Welcome
Mission Statement
The Women’s Contact Society exists to provide support and services to all women and girls that improves their quality of life and empowers them to change ideas, laws and situations that denies equality in Williams Lake and area.
Vision Statement
Empower women and girls in all areas of their life.
Value Statement
Women’s Contact Society’s values are: equality, leadership, fairness, respect, honesty, inclusiveness, accountability, dependability and trustworthiness.
Guiding Principles
We believe women have the right to have control of their life.
Welcomes women of all ages, abilities, sexual orientation, cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.
“Our focus is on women. Our concern is for everyone.”
We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia
Board of Directors
Valerie Coulthard
Penny Gimard
Alison Sutherland Mann
Rebecca Egilson
Kristen Stark
Macky Pierce
Ana Rawlek
Sunny Dyck
The Board of Directors meet monthly and operates on a consensus model.
History
The Women’s Contact Society is a non-profit society registered in 1982 under the Society Act, Ministry of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Province of British Columbia.
The Society is a place for all women, whatever their status, age, or lifestyle. We operate according to the principle of feminism: women have the right to be full and equal members of society.
Operations
Monday-Friday
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
We are closing early during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Membership and Governance
Our membership is approximately one hundred (100); the society is governed by a board of directors using the consensus model. Membership fee is a sliding scale from $2-$20.
Pro-Choice Stand
One of the primary objectives of the Women’s Contact Society is to provide an information and resource centre for all women, regardless of their age, race, religion or political beliefs.
In order to reach this objective the Society has taken a Pro-Choice stand regarding pregnancy, which means that the decision must lie with the individual.
The Society is prepared to offer information regarding all alternatives, but does not try to influence the decision of the individual. The Society will also offer support and friendship to each and every woman regardless of the choice she makes.
The Society is open to all women regardless of their thoughts and beliefs on the subject, but there is no room within the Society for women who will condemn others for their opinions or their choices.
The Women’s Contact Society respectfully acknowledges that our office space resides on T’exelcemc territory and that we also have the privilege of living, working and playing on the traditional territories of the Tsi Deldel (Redstone/Alexis Creek), Tl’etinqox (Anaham), Stewecem’c Xqut’tem (Canoe Creek, Dog Creek), Esk’etemc (Alkali), Xat’sull (Soda Creek, Deep Creek), ?Esdilagh (Alexandria), Yunesit’in (Stone), Tl’esqox (Toosey), Ulkatcho (Anahim), T’exelc (Sugar Cane), Xeni Gwet’in (Nemiah), Tsilhoqot’in (Williams Lake), Nuxalk (Bella Coola), Heiltsuk (Bella Bella) and Kitasoo/Xai’xais (Klemtu), peoples.
Contacts
Irene Willsie
Executive Director
i.willsie@womenscontact.org
Bobbi Krist
Daycare Manager/ Office Coordinator
b.krist@womenscontact.org
Michelle Stevens
Office Coordinator/Art Workshop Facilitator
info@womenscontact.org
Carrie McCormack
CCRR Coordinator
250-392-4118
c.mccormack@womenscontact.org
Rafiya Zubair
CCRR Child Care Consultant
250-392-4118
r.zubair@womenscontact.org
Eva Navrot
Community Connections/Job Readiness Program Coordinator
250-392-4118
e.navrot@womenscontact.org
Eileen Alberton
Community Liason
250-392-4118
e.alberton@womenscontact.org
Diana Lowe
Women’s Counsellor and Advocate
250-392-4118
d.lowe@womenscontact.org
Kelsey Borgfjord
Family Law Advocacy Program
250-392-4118
k.borgfjord@womenscontact.org
Matthew Granlund
Legal Advocacy Program
250-392-4118
advocacy@womenscontact.org
Emergency Contact Numbers
| RCMP | 911 |
| Williams Lake RCMP | 1 (250) 392-6211 |
| Hospital | 1 (250) 392-4411 |
| Ambulance | 911 |
| Emergency Shelter | 1 (250) 398-6821 |
| Transition House | 1 (250) 398-5658 |
| RCMP Victims Services | 1 (250) 392-8709 |
| Victims Link BC | 1 (800) 563-0808 |
| Aboriginal Victim Services | 1 (250) 305-2350 |
| Alexis Creek Victim Services | 1 (250) 394-4011 |
| Anahim Lake Victim Services | 1 (250) 742-3237 |
| Crisis & Counselling Toll Free | 1 (888) 353-2273 |
| Family & Sexual Violence Victim Support Service | 1 (250) 398-8220 ext. 2005 |
| Stopping the Violence Outreach | 1 (250) 392-1000 ext. 220 |
| Women’s Counseling | 1 (250) 392-4118 |
| Street Nurse | 1 (250) 305-9645 |
| Alexander Health Station | 1 (250) 747-2255 |
| Alexis Creek Health Station | 1 (250) 394-4313 |
| Esketemc Health Station | 1 (250) 400-5651 |
| Tl’etinqox-T’in Health Station | 1 (250) 394-4240 |
| Tsq’escenemc | 1 (250) 397-2717 |
| Canoe Creek Health Station | 1 (250) 459-7749 |
| Dog Creek Health Station | 1 (250) 440-5822 |
| Nemiah Health Station | 1 (250) 394-7020 |
| Tŝideldel Health Station | 1 (250) 481-1133 |
| Soda Creek Health Station | 1 (250) 989-2355 |
| Ulkatcho Nurse Station | 1 (250) 742-3305 |
| Ulkatcho Anahim Health Station | 1 (250) 742-2090 |
| Williams Lake First Nations Health Station | 1 (250) 396-3532 |
| Tl’esqox Health Station | 1 (250) 659-5655 |
| TRU Health Centre | 1 (250) 392-8033 |
Safety Tips
- Identify who would let you stay with them or lend you some money
- Park in well-lit, well-used areas as close as possible to entry doors
- Have a packed bag ready and keep it in a safe place in order to leave quickly
- Create a Safety Plan
- Practice how to get out of your house safely.
- Identify which doors or windows would be safe and easily accessible
- Be aware of surroundings
- Share your need for safety with neighbours and trusted friends