Vancouver, B.C. – The Downtown Vancouver Coalition for Women’s Safety announces a community forum, today, December 18, 2017.

Dawson Davidson, a very dangerous serial rapist has been released from prison and is now staying in a halfway house in the downtown Vancouver area. The violence that he has done towards women over his lifetime has been horrific and the criminal justice system has released him into the community, under the jurisdiction of the Vancouver Police Departments high risk offender unit and is staying in a halfway house non-governmental organization.

Davidson recently completed a two-year sentence for sexual assault and was assessed by Correctional Services Canada at a moderate to high risk of reoffending. He has conditions not to be alone with any women, sex workers and not be in the Downtown Eastside. The coalition is concerned because he is currently being housed in such close proximity to vulnerable women and children.

“The forum will have speakers from community based organizations, police and also concerned individuals in the community. “This is an opportunity for us as a community to discuss what it means to have this type high risk community member in our midst in the context of #MeToo”, says Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director of Battered Women’s Support Services.

“Community organizing can be powerful and effective in addressing gender based violence”, says Rona Amiri, Violence Prevention Coordinator at Battered Women’s Support Services, “through awareness and action together we can discuss community based responses to violence against women and women’s safety”.

The Coalition believes while combating gendered violence, women in this community to be supported to be able to live safe and healthy lives.

Who: Downtown Vancouver Coalition for Women’s Safety

What: Community Forum

When: December 18, 2017 6PM- 8PM

Where: Vancouver Community College, 250 West Pender Street. Room 240

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Media enquiries

Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director, Battered Women’s Support Services

Tel. (604) 808-0507 E-mail: director@bwss.org

Thank you for imagining a world of freedom and justice with Angela Davis and BWSS!

We have taken a few days to reflect on the significance of Angela Davis at the Orpheum Theatre last Wednesday. By all accounts, this was a momentous moment in Vancouver. The occasion convened members of our community in a way that we haven’t seen before and the room was a electric, joyous and connected.

Here are some photos from the evening.

Cecilia Point, Musqueam during the territorial welcome.

Almost 2,700 hundred people in attendance!

BWSS and Khare Communications premiered ‘Gassy Jack’ Monument video, featuring Audrey Siegl, Terriea Harris, and Ellena Neel.

Summer-Rain manager for the Indigenous Women’s Program at BWSS sharing a few words with Terriea Harris and Buffie Irvine.

Wildflower Women of Turtle Island Drum Group sang the Women’s Warrior song.

Standing ovation for Dr.Angela Davis.

Dr.Angela Davis with emcee, Angela Marie MacDougall.

One of the largest representations of the Black community in Vancouver pictured here with Dr. Angela Davis.

Women from Fluevog Shoes and BWSS #kNOwmore team were onsite!

$112,000!

We are still tallying the the total and with your help we raised  $112,000 that evening!

Thank you so much to all the sponsors and donors! And thank you to Dr. Angela Davis for her words and presence at the historic event.

Heartwarming Community Responses

Sponsors

BWSS is so grateful for the generosity of our sponsors making it possible for 350 members of our community to attend the reception and/or the main event.

Individual Sponsors
Davida LeComte
Jane Shi
Kirsten Roche
Lillian Kearney
Samantha Kearney
Luiza Brenner
Mathew Burditt
Angie Byron
Kathryn McNaughton
King-mong Chan

Group Sponsors

On #GivingTuesday you can give the gift of Safety

Violence by a male partner is the leading cause of non-fatal injury to women in Canada and in Canada, every five days a woman is killed by her male partner.

On any given night in Canada, 3,500 women and their 2,700 children sleep in shelters because it isn’t safe at home. On any given night, about 300 women and their children are turned away because shelters are already full.

At BWSS we know Safety Changes Everything.

All donations made on November 28^th will be matched dollar for dollar.

Every dollar will bring safety for girls and women in our community.

This is what BWSS did in 2016:

• responded to over 11,000 requests for services
• 638 women accessed our services for the first time
• 6,871 calls to our crisis line
• 244 new intakes for counselling
• 194 women joined support groups for their first time
• 2816 counselling sessions
• created 450 personalized safety plans
• accompanied 31 women to court

Donate today to support the safety of women and their children.

You know, Safety Changes Everything.

BWSS Commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – November 25, 2017
Violence by a male partner is the leading cause of non-fatal injury to women in Canada and in Canada, every five days a woman is killed by her male partner.

Globally, on the basis of data from 2005 to 2016 for 87 countries, 19 per cent of women between 15 and 49 years of age said they had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the 12 months prior to the survey. In the most extreme cases, such violence can lead to death. In 2012, almost half of all women who were victims of intentional homicide worldwide were killed by an intimate partner or family member, compared to 6 per cent of male victims.

As an extreme form of human rights violation in Canada and around the world, BWSS has been on the front-line taking action to end violence for almost 40 years.

This year BWSS commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and launches the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence through hosting a series of events:

Saturday, November 25th

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Violence by a male partner is the leading cause of non-fatal injury to women in Canada and in Canada, every five days a woman is killed by her male partner.

Sunday, November 26^th

Meet Connor

On any given night in Canada, 3,500 women and their 2,700 children sleep in shelters because it isn’t safe at home.  On any given night, about 300 women and their children are turned away because shelters are already full.  From November 25 – December 10^th, over 5,000 people will receive a letter with the story of Connor.

Connor was five years old when he accompanied his mother Diane, to our office.  It was at the beginning of what promised to be a very busy day.

Connor’s mother had fled with him overnight after his father had assaulted her…again.  Finding all the shelters full, they had spent the night in her car.

A shelter worker gave our number.  And now they were in our office desperate to find a safe place to be.  To hear more about Connor email endingviolence@bwss.org

Monday, November 27^th

Cyber Monday

Resisting Cyber-Violence Against Women – Recognizing and Resisting Gender Violence in the Online Environment
Seeing an emergence of cyber-violence against women both as a weapon against women and an environment where women are made to feel unsafe, Battered Women’s Support Services dug deeper to develop our analysis of this type of violence.  On Monday, November 27^th follow BWSS on Twitter at @EndingViolence to learn more about recognizing and resisting gender violence in the online environment.

Tuesday, November 28^th

Giving Tuesday – Safety Changes Everything

This Giving Tuesday give the gift of safety

All donations made on November 28^th will be matched dollar for dollar.

Wednesday, November 29^th

Angela Davis in Vancouver – Imagining a World with Freedom and Justice

BWSS seeks to bring communities together to address social issues during its 16 days of activism to end violence against women.  BWSS is delighted to announce that the legendary feminist icon and political activist, Angela Davis, will speak at this year’s main event, “Imagining a World with Freedom and Justice” this Wednesday, November 29^th at Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre.  Tickets available at Ticketmaster

Friday, December 1^st

World AIDs Day

BWSS will be on Twitter and Facebook connecting the dots between violence against women and AIDs sharing an intersectional analysis of women’s experiences and focuses on changing the structural inequalities that affect women’s reproductive health and their ability to control their sexual health and reproductive lives.

Saturday, December 2^nd

Buy Local and Social

Since 2015, BWSS has participated in #BuyItFwd campaign encouraging people to support their local economy by choosing social enterprises for their holiday purchases.  Follow BWSS on Twitter at @EndingViolence

Wednesday, December 6^th

Montreal Massacre

National Day of Remembrance and Action of Violence against Women
BWSS hosts their Annual General Meeting featuring keynote address by Rhiannon Bennett, Pulling Together with special acknowledgement of Ruth Lea Taylor, veteran feminist family law lawyer.

Sunday, December 10^th

Human Rights Day

“Gassy Jack” Monument Video Online Launch – BWSS reveals suppressed histories about the roots of violence against Indigenous women and girls through a poignant video featuring local Indigenous women.

BWSS is on the front-line taking action and now more than ever women are reaching out to BWSS for support.

In 2016, BWSS responded to over 11,000 requests for services up from the previous year

• 638 new women accessed our services
• 6,871 calls to our crisis line
• 244 new intakes for counselling
• 194 new women joined support groups
• 2816 counselling sessions
• Created 450 individual safety plans
• Accompanied 31 women to court

In November 2016 alone:

• 601 women called our crisis line
• 70 new women accessed our services
• 56 women accessed legal services
• 53 women now have personalized safety plan

For more information: email endingviolence@bwss.org

BWSS BWSS AGM 2017 Commemorates National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence

 
Who: Society Members and invited guests
What: BWSS AGM 2017
Where: My Sister’s Closet 1092 Seymour Street (at Helmcken)
When: Wednesday, December 6, 2017
5:30 pm Registration
6:00 pm Welcome
Honouring of Ruth Lea Taylor, Feminist Family Law Lawyer
Keynote Address
6:30 pm Call to Order
7:30 pm Meeting Adjourned

To register for the BWSS AGM and become a society member please email endingviolence@bwss.org to receive a registration package.
 

Special honouring of Ruth Lea Taylor, Feminist, Family Law Lawyer

Keynote Address Rhiannon Bennett

Rhiannon Bennett is a member of the Musqueam Indian Band and has been participating on Pulling Together Canoe Journeys since 2006. She has served on the Board since 2013 and served as President since 2014. She is active in her community and volunteers her time on a variety of community organizations including: Pulling Together Canoe Society, Ladner Fisherman’s Hall Co-op, Delta Secondary Alumni Basketball Tournament, an Inter-community Language Revitalization Committee, and founded the Musqueam Pulling Together Canoe Club. Rhiannon is well known for asking the tough questions in a manner that encourages engagement and dialogue. Professionally, she has worked with Aboriginal youth and the overarching themes of her work have been decolonization and reconciliation. She has worked with children, youth and families for about 18 years in a variety of roles including a dance teacher, soccer coach, Youth Worker, Youth Program Coordinator, Aboriginal Community Developer, and Aboriginal Enhancement Support Worker in the Richmond School District. She is currently working in her community of Musqueam as their Family Outreach Worker and was recently elected to the Delta School Board. Rhiannon is passionately working towards creating a more equitable world for all people.

BWSS AGM 2017

Battered Women’s Support Services Board of Directors

Ainjil Hunt
Cecilia Point
Jennifer Johnstone
Jennifer Mackie
Rachael Des Lauriers

 
December 6th is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, is a day commemorated in Canada each December 6th, the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, when fourteen women were singled out for being women and murdered. It is often marked by vigils, discussions and other reflections on violence against women.