"Women’s Centre opens to great acclaim"
Squamish, B.C - (May 14, 2008) - The new Howe Sound Women’s Centre on Third Avenue officially opened Wednesday (May 14), and Executive Director Alison Twiss said that puts to rest a year of searching for a permanent home. “Now we can plan for our long-term future in providing services for the women and children in our community,” said Twiss. She added that the 2,000 square foot facility would allow the centre to expand their programs, as well as provide a comfortable drop-in centre and second stage housing.
“We also have a meeting space with kitchen facilities that we plan to make available to other community groups,” said Twiss.
The Women’s Centre was originally housed in a rapidly aging house on Loggers Lane, on property owned by Westmana Development Corp. The development company allowed the centre to reside there rent free and also played a large role in finding a permanent home for the centre.
“We [Westmana] maintained a close relationship with the Women’s Centre, and helping them find a solution to their long term goals,” said Westmana principal Rene David who was on hand for the official ribbon cutting. “We’re in the middle of getting approvals for [developing] our land on Loggers Lane, of course we didn’t want them to be homeless. We looked at moving the building they were in, finding rental space, or owning. However, it was the people here at the centre that found this building,” said David.
When the Women’s Centre board came to David with the proposal of buying and renovating the vacant building on Third Avenue (formerly, and not too affectionately, known as the ‘Pink Palace’), he said Westmana made the decision to take the risk of funding the down payment of the building in advance of zoning for their property on Loggers Lane.
“That formula or agreement hasn’t been finalized, but the main thing is we helped with a solution for the Women’s Centre,” said David. Westmana contributed $105,000 for the down payment on the building, and another $85,000 for renovations; they also contributed $18,000 for rental space in the United Church behind the Women’s Centre for Sea to Sky Community Services. The risk David referred to, was whether or not the District would accept those contributions as part of their amenity package should their property on Loggers Lane be rezoned. David credited District Planner Cameron Chalmers with guiding the proposal to council.
“It is unusual for a municipality to intervene in this way. What we [the District] really did was work as a facilitator in trying to find a solution to a problem, which apparently we have,” said Chalmers. The motion to go before council next Tuesday (May 20), is that they recognize the advance contribution Westmana has made, and that it be considered part of their amenity package.
Several councillors, and Mayor Ian Sutherland, were on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony. “This is a fantastic home for the Women’s Centre that’s sustainable, it gives them piece of mind, and recognizes that they are a big part of the community. Westmana, volunteers and the District did a great job in putting this together,” said Mayor Sutherland.
Twiss said she had to thank the many volunteers and businesses that contributed to the project, “It took hundreds and hundreds of hours of volunteer labour to make this happen.” Twiss added that she wanted to thank four key people/groups, Westmana, Mayor Sutherland and District council, Cameron Chalmers and the District planning department, and the Squamish Nation.
Chief Gibby Jacob of the Squamish Nation, visiting from North Vancouver, was on hand for the ceremonies said his people recognize what a valuable resource the Women’s Centre is to their community.
“Unfortunately many of us know people who have experienced spiritual, mental, and physical abuse. So when this project came to my attention, I talked with my counterpart here in Squamish – Dale Harry – and hoped we could provide a little leverage.”
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