The Golden Women’s Resource Centre (GWRC) is always a hub of activity, and with its upcoming annual fundraiser, organizers always have something on the go.
The Starlight Soiree is an annual event hosted by the women’s centre to raise funds for the organization. It is the largest fundraiser that GWRC puts on and contributes to all of the programs they host every year.
Starting at 7 p.m. on November 8 at the Golden Civic Centre, the soiree features music, silent auctions, a photo booth, beverages, food, and more.
“All our internal funding comes from that, and the community is an amazing supporter,” said GWRC executive director and outreach coordinator Jill Holland.
This year, some of the silent auction items include a weekend getaway with breakfast to the Fairmont Lake Louise, a helicopter sightseeing tour from Alpine Helicopters, an art corner featuring local artists, and much more.
The annual event helps support programs like the mood walks, which are hosted every Wednesday, Girlz Group, the Safe Home program, and more. Recently, the GWRC started up third party reporting for victims of assault to come forward anonymously.
“Third party reporting of sexual assaults is a process that allows adults to report details of a sexual offence or assault to police anonymously,” Holland explained. “We know it is underreported. A third party report is an option of last resort for victims who would not otherwise provide information to police. It is not a substitute call for 911, nor is it a police investigation in itself. It gives survivors another option for reporting the assaults.”
This program is being implemented in partnership with the Ending Violence Association of B.C., and the Golden-Field RCMP.
“Some information is better than no information. Also, it gets survivors in talking to someone, disclosing, and it can help them access community supports. It provides non-judgmental support here, as we do,” Holland said.
Other communities in B.C. also do third party reporting through victim services. In Golden, victim services is offered through the RCMP, so GWRC is part of a pilot project through the Ending Violence Association of B.C. to provide a safe and anonymous place to report assault.
“The drop in aspect is huge. When people need to chat with someone, they often need it now,” Holland said. “We are not counsellors, we are good listeners.”
GWRC also has the Girlz Group starting up in November. The group will invite girls from Grades 5 to 7 to participate in the free program that will discuss things like body image and healthy relationships, and offer snacks and fun crafts. Girlz Group is offered at the women’s centre every Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Girls will need to sign up for this class, and forms are available at www.goldenwomenresourcecentre.ca/girlz-group.
“We try and have topics about body image, empowering topics for young women, and it will be a safe place for girls to ask questions and provide an approachable adult, while making sure it has fun activities and crafts,” Holland said.
Another program that has been ongoing at the GWRC is the Safe Home program that provides a safe and confidential place for women to go when they are fleeing violence.
“The Safe Home program is always busy. Since I’ve been working here, I’ve been amazed by how busy the centre is and the need it fills in the community,” Holland said.
Each year before the soiree, the GWRC opens nominations for the woman of the year award. The name is drawn at random at the soiree, and the winner receives a gift basket that has been donated by the community.
The GWRC is home to many different programs for women, and offers a safe place for women to go to read books, use the facilities, use the computers and Internet, print documents, and use the scanner and fax machines. The GWRC hosted Bras for a Cause this month as part of breast cancer awareness month, and bras are still available for women at the centre at 419 9th Avenue North.
For more information about the programs and resources available at the GWRC, go to www.goldenwomenresourcecentre.ca.
