New digs a better fit for Women’s Resource Centre

The Women’s Resource Centre in Brandon has a new home that is almost double the size of its previous location — and that will mean more services for clients, said the centre’s director of counselling and advocacy.

For the last five days, staff, volunteers and board members have been moving furniture, fixtures and program materials from 729 Princess Ave. to the new location at 1233 Rosser Ave., about six blocks away.

“We had our eye out for a building for about a year,” Kim Ewasiuk said, adding that it was important to stay downtown giving clients easy access to bus routes.

“This has a different layout for safety,” she said.

“We have more exits and entrances than the space we had before. So it’s much safer for folks here and much quieter. We’re just on the edge of downtown, so a different vibe and experience.”

Ewasiuk showed off the new space Friday morning along with program co-ordinator Leanne Bone and Jamie Brown, who is the co-ordinator of the women and gender equality program.

They were in the Princess Avenue location for 13 years. The new space on Rosser Avenue is much brighter, has a backyard and a kitchen, making it a lot easier to run their breakfast program, Brown said.

In the last fiscal year, the centre served breakfast to 950 people.

All the staff felt an immediate and comfortable connection to the space, Brown said, something she believes will benefit their clients.

“It just feels good to have a space that reflects our pride and our passion for this work,” she said.

“And for our clients and our folks coming in, it is a better, nicer, cleaner space for them.

“So it’s that dignity and pride piece for us and them, to come into a space that just feels good, looks good and is safe. They deserve that too. It’s amazing.”

There are currently 11 staff members, including co-ordinators, counsellors and advocates. They provide numerous free services like counselling for gender-based violence and sexual assault, and sessions about harm reduction, family law, public health and employment and income assistance.

Drop-in programs and activities will continue along with handing out to-go bags of hygiene supplies.

The counselling programs are full, with each counsellor seeing between 15 and 23 clients, Ewasiuk said.

“Unfortunately, we have a wait list, which we don’t like to do because of the safety for women. We also do protection orders and third-party reporting, so we’re really busy with all kinds of programs,” she said.

Finally, after many years, Ewasiuk will able to fill a position that is in high demand.

“We are without a child and youth counsellor, so that’s our main goal,” she said.

“We’re looking at probably two counselling positions and an advocacy position on top of what we already have, so we’ll be able to expand our services for advocacy into the community, along with our empowered traditions program.”

The empowered traditions program, which is run by Bone, helps Indigenous women reconnect with their culture through workshops and hands-on activities.

In the previous location, Bone shared an office with the centre’s cultural support worker and a counsellor. There was some shuffling required when the counsellor had an appointment, but Bone said she took it in stride.

“We actually figured out a pretty good schedule and a system,” Bone said, adding, “but it’s a lot better now. Jenny, our cultural support worker, and I have own our own space, so things are going much smoother.”

More space will allow Bone to expand some of the programs and services she offered in the past.

“Last year we had workshops to make ribbon skirts, and we did our own red willow picking and turned them into dream catcher hoops,” said Bone.

“We had various types of beading workshops to make earrings and keychains, and we did mini teepees and moccasins, and drum-making.

“So this year, we’re going to be expanding some traditional cooking classes.”

The Women’s Resource Centre already has 16 raised garden beds at 24 11th St. Staff planted the vegetables and clients do the rest, Ewasiuk said.

“This is contributing to food security in a different way. Folks are coming and helping us water and weed and take the harvest with them, so that’s sustainability.

“And then we’re going to be running some programs around cooking, canning and freezing.”

Ewasiuk paused and then the three of them said in unison, “because we have a kitchen now,” as they all laughed.

Renovations were completed in May, which included painting and a new floor, Ewasiuk said.

“We applied for a couple of grants to be able to do the renos (renovations) but we haven’t received word yet, but our fingers are crossed,” she said.

”We’re pretty positive.”

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