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People for a Healthy Community on Gabriola is pleased to announce a new service for women experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, violence. Under the supervision of the Coordinator of the Violence Prevention and Response Program (VPR Program), we are providing “Office Hours Referrals” to match women at risk with our trained Volunteer Peer Counsellors.

The VPR Program’s goal is to provide Island-based support so that women can access basic services here on Gabriola. We work in cooperation with agencies in Nanaimo to provide these services, and our Volunteer Peer Counsellors are trained by the Haven Society as Community Victim Service Volunteers. In another month we hope to be introducing 24-hour service, but for now we are offering “Office Hour Referrals.”

Here’s how the program works. If a woman feels she is in difficulty, she contacts the VPR Program Coordinator (Elaine) or the Executive Director (Barbara) at People for a Healthy Community (PHC) in one of the following ways:

in person, at 675 North Road (at the back of the Gabriola Commons main house); or

by phone, at 247-7311.

Elaine or Barbara will ask some simple questions and establish how best to set up contact between the woman and a Volunteer. (It could be a telephone number or a contact place and time.) The woman will then be matched with a Volunteer Peer Counsellor who is trained to support and assist the woman to “survive and thrive.” The VPR Program Coordinator will follow up with the Volunteer to ensure a high quality of service.

“Office Hours Referrals” are available Tuesday-Friday from 9-5. Please note that we are not First Responders. In emergencies, women need to call 911.

We are always interested in talking with people about our work and about volunteering. If you are interested in the Violence Prevention and Response Program, please contact Coordinator R. Elaine Young at People for a Healthy Community on Gabriola at 247-7311.

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