Friday, May 06, 2011

Women's Centre Closing

Vernon Womens CentreIt's the end of the line for the Vernon and District Women's Centre.  The agency has announced it will be closing its office on 32nd Avenue permanently this month, ending more than 30 years of service.  Society chairperson Emily Mayne says they're been struggling to survive since 2004 when the BC Liberal government cut core funding to women's centres.  Mayne says a further blow is a 43 percent cut for women's advocacy by the Harper government. She says it's with deep sadness they close their doors for the last time. "The Centre has provided services to thousands of women and has often been the first or last stop for marginalized women seeking help in the areas of poverty, legal advocacy, referral services for women experiencing violence, counseling and many other services."  Mayne says they would like to thank the community for its tremendous support over the years including many generous donations from individuals, groups and businesses.  Board members, volunteers and staff, past and present, are also thanked for their efforts.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This is sad and shameful