6 Feature SARAH BOYD-NOEL, TAMMY SKOMOROWSKI CONTRIBUTORS Fall 2005 + Production of Educational DVD - “Crossing the Line: A Primer on Ha- rassment” and Opening Event - 75+ people in attendance - September 2005 + Volunteer Training - 15 volunteers trained in crisis intervention/suicide intervention - September 2005 + “Take Back The Highway” Event - early September + Women's Leadership Coaching Workshop/Demo/Book Signing - Ter- rill Welsh - October 2005 + Emergency Food Aid - 100 soup, . scone, and muffin jars available to all students (male too!) through Womens Centre, NUGSS, Counselling, PG- PIRG. Will be on-going. + MSW Grad student - worked on Par- ents Survey, User Survey and market- ing plan for DVD + Student Coffee House - September 2005 + “Relationship Health’ workshop - October 2005 + Women’s Self-Defence Course - Oc- tober 2005 “+ Living Well and Making Connec- tions” -“ Healthy Sexuality” and“Health and Balance in Midlife” (Keynote/ Book Signing Dr. Jerilyn Prior - inter- nationally known endocrinologist/ex- pert in Women’s Health) UBC - NWC organized workshops with Health and Wellness Centre and Northern Med- ical Program + Female students accessed placements with the Minerva Foundation Mentor- ship Program through the NWC Current Projects + Designing new space for Women's Centre within the new NUSC + Parent's survey - findings and analy- sis - daycare, housing, parents room, financial, etc. - pamphlet with findings in production + Women's Centre User survey - find- ings and analysis -- pamphlet also in production + Jezebel’s Jam: March 11th - in cele- bration of International Women's Day - will split proceeds with New Hope Society - new organizations that helps sex workers get off street + Practicum Students - Social Work students from CNC and UNBC + Symposium on vulnerable youth (re: recent murder of 14 year old DP Todd student - Aielah Saric-Auger) + Proposal - Child Custody and Access Issues/Legal Aid Advocacy + Proposal - Harassment Education Workshops + Mens Appreciation event/Open House + Strategic Planning Retreat + More workshops and Coffee house - Fall 2006 BELINDA LI Why a Women’s Centre? SARAH BOYD-NOEL CONTRIBUTOR ..-women who want a coffee and a chat... women who are lonely... women who have been harassed... women who need a safe, comfortable space to spend the night... women talking to women and creating fantastic ideas on helping people and/or this planet (magic?)... women who have chronic pain... women who need a place to breast-feed/express... women who need ‘Moon time’ supplies/pain reliev- ers... women celebrating a small - or large - victory in their lives... women with parenting/childcare dilemmas... women sharing a laugh... women who are “blue”... women having difficul- ties with student loans... women with vulnerable children who are in need... women who need a cozy place to nap... women who are being stalked and need the only guaranteed safe space on cam- pus... women having a meeting in a wonderful atmosphere... women eating their lunch... women... women... ALL USE THE WOMEN’S CENTRE! Here are some quotes from real women and why they have been drawn to, or volunteer at the Northern Womens Centre: “Tt is fun to bea part of alatger group. Volunteering at the Women's Centre gives a person a chance to be involved in fundraising events. The Centre itself is a pleasant place to rest and catch ones March 8, 2006 « Over the Edge. Recent Accomplishments of the Women’s Centre BELINDA tl Steph St. Laurent (left), director of “Crossing the Line: A Primer on Harassment” and Sarah Boyd-Noel (right) present the finished DVD at the opening event held in September 2005, One Day Last Winter... breath, to meet other women and have a coffee or heat up lunch.’ LAURIE MCRAE, PRACTICUM STUDENT “the main goal is to provide a safe space for all women... women of all di- verse backgrounds..., it ensures a place * where women can talk and organize around issues that pertain to-them...” TRACY MURPHY, COLLECTIVE MEMBER “Social Work students have com- mented on that Centre as a place of ref- uge, support, advocacy and mentoring —aplace to meet, talk and connect with other students...” DAWN HEMINGWAY, SOCIAL WORK PROFES- SOR i “In our busy lives we sometimes for- get how important it is to have people around us for support. The Women's Centre is a great place to meet people, create support networks and give sup- port to other women.” _ STACEY SCHILLER, COLLECTIVE MEMBER “My time does and has made dif- ferences in so many women’s days and maybe lives (including my own) I can't think of a better way to spend 20 min- utes!” CAROL SAPERGIA, BOARD MEMBER SARAH BOYD-NOEL CONTRIBUTOR About a year ago, freezing rain hit the UNBC campus. The campus was of- ficially closed and that's when some women discovered a well kept sécret ensconced within the humble walls of the Women's Centre. I am refer- ring to the many emergency resour- ces that have been put together over recent months and years in response to student needs. They are as follows (please note that some are available to men): : + 24 hour safe space for women + Womens Centre business card with emergency/safety numbers both on- and off-campus (20 organizations) (women and men) + Volunteers to talk to (trained in crisis intervention) (women and men, in some cases) + On- and off-campus resources - i.e. pamphlets, business cards (women and men) + Contact information for those in crisis/need (women and men) + Referrals to on- and off-campus services/agencies for those in crisis/ need/advocacy as needed (women and men, in some cases) + Emergency kits (shoe boxes) for women -who stay overnight at the Women's Centre - the shoe boxes have personal hygiene items e.g. toothbrush/ paste, soap, face cloth, etc. + Food aid box > donations of tinned, packaged, non-perishable food (women and men) + Food aid jars - jars of lentil soup, scone and bran muffin mixes (women and men) + Condoms (women and men) + “Moon time” supplies - menstrual products - tampons, pads, etc, + First Aid supplies - basic first aid kit with band aids, tensor bandages, pain relievers, etc, -¢ Diapers are sometimes available BELINDA LI Menstrual products, books, condoms, and food aid are only some of the many supplies and resources available at the Women’s Centre. Did You Know? SARAH BOYD-NOEL CONTRIBUTOR An average of 30 women use the Centre per day, 400-600 women use the Northern Women’s Centre per semes- ter and approximately 60-70 volunteers (women and men) participate in NWC activities/ events throughout the year. A Board and Collective make decisions on a consensus basis and work together to make the NWC work for women on and off-campus. Women of diverse ages, ethni- cities, stages in the life cycle, sexual orientations and de- gree programs use the Centre (as discovered in a recent NWC User survey). Not the stereo- type that some people would have in their mind’s eye! Women don't have to be in a crisis to use the Women’s Centre. As one woman de- scribed: “I enjoy the Centre and talking with these amaz- ing women’ and another, “The NWC is... a place to meet people and make many good friendships.’ Students, staff, faculty, and women in the community are all welcome to use the Centre. Many think the Centre is for students only.