Help is close at hand
Odyssey House meal. (from www.odysseyhouse.)
If you or someone you know is currently the victim of abuse or violence, there are people who can help.
Odyssey House (Grande Prairie)
If you are in the Grande Prairie area, Odyssey House “provides shelter and support to survivors in Grande Prairie and surrounding areas.”
You can call or text them at 780-532-2672 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
They have an emergency shelter for women and children in need of short-term emergency accommodation (there are 44 beds), as well as their own apartment building for women looking for longer-term accommodations, as well as other support programs and services. While the focus is on helping women and children dealing with abuse, they also offer the HopeHub service, helping families with issues such as housing and mental health.
Mizpah Transition House (Dawson Creek)
If you’re in the Dawson Creek, the South Peace Community Resource Society (SPCRS) runs the Mizpah Transition House.
The Transition House services “provide temporary safe shelter and basic needs for women and their dependent children who are at risk of violence or have experienced violence. This service provides safe, confidential, women-centered services in an undisclosed location, as well as information and supports for decision-making, short term shelter, referrals to other services and links to affordable housing in the Dawson Creek area. The needs of women are assessed, and the length of stay is determined based on need.”
Staff provide emotional support, assess safety, arrange for dietary needs, legal needs, referral options, and empowers women to set goals and implement plans during their stay. It is staffed round the clocak and provides emergency response 24/7.
To contact them, phone (250) 782-9176 or email mizpah@spcrs.ca.
Speaking of SPCRS, they also offer councilling services for women in Dawson Creek, as well as Chetwynd and Tumbler Ridge.
Meaope House (Fort St John)
The Meaope House in Fort St. John offers services for women in BC’s North Peace. It provides 24 hour safe and secure shelter to women who are victims of violence or abuse and their children. To contact them, call (250) 785-5208. It is run by Community Bridge (formerly The North Peace Community Resources Society), a “community-based charitable organization, whose employees, volunteers, and Board of Directors are members of your community. We offer a network of counselling and support services in the Peace River-Liard area and will adapt our services to best suit the needs of those we serve. Our services are professional, prompt, confidential, and provided free of charge to individuals, families, children, and youth.”
Skye’s Place (Fort St John)
Another service in Fort St. John is Skye’s Place, operated by The Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society. Skye’s Place is “a safe haven for women and children leaving abusive relationships.
“Our residents enjoy the comfort of a close-knit community, a secure environment for their families, and access to transformative opportunities that empower both moms and children to thrive. Guided by a trauma-informed approach, our comprehensive program includes a diverse range of supportive services and activities:
Weekly groups and onsite counselling sessions, providing emotional and practical support.
Access to a dedicated health team, which includes a mental health clinician, life skills worker, and counsellor.
Specialized programs such as art therapy for adults and children, fostering healing through creative expression.
A Brain Injury Group, addressing unique recovery needs.
An addictions day treatment program, offering essential support to help participants stay on track.
Life skills workshops, covering topics such as budgeting, Winter Wellness, and residential tenancy rights.
Gardening activities, where each townhouse is equipped with grow boxes for families to cultivate fresh produce. The program reconnects residents with nature, teaching children about the environment and benefiting from the fruit trees and berry bushes on-site.
Indigenous Circle of Security groups, integrating Indigenous perspectives into the healing journey.
“Our unique collaboration with Northern Health enhances the program’s impact. This partnership brings a dedicated Health Team—comprising a mental health clinician, life skills worker, and nurse—who not only work directly with Skye’s Place residents but also extend their services to the broader community through our offices.”
911
If you or your children are a victim of physical abuse, calling 911 is an option. Be careful if the violence is actively happening, as this can trigger the abuser.