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By Jett Schwaier

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Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society nears the $8.5M renovation goal

Mar 18, 2026 | 5:53 PM

The Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society’s newly renovated facility is already making a difference for clients as it closes in on its capital budget of $8.5 million, with roughly $1.4 million remaining following its recent annual Bread & Roses Gala.

Executive director Natasha Carvalho said the organization has been operating in the upgraded space since late August, following a grand opening in September.

“It’s just been really wonderful just getting used to having all that much space and being able to spread out logistically. Physically, for the clients, it’s been wonderful,” Carvalho said.

Carvalho said the expanded facility offers private bedrooms and bathrooms for clients, along with additional programming and common areas, improving both comfort and access to supports.

“Those kinds of things are just bringing them so much peace and dignity to be in a crisis and being in an uncomfortable time to be able to take care of yourself and your children,” Carvalho said.

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With about $1.4 million left to raise in the capital budget for renovations, Carvalho said the organization has received support from multiple levels of government, as well as grants, businesses and community donors.

“We had $2 million set aside, so our goal was $6.5 million when we launched the capital campaign,” Carvalho said.

“The community’s been amazing, the different levels of government have been really supportive to us, we’ve had a lot of grants and businesses who’ve been supportive of us as well, so we’re just hoping to keep that momentum going.”

Carvalho said this year’s 12th Annual Bread & Roses Gala, which took place on March 7, continues to support operations while also contributing to the capital campaign.

The shelter’s event raised about $7,000 toward the campaign and serves as a key opportunity to increase awareness around family violence and the services available in the community.

Carvalho said the community has shown great support for the event, as she was uncertain whether the gala would continue following COVID-19.

“Every year we have people calling us, going, when’s the gala? What’s the date? We want to buy a table. It’s a very generous community,” Carvalho said.

“It’s also such an important night for us to bring awareness to the issue of family violence, for people to understand really where their money goes, what programs and services are available, you know, you always know somebody who might need help or something like that.”

Upcoming initiatives from the shelter include a pet walk in partnership with the Medicine Hat SPCA this summer, aimed at addressing barriers for individuals who may be unable to leave unsafe situations due to concerns about their pets.

“Pets are an important part of people’s family, [and] we don’t have the capacity to have pets at our shelter, but we have a partnership with SPCA, so that’s really important,” Carvalho said.

A golf tournament is also planned for September.

The organization is also supporting advocacy efforts led by the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters, which highlight transportation challenges in rural areas that can limit access to services.

“There’s a lack of transportation, there’s no Greyhound bus if you need to get somewhere, it’s harder to get access to services and things like that, so [it’s] something we’ve been supporting,” Carvalho said.

Carvalho said the shelter will continue focusing on expanding programs and maintaining service levels as demand in the region persists.

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

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