(Photo: Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS) on Facebook)

By Justin Goulet

New campaign aims to bring awareness of services offered by women’s shelters

Mar 8, 2022 | 11:35 AM

EDMONTON, AB – March 8 marks International Women’s Day.

On Tuesday, the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS) announced a new provincial awareness campaign to illustrate how domestic violence shelters are “More Than” just a shelter.

The “More Than” campaign was developed by Women’s Shelters Canada and modified for use in Alberta. The ACWS says the initiative is both for women who may be experiencing abuse as well as those may know someone experience violence. It aims to help people understand that women’s shelters offer services beyond a safe place to sleep. Some of these services include counselling, safety planning and children’s programming.

The campaign directs Albertans to acws.ca, where they can find an online directory of ACWS members shelters, helping survivors quickly connect to their local shelter via an interactive map.

Executive director of the ACWS, Jan Reimer said, “this awareness campaign is critically important in getting a message out to survivors of violence: shelters can help.”

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“Many people may not realize that you don’t have to stay in a shelter in order to get help from one. You can call for advice and safety planning, even if you’re not sure if you’re in an abusive relationship. Friends and family can call if they think someone they know needs help. There are outreach programs available in communities across the province.”

The “More Than” campaign will roll out over the first half of 2022. It includes posters in transit spaces, social media postings, as well as video and audio public service announcements.

More information is available through the ACWS’ website and you can connect with a member of the ACWS by calling 1-866-331-3933. The A-C-W-S represents 40 organizations that operate more than 50 emergency and second-stage shelters for women, their children, and seniors fleeing domestic abuse in Alberta.

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