A group is working hard to establish a Women's Emergency Shelter in Airdrie.

Airdrie P.O.W.E.R or Protecting Our Women with Emergency Resources was the brainchild of Crystal Boys.  The group has spent the last two years getting registered and obtaining their charitable status.  Now, Boys says it's turning to a more exciting time.

"Now we're able to really hit the ground running as far as a capital campaign and fundraising goes for the actual building.  We're just at the stage now, which is kind of exciting, where we can look for property and we can start looking for big donations.  We hope to see a lot of movement this year on the shelter."

Boys says there are two time frames for getting the building up and running.  One is realistic, the other is idealistic.

"Realistically would be three years, idealistically would be in the next year and a half.  If everything goes well and we can get all the money and a location and the build done relatively soon, I could see it being done in a year and a half, but some things take time so we're giving it a three year goal.  The sooner the better."

The group is ready to start small.  "One bed is better than no beds," says Boys.  We're not being particular by any means.  Whatever we can get our hands on that we can turn into a shelter is okay."

The idea for a women's shelter came to Boys when she moved to Airdrie seven years ago.  "I've experienced domestic violence and I had to stay in a shelter so it's always been on my heart."   An incident of domestic violence outside of a grocery store where a woman was being abused by her partner reinforced the need in Boys' mind.

"It hit home and brought me back to 'what would I have done if there hadn't been a shelter available in the city that I was living in at the moment.' So it moved from some women around a kitchen table to something that is actually viable and attainable.  It's not just a dream anymore.  This is actually going to happen.

The group has their first annual golf tournament coming up at the Woodside Golf Course on June 10th.  The Just For Her Show coming up April 1st and 2nd will be donating all of their proceeds from the Silent Auction to the group and the Rockyview Roller Derby is also a supporter of Airdrie P.O.W.E.R and all of their bacon sales go to the group.

 

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