‟m not lonely, I have more support than I have ever had before. I came with my
three week old baby, and it didn‟t take me long to realize I was in the right place. The ladies
have helped me tremendously. They gave me all the support and help I needed and loved
my baby which was especially comforting to me. The Rowan House is an exceptional shelter,
so exceptional that I don‟t even want to call it a shelter, the Rowan House is a second home,
not a shelter. It is inviting and safe, it‟s full of loving, brilliant and charismatic women … To the
new ladies in the house … take advantage of the support this staff is more than willing to give.
I wish you as much luck as I‟ve had since being here.”
- February 2015
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
Page 19
SAVE
THE
DATE!
The next Hope
& Healing
Gala will be
April 23, 2016
Page 20
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
“
This is the best place to heal,
grow and educate yourself.
Bless each family and woman in
their journey to greatness .
Rowan House Emergency Shelter wishes to thank our community, sponsors and donors for
making the 2015 Hope & Healing Gala a sell-out event and our most successful fundraiser yet!
Your contribution makes a difference in the lives of families in the Foothills.
Rowan Sponsors:
Crop Production Services
Grah-Ter
Stonewater Homes
Western Financial Group
Poplar Sponsors:
Century 21 Foothills
Irene Pfeffel & Neil Jansen
Van Doorn
MD of Foothills
Aspen Sponsors:
Okotoks Rentals
RBC Commercial Branch –
High River
Sobey‟s Okotoks
TD
Table Sponsors:
Bank of Montreal
Cindy Dorias – ATB
Investments
Destination West Marketing
Fund
Hollis Richter
Infinite Chartered
Accountants
Millarville Fair Group
Mullen Group
Servus Credit Unio
Shawnee Excavating
Town of Okotoks
Media Sponsors:
Gateway Gazette
High River Times
Okotoks Western Wheel
Sun Country 99.7 FM
Unicom Graphics
40 Books in 365 Days
Ambertec Ltd/McAsphalt
Industries
Aussie Rules Foodhouse &
Bar
Azuridge Estate Hotel
Banff Norquay
Big Mountain Coffee
Roasters
Bistro 1882
Black Diamond Gallery
Blue Devil Golf Club
Blue Rock Gallery
Bob Dyck – The Auction
Company
Boothill Gallery
Boston Pizza, Okotoks & High
River
Bragg Creek Paintball
Briarwood Photography
Browns‟s Socialhouse,
Okotoks
Calaway Park
Calgary Co-op, High River
Calgary Flames
Calgary Hitmen
Calgary Police Service
Calgary Stampede
Calgary Stampeder Football
Club
Canadian Rockies Hot
Springs
Canadian Tire Gas Bar,
Okotoks
Cathie Scatterty
Cattle Baron
Chinook Centre
Chinook Honey Company
Contain-A-Way Waste
Management
Cottonwood Golf & Country
Club
Country Pets & Grooming
CrossIron Mills
Crystal Ridge Golf Club
D‟arcy Ranch Golf Club
Danielle Smith, MLA
Debra Garside – True North
Fine Images
Delta Lodge at Kananaskis
Diamond Willow Artisan
Retreat
Doug Robertson
Downunder Travel
Eaglequest Golf,
Douglasdale
Enmax Corporation
Enoteca Liquor Store &
Specialty Wines
Fairmont Banff Springs
Fairmont Chateau Lake
Louise
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Edmonton
Femme Fatale
Finishing Touches
Flo Mackey
For Heaven‟s Sake
Force Welding
Four Daisies
Future Shop, Deerfoot
Meadows
Gail Maitland
George Traditional House
Ginger Laurier
Glenbow Museum
Grand Central Bar & Grill
Guns N Hoses Roofing
Heritage Park
Heritage Pointe Medical
Aesthetics
Highwood Golf Course
Home Depot, Okotoks
Home Hardware Building
Centre, Okotoks & Nanton
Homeworks Custom Interiors
Ltd.
HRR Rentals
Insides
Iron Goat Pub & Grill
Jack Carter Chevrolet
Cadillac Buick GMC Ltd.
Jack Fulton
Jackie Hutchinson
Janice King
Jason & Brienne Glass
Kildares Ale House
Lakeview Inn & Suites,
Okotoks
London Barbers
Longview Steakhouse
Lynn Lynn
Lynnwood Ranch
M & M Meat Shops
Mama‟s Heritage Point Pizza
Cuisine
Maple Leaf Grill and Lounge
Maryanne‟s Eden
McNeill Enterprises
Merle Norman Okotoks
Millarville Fair
Modern Catering
Motion Fitness Okotoks
Mr. Mikes Steakhouse & Bar
Muldoons Irish Ale House
NALCO Champion
Nathalie Boisvert
Okotoks Dawgs Baseball
Club
Okotoks Honda
Okotoks Oilers
Okotoks Orthodontics
Okotoks Rentals
On a Lark
”
Original Joe‟s
Pam Baudistel
Panzsea Benefit Resources
Pottery Barn
Priddis Greens Golf &
Country Club
Purdy‟s Chocolates
Quails‟ Gate Okanagan
Valley
Ramada Inn, High River
Rebel Bean Coffee
Rhona Beaumont
Richardson Executive Search
River Rock Casino Resort
River‟s Edge Golf Club
Rollover Premium Pet Food
Ltd.
Royal Duke Hotel
Salus Wellness Centre
Schanks Sports Grill
Scotia Bank, High River
Shelley & Len Verhulst
Sherrie Botten
Silpada Foundation
Sirocco Golf & Country Club
Smithbilt Hats
South Hill Designs
Southcentre
Southridge Village
Chiropractic Centre
State & Main Kitchen & Bar
Stockman‟s Restaurant &
Lounge
Swept Away
Tanya Ryan
TELUS Spark
the Links at GlenEagles
Theatre Calgary
Timothy Fred‟s
Toad „N‟ Turtle Pub & Grill
Todd Lemieux
Tommy Field Gastro Pub
Town of High River
Town of Okotoks
Turner Valley Golf Club
Unique Physique Personal
Training
Vertigo Theatre
Village Brewery
We Wash Windows
West Edmonton Mall
Westcan Appraisals Ltd.
Willows Spa
With Balance Acupuncture
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
Page 21
Thank you to all our individual, and corporate donors, as well as the many service clubs whose
generosity enables us to continue supporting those affected by family violence, to educate our
communities about the devastating effects , and to change lives.
Page 22
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
“
My worker was amazing,
I felt so comfortable talking
with her. I learned so much
from this program. I know
I can move forward in my life
in a positive happy way.
ROWAN HOUSE SOCIETY
”
Box 5121, High River, Alberta, T1V 1M3
Crisis Line: 403-652-3311
Toll Free: 1-855-652-3311
Administration: 403-652-3316
Charitable Registration
#899496707RR0001
Website: www.rowanhouse.ca
www.facebook.com/RowanHouseEmergencyShelter/
@RowanHouse
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chris Tulloch - Chairperson
Anne MacKay - Vice-Chairperson
Lynn Lynn - Past Chair
Leslie McRae-Krisa - Secretary
Anna-Marie Plante - Treasurer
Sherrie Botten - Executive Director
Jennifer Graham - Director
Kristine Moorman - Director
Report to the Community, Rowan House Society
Page 23
A place of hope & healing...