May 1981

Some concerned citizens, including some members of the status of Women Action committee, met to discuss the problem of battered women and their children in our region.

As a result of their deep concern and the interest shown, a public meeting was held at the DAWE center with 12 people in attendance.

After much work, a $10,000 Federal Government Grant was awarded to be used for public education and family violence research in Central Alberta.

CMHC informed C.A.W.E.S. that they had been approved for federal government funding for construction of a shelter.  As exciting as this was, one of the stipulations was for operating funds to be in place.  An application was submitted to Alberta Social Services for a grant to cover shelter operating costs.  A suitable building site had to be selected.

C.A.W.E.S. finally had approval from both levels of government to proceed.  Red Deer and District Family and Community Support Services, who provided C.A.W.E.S. with $10,000 in deficit funding, made this possible.

The new Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter officially opened its doors.  The shelter was licensed for 16 beds and was mandated to provide services 24 hours per day, seven days a week.  They had four full time staff, one phone line and an operating budget of $200,000

C.A.W.E.S. took over the administration if the Batterer’s Treatment Program and there has been six new groups a year since that time.  The Treatment Program is 15 months in duration and takes referrals from the entire central Alberta area.

C.A.W.E.S. was fortunate to receive funding from Diamond Willow Child and Family Service Authority to provide two treatment groups per year for Adult Female Victims of Family Violence and two Adolescent Treatment groups for teens 12 through 16 years of age. 

C.A.W.E.S. had an incredible group of community supporters who recognized that it was necessary to expand and renovate to provide safe refuge for the growing number of women with and without children who were being victimized by spousal assault.  This group of dynamic people formed a Building and Renovation Committee, raised the necessary funds and a new dream was born.  Thanks to a very generous community, a private donor and CMHC the expansion was complete. 

The Newly expanded C.A.W.E.S. was finished and open for clients.  We received more office space, a much larger area for the Child Support Program, a commercial kitchen, a teen boy’s bedroom, and a barrier free bedroom as well as six new bedrooms and four ensuites.