About Us
The province is divided into seven regions, including the Yukon. Each region has one regional representative (except for the North, which has three) who sit on our Provincial Board. In their respective regions, the Board Members represent the Society and in turn, represent their regions to the Society, while working to accomplish our goals and objectives.
Our Provincial Board is made up of these 9 Board Members, in addition to four elected Executive Board Members, consisting of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Executive and Board Members are elected by our members at our Annual General Meeting.
The B.C./Yukon Society of Transition Houses is a feminist organization dedicated to ending all forms of violence against women and its effects on children, and promotes the development of a safe and healthy society through services, advocacy and education.
We Believe: that women must have the right to access resources, support and information concerning their human and legal rights.
We Believe: that all women and children have the right to live free of abuse, violence and the threat of violence in their intimate relationships and in society.
We Believe: the liberation of women will occur when we accept and celebrate diversity and reach political, economic, social and cultural equality.
We Believe: that families must be defined by their members.
We Believe: that freedom of choice, dignity, and respect must be the right of all women and children.
We Believe: that the B.C./Yukon Society must act in a continuing role as educator, advocate, innovator, consultant, and catalyst for action in ending violence against women and its effects on children.
We Believe: that women and children must have the right to live free of poverty.
We Believe: that all women and children must have the right to affect change in decisions, policies and laws that impact their lives.
We Believe: that children must have the right to physical safety, and psychological and emotional security to fully realize their individual potential.
We Believe: that children who witness abuse must have access to support, advocacy and resources to understand the violence in their lives and to develop new skills.
We Believe: that women and children must have the right to live free of racism and prejudice.
We Believe: that violence against women and children is exacerbated by issues of age, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, spirituality and medical (including HIV status) and mental health definitions or psychological ability.
Our primary obligation and accountability is to the women and children we serve.
- We will conduct ourselves with honesty, integrity and fairness.
- We are committed to non-violence and we will be pro-active in our dedication to the prevention and elimination of violence against women and children in all of the services we provide and all the activities in which we engage.
- We will ensure that outside interests do not jeopardize our judgment, independence, competence, or our role as advocates.
- We will maintain confidentiality of all acquired information except in cases of child abuse.
- We will deal with all situations of child abuse with the full knowledge of the women whenever possible.
- We will act in a manner so as to actively promote the safety and well-being of women and children as our first priority.
- We will promote the empowerment of women.
- We will respect and support each woman’s right to self-determination and autonomy.
- We will provide service without prejudice or discrimination against women and children because of social status, racial, cultural or religious beliefs, class, sexual orientation, ability, and health status.
- We will ensure that our own personal belief systems do not interfere with the right of women to make their own choices.
- We will not exploit relationships with clients or co-workers for personal gain or the gain of friends, relatives or associates.
- We will be responsible for our own needs and self-care.
- We acknowledge and work towards alleviating the power imbalances that exist between and within Boards, staff, volunteers, and the women and children we serve, and we commit to the equality of those relationships.
- We are committed to working from a feminist perspective that starts with our own and other women’s experience as a basis for working towards ending women’s oppression.
Safety Information
If you are in danger, please use a safer computer (ex. Public Library) and call 911, or VictimLink 24-hour hotline at: 1-800-563-0808, TTY 604-875-0885, or send a Text Message from your cell phone to: 604-836- 6381. There is always a computer trail. More Information