Hope Takes Flight: Celebrating a New Chapter for CAWES
- fundraising0530
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
On January 8, CAWES gathered with community members, partners, and supporters to celebrate an extraordinary milestone: the completion of our new emergency shelter and housing facility. The evening, aptly titled Hope Takes Flight: A CAWES Celebration, was filled with gratitude, reflection, and excitement for what this new space means for women and families across Central Alberta.
This moment has been years in the making. What was once a 40-bed emergency shelter has now grown into a 60,000-square-foot facility designed to meet the urgent and evolving needs of our community. The new building includes a 50-bed emergency shelter, 17 transitional housing apartments, and 23 affordable housing units—dramatically expanding our capacity to provide safety, stability, and a pathway forward for women and children fleeing domestic violence.
More than bricks and mortar, this building represents hope.
CAWES Executive Director Stacy Waddell shared heartfelt thanks with those gathered, acknowledging the collective effort that made this vision a reality.
“This building—and the lives it will impact—exists because of partnership, generosity, and a shared belief in what’s possible when a community comes together,” said Waddell.
The celebration also featured remarks from Daniel Johnston of Stantec, the project’s lead architect, along with former CAWES Executive Director Ian Wheeliker and former Board Chair Jerri Taylor. Each spoke to the deep collaboration, commitment, and care that carried this project from idea to reality—through challenges, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in the mission of CAWES.
This new facility is an important step forward for CAWES. It expands our capacity and gives us the spaces we need to better support families in crisis—thoughtfully, respectfully, and together with our community.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed time, resources, expertise, and trust. This achievement reflects your support and strengthens our ability to serve when it matters most.
