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May Newsletter
Creative Circle:
Every Monday from 1pm ~ 2:30pm women gather at the
Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre to knit, crochet,
weave and do other various crafts while meeting with new
women and form lasting friendships. The creative circle
is a free program with some supplies to get you started
on a new hobby. For more information please call Vangie
at 863-6221.
Spring Tea:
A Spring Tea is being held on Saturday, May 15th 12noon
-3pm at St. James United Church Hall. All proceeds go to
the Antigonish Women's Resource Centre & Sexual Assault
Services Association.
Cost is $8.00 for a light lunch tea and sandwiches. A
silent auction will be held during this time. There will
be local entertainment.
Come along and bring a friend. Bid on unique items at
the silent auction. Enjoy a cup of tea; celebrate spring
in the company of women and go home singing.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to
call Vangie at 863-6221.
HRY Program:
The HRY Program is gearing up for “Training Youth
Leaders in Violence Prevention”, May 27-29 at St.
Francis Xavier University.
All HRY youth facilitators and those wishing to
participate for the 2010-2011 school year are invited to
attend. If you are attending high school in the SRSB and
are interested in responding to sexism, racism and
homophobia in your school and community don’t miss this
exciting opportunity to train with other youth in the
SRSB who are leaders in violence prevention peer
education! This unique leadership opportunity is made
possible by the Lighthouses Program grant from the NS
Department of Justice.
Registration deadline is May 11, 2010. Contact Krista
DeCoste, HRY Program Coordinator for further details.
ruralyouthawrc@ns.sympatico.ca or call 863-3624
The Inverness Academy HRY Program youth team is
presenting a series of workshops for students from grade
7-12 to help prevent violence in their school and
community. The youth team is developing a skit on the
harmful effects of online bullying and they are inviting
guest presenters in to talk about issues such as sexual
assault and harassment, addictions and drug use, and
homophobia. The presentation day will soon be
determined. The Lighthouses Program grant from the
Department of Justice is supporting this HRY Program
event.
Outreach Worker
Perspective:
As the Outreach Worker at the Antigonish Women’s
Resource Centre, I spend a lot of time on the road.
Driving along, I can’t help but notice spring is finally
here. The trees are budding and the grass is getting
greener by the day. Spring is often when we shake off
the lethargy of the winter months and find the energy to
focus on the changes that we would like to make in our
lives. For those who are experiencing change or
uncertainty, or those who are contemplating making
changes in their lives, touching base with the AWRC
outreach worker may be a good place to start. I am a new
to the women’s centre and will be covering Mica’s
maternity leave. Prior to coming to AWRC, I worked as a
counsellor for the Naomi Society for Victims of Family
Violence. I have also worked as a caseworker at the
specialized Native Services Unit, Alberta Child and
Family Services and the Antigonish Guysborough Early
Intervention Program. I look forward to working with the
women of Antigonish and Guysborough County, providing
the following services:
Justice Matters for Women: Rural Outreach in
Guysborough and Antigonish Counties is free and
confidential for women of all ages and backgrounds aged
16 and over who are living in and around Canso,
Guysborough and Sherbrooke. There are many reasons why
women take advantage of our program. Women often come
looking for information and problem-solving, emotional
and crisis support. I help individuals talk to services,
agencies and institutions and can accompany women to
court.
Inspire is a school-based program that
provides adolescent girls with a safe, non-judgmental
and girl-friendly venue for exploring issues in their
lives, learning about their rights, and developing
life-skills. Inspire provides positive mentoring and
role modelling that encourages self-care, healthy
decision making and the development of critical-thinking
and problem- solving skills.
I am in Canso on Monday, Guysborough on Tuesdays and
Sherbrooke on Wednesday. To schedule and appointment,
please call 863-6886.
Looking forward to meeting you!
Megan Fogarty
Support
Services
The Women’s Centre provides women and adolescent girls
with information, supportive counselling, advocacy and
referral. Women come to the centre concerned with
housing, poverty, employment issues, education and
re-training needs, sexual violence, harassment, abuse,
relationship and parenting problems, and mental,
emotional, and physical health issues. Our Women’s
Support Workers, Amanda Workman and Nicole Rovers, are
knowledgeable about the many issues facing women and
girls. Amanda has many years of experience in providing
support on the range of issues facing women and has
worked extensively with survivors of sexual violence.
Nicole Rovers is new to our staff and brings a
background in law and advocacy. We make every effort to
see women the day they call and women are welcome to
drop-in or to schedule appointments by calling 863-6221.
Justice Matters for
Women
Justice Matters for Women provides
women and adolescent girls living in and around Canso,
Sherbrooke and Guysborough with information,
problem-solving support and advocacy. Women who have
limited access to law-related services, who require
information about their legal rights and about the law,
and who live in rural and isolated areas of Antigonish
and Guysborough Counties can access information on a
broad range of issues – sexual assault, separation and
divorce, custody and access, harassment, tenancy rights,
and others. As well, we provide information resources to
community agencies, schools and organizations in order
to help them better address the needs of the women and
adolescent girls with whom they work. Call 863-8668 to
speak with Megan Fogarty, our Outreach Worker. Justice
Matters for Women is provided with funding from the Law
Foundation of Nova Scotia.
Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program
The SANE Program provides services to female
and male survivors of sexual assault who are 13 years of
age and older. Forensically trained nurses are available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week to do comprehensive
medical exams and to provide supportive follow-up care
for victims/survivors. SANEs are able to collect
forensic evidence which can be stored up to six months
giving survivors time to decide on whether they want to
involve the police. Call Angela Fougere, SANE Program
Coordinator at 863-6221 for more information.
Groups for Adult
Survivors of Sexual Trauma
The Women’s Centre offers Stage I, Stage II and Follow-up Groups for Adult
Survivors of Sexual Trauma. The Groups are facilitated
by a therapist who has training and experience specific
to working with survivors of trauma and of sexual
violence.
The Stage I Adult
Survivors of Sexual Trauma:
Developing Coping Skills program focuses on
educating the participants about sexual violence and
trauma and teaches them the coping and grounding skills
they need to carry through with their emotional healing
in a safe manner. It is designed to allow women who
share similar challenges as a result of the experience
of sexual trauma to make changes in their lives. The
emphasis of this group is the development of healthy,
practical coping skills that women can use in their
daily life to help them manage overwhelming feelings,
set healthy boundaries for themselves and develop a
compassionate inner voice.
The Stage II Adult
Survivors of Sexual Trauma Group:
Beginning Emotional Healing is designed to be
a ten week program designed to support women survivors
of sexual trauma to move into their personal healing
work. The Stage II group provides a safe healing
environment in which participants can tell their stories
and begin to work on specific effects of childhood
trauma.
International Day
Against Homophobia
May 17 is International Day against
Homophobia. Everyone is invited to participate in
Celebrating Pride in Antigonish, May 17, Chisholm Park,
Antigonish. Come out show your pride – include yourself
in the rainbow of diversity in Antigonish.
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