1979
- Recognizing the Need
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1979A group of three women, (including a woman who described herself as a battered woman) met in Whitney Pier in 1979 to discuss the lack of resources in Cape Breton for women abused by their partners. A major concern at this time was the difficulties faced by women wanting to escape abusive relationships. During this time, two women in separate incidents committed suicide by throwing themselves off the Government Wharf of Sydney Harbour. It was later discovered that these women were in abusive relationships and had nowhere to turn for help, and in desperation, they ended their lives.The group decided to take action and the first person they approached was Dr. Marion MacIntosh, a local physician. Dr. MacIntosh agreed that violence against women was a problem from seeing it in her medical practice. From here the group, now including Dr. MacIntosh, approached Elizabeth Walsh, a local lawyer, to find out the legal aspects of the
issue. At this point the initial three women, along with Dr. MacIntosh, Elizabeth Walsh, and
two others, Robin Campbell and Barbara Kowalski, formed a Board of Directors. The Board designed and circulated a questionnaire to doctors, lawyers, social workers and others to assess the need for a transition facility in Cape Breton. The results of this questionnaire clearly indicated that there was need for such a facility. The Board organized and named themselves the Cape Breton Transition House Association (Society) and in 1979 was incorporated under the provisions of chapter 286 of the Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1967, the Societies Act.
1980
- Fundraising begins
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1980In order to find a shelter, a house committee was formed and headed by Dr. MacIntosh and Ms. Walsh. The committee, having no money at that time, decided that a fundraiser campaign was needed to raise thirty thousand dollars. Two local women, Fran Manson and Joan Bishop, volunteered to head the door to door campaign which was launched in May of 1980. By the time three months had passed, Ms Manson and Ms. Bishop had managed to organize a door to door campaign with approximately seven hundred volunteers and raised the thirty thousand dollars. From here the Board approached the Deputy Minister of Nova Scotia and requested that the provincial government match the thirty thousand dollars attained through the fundraiser. Within couple of months the provincial government matched the fundraiser total with another thirty thousand dollars. It was at this point that a house was purchased and underwent extensive refurbishing to be suitable as a crisis shelter.
1981
- Educating the Public
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1981Cape Breton Transition House has provided several services under the subject of Public Education. In 1981, Transition House was instrumental in getting a Secretary of State grant named "Women in Crisis". This grant was established to gather statistical information on the incidents of wife battering on Cape Breton Island and to raise public awareness to the issue. In 2011, the over 15 years of funding we had received from the Law Foundation for this program ceased and we no longer have a Public Education Program. Our Outreach and Childcare workers still deliver programming to schools and the Executive Director and Clinical Manager do presentations within the community.
- Transition House Opens
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1981.02.12Approximately two years after the initial attempts to take action the Cape Breton Transition House became a reality on February 12, 1981. Jane Crawley, a social worker was appointed Executive Director. Also, four crisis counsellors, two relief staff and a temporary public relations person were hired. The house was capable of accommodating 20 women and their children, and was open 24 hours a day.
A major problem facing Transition House at this time was funding for operational costs. Ongoing financial assistance was sought through the various municipalities of Cape Breton Island. Initially, Sydney, Port Hawksbury, Richmond County and the Department of Indian Affairs consented to fund a per diem rate (covering room, board, and treatment) which at that time was approximately twenty-two dollars. A Social Services official of the city of Sydney was very supportive of the new facility. She stated "I feel very strongly that no woman should be forced to stay in a situation where she is being battered". There were also a number of municipalities that were not prepared to pay the per diem rate. Those opting out included New Waterford, Glace Bay, Sydney Mines, North Sydney, Victoria County and Cape Breton County. Reasons given by the different municipal representatives varied. For instance the Director of Social Services for the Town of Glace Bay stated that funding for Transition House was "not a priority in Glace Bay and would be a drain on Town finances". This municipal official went on to state that battered women who were residents of Glace Bay were being adequately looked after. Also, the County of Cape Breton was refusing to fund the House. A Cape Breton County councillor, said that a transition house "was not needed" in his municipality.
Even though Transition House did not have the financial support of all the municipalities of Cape Breton, the shelter went ahead and opened. Several months after opening the provincial government proposed a cost sharing operational budget for Transition House. This proposal offered that the provincial government would pay 75% of the per diem rate and the municipality of the woman would only 25%. However, the municipality would first pay the total per diem rate and then bill the province for a 75% rebate. Still, however, even with the cost sharing proposal not all municipalities opted to get involved. At this time Sydney, Glace Bay, Richmond County, Port Hawksbury and the Department of Indian Affairs chose to take part in the cost sharing.
In September of 1981, the representatives of Cape Breton Transition House were preparing to make another attempt to convince the Cape Breton County Council to approve funding for the House. Being in operation for nearly seven months, the refuge had sheltered 150 women and children from various areas of Cape Breton. The facts and figures that Transition House had compiled on battered wives in Cape Breton were hoped to encourage the Cape Breton County Council to acknowledge the need for a shelter.
- Lean Times
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1981.10In late October (1981), the Cape Breton County Council referred the request of Transition House for funding to the County's social services committee to assess and give a recommendation at a later date. By the end of their first year in operation, Cape Breton Transition House was having financial difficulties. Vice president of the Board of Directors, Fran Manson, stated that the refuge was in need of more support and that they were working at a loss. In her opinion the need for such a shelter was underestimated even by Transition House officials and such an overwhelming response had not been anticipated. Manson further explained that without more support it would be difficult to stay open until the end of the year. However, Transition House managed to keep its doors open and continue to provide its services to battered women and their children into the beginning of their second year.
1982
- Therapeutic Childcare Program Developed
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1982In 1982, a Therapeutic Childcare Program was developed. This program takes into consideration that the children accompanying women to the House often have witnessed and/or have been abused themselves. The objective of the childcare program is, through play therapy, to help the children deal with their experiences. We also had an Adolescent Program funded by the Isaac Walton Killam External Grants Foundation. This program attempted to help teenage children staying in the House through difficult emotional trauma. This program is no longer funded.
- "Not in Cape Breton"
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1982.04A Cape Breton County Councillor, who was Chairman of the Social Services Committee, told Council at the March 23, 1982 council meeting that his department should have its budget ready to be voted on by the next month's council meeting. He stated that this budget would give recommendation on whether or not the County should participate in the cost sharing program for the Cape Breton Transition House. At the Cape Breton County council meeting of May 1982, Joe Wadden recommended that a retainer fee of $4000 be paid to Cape Breton Transition House to cover the costs acquired by battered women and their children who took shelter in the House. The terms to this deal were that if a woman was eligible for social assistance the County would cover all costs. However, if the woman was ineligible for social assistance then she could not be included in the County's program. Therefore, Cape Breton Transition House would have to seek payment from the husband through Family Court for the costs. The Deputy Warden at the time remarked "we are responsible to those who need the help" however, not all councillors were in favour of the recommendation. A District 16 Councillor had this to say of the statistics given by Transition House on wife battering " I don't know where they got those figures - they're not here in Cape Breton, and where I live." Other Councillors expressed their concern that funding Transition House would just contribute to the problem and that county taxpayers should not bear the burden for the "crimes of the assaulting husband".
- Government Steps Up
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1982.12.07On December 7, 1982, Nova Scotia Social Services Minister Edmund Morris announced that the Province's 75% of the per diem rate would be guaranteed as of January 1, 1983. Now, the two shelters for battered women (Transition House in Sydney and Bryony in Halifax) would present annual budgets to the Province. The Province would, upon approval, provide the 75% in four payments throughout the year. The remaining 25% would still have to be recovered through the local municipalities. Transition House officials explained that this guarantee would help to improve the services provided and give the House the financial security it needed. Today all of the municipalities that Transition House serves participate in the cost sharing formula.
1992
- Outreach
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1992In 1992 an Outreach Program was established to meet the needs of women who do not require shelter. It offers Psycho-Educational Support Groups in four local communities. These support groups are based on women helping women through self esteem boosting and give strength and encouragement to help deal with daily life. Some other services provided by Cape Breton Transition House are:
A Clinical Therapist works with women to help them deal with the trauma they have experienced in their lives and who are also engaging in ongoing education and skills development with staff:
- a 24 hour crisis telephone line with toll-free (1-800-563-2945) access,
- staff to accompany women to court, to support women who want to lay assault charges or to apply for Emergency protection orders or custody and maintenance, to advocate for women with the many agencies and organizations they encounter in our community,
- a source of referral to the many agencies in the community,
- evening information sessions with guest speakers to give details and answer questions about such things as legal aid, police, and social assistance.
- Callwood House
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1992.01.02Throughout the years, the Cape Breton Transition House Association recognized the need for safe and affordable accommodations for women and children after leaving Transition House. The Cape Breton Transition House Board of Directors and the Cape Breton Inter Agency on Family Violence set up a "Second Stage Housing" Committee. The purpose of this committee was to inquire into and develop a procedure to establish Second Stage Housing in Cape Breton. New Dawn Enterprises, a local community development organization, constructed a Second Stage Housing facility on land donated by the City of Sydney. New Dawn Enterprises is the "landlord" to the facility while Transition House decides who the tenants will be. This facility was named Callwood House and opened on January 1, 1992.
1995
- MacAdam Place Opens
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1995.05.01Cape Breton Transition House has constructed another Second Stage Housing facility with funds from C.M.H.C. MacAdam Place, named after Marie MacAdam, opened on May 1, 1995.
2007
- Willow House Opens
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2007.03.27On March 27, 2007 we moved into our new building. We were fortunate enough to receive all of the money to purchase and renovate through grants and our community. The following year we expanded our building to accommodate space for the children and outreach/ education/ foundation offices. The new building is a safe, secure and comfortable home for our residents, clients and staff. We named our building “Willowhouse”
2016
- Present Day
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2016Today Transition House employees an executive director, a clinical manager, twelve crisis counsellors (4 full-time, 4 part-time and 5 casual), one childcare counsellor, one outreach counsellor, one part-time household coordinator, and one full-time office assistant.
Cape Breton Transition House is actively making an attempt to help victims of family violence. Over its years of existence, Transition House has given shelter to more than 2000 women and 5000 children who have been the victims of family violence. Those sheltered ranged in age from a three-day-old infant to an eighty year old woman.
