VIDEO: Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society reopens facility after renovation and expansion

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Executive director Natasha Carvalho said she is proud they have got to this point.

“The community support has been amazing. We always rely on the community to help us out, because we raise money for operational dollars as well,” Carvalho said.

“When we launched this capital campaign, the community really came out to help us in very many possible ways. So we’re hopeful they’ll keep helping us, because we still have a little ways to raise.”

The budget for the capital project was $8.5 million. Carvalho said they had set aside $2 million as an organization, with $6.5 million they needed to raise.

“The various amounts came from different levels of government, right down to municipal as well as Cypress County. And we had some private donors as well. And so that sort of brought it all together,” Carvahlo said.

“We still have about $2 million left to finally pay it all off.”

Carvalho said one of the biggest benefits with the renovated facility is their services all together in the facility that now boasts 30 beds.

“We used to have three separate facilities. Now we have this one,” Carvahlo said.

“This is our second stage as well. So we’re all together so staff can go back and forth and assist where they need to be able to, and so that really just gives us the option for, making sure that programs run a lot more smoothly,” she added.

“We’re just really thrilled to be at this point, done the construction and all back in together and have all the clients back in so it’s just a wonderful time.”

Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services, said it was great seeing so many dignitaries from the area at the ceremony.

“[It] really talks about the significance of this opening and the impact it’s going to make on women and kids all throughout Medicine Hat in the southeast corner of the province.”

Turton said there is a need for women’s shelters and domestic violence prevention programs throughout the entire province.

“Unfortunately, these programs are needed. There are families and women that are hurting, and women’s shelters, like the one we have here in Medicine Hat that we’re celebrating this opening for, are going to continue to meet that need,” Turton said.

“They’re going to continue to provide safe harbours for women that are fleeing domestic violence. And I’m very thankful for everyone here at the shelter for seeing this project completed,” he added.

“I just know the positive impact it’s going to have on families throughout the entire area.”

“We’re providing funding and programs and supports for those that need help the most,” continued Turton.

“It’s something that I think of each and every day when I’m at the legislature, and not just this women’s shelter, but other women’s shelters and the other programs within my ministry. I realize that for many Albertans that have nowhere else to go, this is the last place for them to come, and that’s a heavy responsibility that I have for myself as minister of children and family services,” he added.

“[I’m] very thankful to work with the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters as well as other shelter providers throughout the entire province, as they offer those programs of hope and opportunity for women and children that need help the most.”

Medicine Hat mayor Linnsie Clark said there was a great turnout for the ceremony.

“But what I’m even more proud of is how our community came together with donations,” Clark said.

“The province chipped in, the city chipped in, the county chipped in and countless donors to make this happen and that just shows what a compassionate community we live in, and that makes me feel so proud.”

Cypress County reeve Dan Hamilton said the different level of support is huge.

“The county recognizes that we’re a region here, and we know that our services are needed [on] both sides.

“We helped out the first time when the facility was built, and we didn’t hesitate on the second one,” he added.

“We would have loved to have done more, but everybody knows how far the dollar stretches nowadays.”

Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright said the whole endeavor has been something the community needs.

“I’ve been so thankful and honoured to be able to advocate on behalf of the women’s shelter,” Wright said.

“We’re able to secure them a million dollar grant after quite a bit of hard work to make sure that the right folks knew of this program, knew of this renovation.”

Wright was impressed with how much the shelter society was able to raise in such a short period of time.

“They figure the building process was about 18 months, but the fundraising process was a little bit longer than that, and they were able to bring together some absolutely remarkable community dollars and support to really get this built to help those in need,” Wright said.

“And that’s really what it comes down to, is helping everybody that is fleeing domestic violence.”

Wright encourages everyone in the community to look into the programs provided by the women’s shelter.

“They are truly a resource, and they act as a beacon of light within our community, and it’s such an honor to work with them,” Wright said.

“The more we become educated on what is going on in our community, the more we can see just how special Medicine Hat is.”

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Alberta premier Danielle Smith speaks during the reopening of the Phoenix Safe House shelter in Medicine Hat on Wednesday. Jett Schwaier/CHAT News

Carvalho said it was wonderful that premier Smith was able to make it to the ceremony.

“The shelter falls in her riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat. So it was sort of doubly important that she was here. She has seen the build through this, the beginning and through the middle of it,” Carvalho said.

“She’s been here a few times. So it’s really nice to have her here and be able to show her the final product.”

by Jesse Gill, Jett Schwaier

VIDEO: Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society reopens facility after renovation and expansion

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