On December 8, 2018, the Government of British Columbia announced a one-time grant of $75,000 in support of the BC Society of Transition Houses’ (BCSTH) Violence is Preventable (VIP) program in schools. The VIP program provides presentations in schools to increase awareness of violence against women and the companion Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling and Empowerment (PEACE) program ensures that children and youth impacted by domestic violence receive the support services they need. Since 2004, 90 PEACE programs have partnered with...

The BC Society of Transition Houses has developed the BC Municipal Election Toolkit to encourage candidates running in the October 2018 municipal election to work to eliminate violence against women and children if elected. In order to raise awareness about violence against women in BC, we ask that our members, women serving organizations, individuals and other community groups contact their local candidates to advocate for legislation, policy and practice commitments that benefit women and children experiencing gender-based violence. In this toolkit you...

The theme for this year’s training forum is Nevertheless We Persisted: 40 years of BCSTH which draws on the universal feminist rallying cry that recognizes the courage and tenacity of women overcoming barriers, raising their voices and continuing to work collectively to end violence against women, children and youth. As BCSTH celebrates the Society’s 40th Birthday, please join us for a training and networking event.

The British Columbia Association of Broadcasters (BCAB) announced its members have chosen the BC Society of Transition Houses as the 2018-2019 Humanitarian Award recipient. “The Humanitarian Award is an opportunity for non-profit organizations to gain significant exposure for the important work they do at no cost to them for the airtime,” says BCAB past-president Kevin Gemmell. “The BC Society of Transition Houses will allow broadcasters to educate the public about the need for safe refuge for many women in British...

To: The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, House of Commons Re: Bill C-75 An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to other Acts Dear Minister Wilson-Raybould, The BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH) is a provincial umbrella organization providing support and training to over 125 Transition, Second and Third Stage Houses, Safe Homes, and over 86 PEACE programs and Violence is Preventable programs...

Vancouver, BC Tuesday’s budget contained some very welcome and long-overdue investment in service responding to women and children who have experienced violence. The $18 million for “outreach and counselling support services for women and children affected by violence” demonstrates recognition that these programs have been struggling to meet demand right across the province. We welcome, too, the $141 million to provide 1,500 new units of affordable housing for women and their children who have experienced violence. The Government has heard...

The BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH) is happy to announce that the new name for the Children Who Witness Abuse (CWWA) program is: The Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling and Empowerment (PEACE) Program for Children and Youth Experiencing Violence For almost 10 years, renaming the CWWA Program to better reflect its work has been discussed in conference calls, trainings, and at CWWA in-person meetings. CWWA service agencies raised concerns as to whether the program name reflects the current work of...