Celebrate International Women’s Day with the YWCA Banff
Join us for the first YWCA Women’s Film Series feature, a powerful documentary “It’s a Girl”.
Watch the trailer here: www.itsagirlmovie.com
March 8, 2013 @ 7:00pm
The Banff Centre, Max Bell Auditorium
Buy your tickets TODAY at the YWCA Banff, The Banff Centre box office or at www.banffcentre.ca
Join us for the 2nd Annual Safe House Shakedown!
February 22, 2013 @ 7:00pm
Rose & Crown Banff
Featuring live music from “Hard Drive” and raffles! $20 tickets include food and entry into a GRAND PRIZE draw! On sale at the Rose & Crown & YWCA of Banff.
Canmore Fashion Show
February 21, 2013 @ 7:00pm
Iron Goat Pub & Grill
Join us for a glamorous fashion show at the Iron Goat Pub & Grill in Canmore on February 21st at 7pm.
Featuring live auction of items from local shops, local firefighters as servers, Rob Murray as the MC and other attractions!
$20 tickets on sale at the YWCA of Banff and Iron Goat. Buy tickets online at the Goat’s website!
One Billion Rising / Strike / Dance / Rise!
February 14, 2013 @ 12:00pm
Banff High School ice rink
Join our Skate Mob on February 14 to demand an end to violence. Wear red & black, grab your skates and dance alongside One Billion other supporters.
Follow the steps of our skate experts in this special mountain style event.
One billion women on the planet will be raped or beaten in their lifetime. Be a part of the change and join our local rising in support of this global initiative!
www.onebillionrising.org
9th Annual Safe House Campaign
December 2012 – February 2013
Names have been changed to protect our clients’ identity.
When Olivia was punched by her boyfriend for the second time in a week she knew it was time to leave. Although she’d tried to leave her partner before, he caught her packing a bag and threatened to kill her if she ever tried again. Now it was even more important than ever to get away. Olivia was 3 months pregnant.
When Olivia arrived at the YWCA of Banff late at night she was greeted by welcoming faces; faces that could tell almost immediately that she needed help. The YWCA of Banff helped Olivia find a space in their shelter while she made important life decisions. Choices she never thought she’d live to make.
Now 1 year on, Olivia and her son have relocated and can look back positively. Without the support of the YWCA of Banff and its shelter program, Olivia and her son may not be with us today.
The YWCA of Banff’s 9th annual Safe House Campaign raises funds for the Bow Valley’s only shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence. The goal of the campaign this year is to raise $20,000 to cover the operational costs of running the shelter. Additional funds raised will go towards a major renovation project with a view of improving the quality of the shelter experience.
Last year the Safe House Campaign raised $19,473 which helped to provide 297 nights of shelter to women and their children. By supporting women and children, our aim is to break the cycle of family violence – forever.
If you would like to donate to this important cause, please do so now at Canada Helps. Without donations like yours, more women and children will be alone, without shelter and without hope.
Top 10 Reasons to Donate
1. All money raised goes to supporting the Bow Valley’s only women’s shelter. A donation of only $250 gives a night of safe emergency shelter & counseling a women and child.
2. On average, every six days a women in Canada is killed by her intimate partner.
3. Each year in Canada 360,000 children witness or experience family violence.
4. It takes a victim an average of 9 times before they leave a violent partner for good.
5. Non-Canadians are ineligible for government funding to keep them safe within our non-funded shelter.
6. Your donation is tax deductible.
7. Violence against women is one of Canada’s most pervasive and insidious social issues.
8. The cost of violence against women in Canada has been calculated at $4.2 billion per year.
9. Abuse carries into old age. Spousal homicide accounts for 30% of murders of women 65 or older.
10. Additional funds raised (over our $20,000 goal) will go towards a major shelter renovation project.*
Stats: http://www.canadianwomen.org/facts-about-violence
* In 2013 we hope to start a major renovation project to improve the quality of the shelter experience. Put simply, when women & children visit us we want to provide them with the highest quality accommodation experience they’ve had to date. We feel this will be influential in inspiring the women towards a more positive stage in their lives. This project will include major plumbing and building construction, valued at $70,000. If you would like to donate time or materials to this project, as well as financial backing, please contact us directly.
Week Without Violence
October each year
For one week in October every year the YWCA of Banff is challenging the residents of the Bow Valley to think about what it would take to live even for just one Week Without Violence. How different would your life be if you could live it free from fear? Think about it. Are you one of the many people who know what it’s like to feel fear at school, at work, on the street or at home? Are there alternatives? We think so.
Help us stop violence in homes, schools, workplaces and our neighbourhoods. Join YWCA of Banff in our efforts to stop violence.
School Poster & Poetry Contest- October 10th- 26th, 2012
Experience has shown us that young people are interested in learning how to be non-violent. We also know that young people are very involved in affecting change in their communities and have lots to contribute.
The YWCA of Banff is challenging the young people in our community in Grades 4,5 & 6 to be part of the Week Without Violence campaign and enter our Poster & Poetry Contest to spread a message of peace and non-violence.
Click on the image below for further details.
The Power of Being A Girl – October 20th, 2012
As part of the YWCA of Banff’s commitment to violence prevention initiatives for girls and young women, “Power of Being a Girl” is a signature violence -prevention conference for girls in grade 4,5&6 hosted during the Week Without Violence.
Its a fun packed day in a safe environment where girls will connect with other girls to explore self-esteem development and healthy relationships.
Click on the image below for further details.
White Ribbon Campaign
November 25th through December 6th
November 25th is the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women. Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls. Wearing a white ribbon is a way of saying, “Our future has no violence against women”.
The White Ribbon Campaign is the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women. In over fifty-five countries, campaigns are led by both men and women, even though the focus is on educating men and boys. In some countries it is a general public education effort focused on ending violence against women.
Red Rose Campaign
December 6th
December 6th is Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. It is a day to remember not only the 14 women who were killed at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique, but all women who have died as a result of violence. It is a day for Canadians to reflect and work towards ensuring the safety of women and girls in their community. The YWCA Canada’s Rose Campaign to end violence against women and girls takes its name from the rose button created after 14 young women were murdered on December 6, 1989. The Rose Campaign works year-round to reduce violence against women, increase public awareness and prevent violence before it starts.
This year for the first time the YWCA of Banff hosted a Red Rose Luncheon event to remember the women murdered in Montreal in 1989. This event was partnered with Cause Canada – Bev Carrick, founder of the company was the guest speaker.
The purpose of the event was to not only bring attention of violence against women but to focus on the initiatives both the YWCA & Cause Canada are doing to improve the lives of women in Canada & around the World. 90 people in the community were personally invited from a range of backgrounds & 30 people attended the day. The event received great feedback with suggestions made to keep this an annual event.
International Women’s Day
March 8th
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women’s Day is a national holiday.
In honour of International women’s day we host an Art Show as well as an annual mentoring event with the Banff Community High School which is designed to connect eager female high school students with dynamic women in the Bow Valley Community.
