'This is literally a dream come true,' says Green Haven's executive director

Liz Westcott, the executive director of the Green Haven Shelter for Women, provides some remarks in advance of the ground-breaking ceremony at the Sundial Drive site of the new $7.2-million women’s shelter that is expected to open in 2020. Dave Dawson/OrilliaMatters

1 / 1 Liz Westcott, the executive director of the Green Haven Shelter for Women, provides some remarks in advance of the ground-breaking ceremony at the Sundial Drive site of the new $7.2-million women’s shelter that is expected to open in 2020. Dave Dawson/OrilliaMatters

Hope was in the air as a bevy of officials hefted shovels festooned with green bows to break ground on a new women’s shelter to be built on Sundial Drive – a project that has been in the works for more than a decade.

Liz Westcott, the executive director of Green Haven Shelter for Women, admitted the new shelter is the realization of a longtime dream. She added, sadly, it’s needed more than ever.

“I think it’s important to recognize that from January to June, 41 women and girls have been murdered by an intimate partner in the province of Ontario and 78 across the country,” Westcott told the group gathered at Tuesday’s afternoon ceremony. “It’s an unconscionable number.”

Last year, 34 women were killed by their partners.

“We’re only halfway through and we’ve lost more than that,” she noted. “Those are the kinds of statistics, the kinds of stories, the kinds of messages that make it absolutely imperative that projects like this one go forward.”

The project is a new 10-bed shelter that will be completely accessible. It will be purpose-built as a shelter and will include space for group programs while providing women and children with safe, secure, modern, private quarters.

“This has been more than a decade in the making,” said Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton.

He applauded the “tremendous amount of detailed work” that was required to obtain “government funding that makes these kinds of projects happen.”

Green Haven was awarded $6.2 million from the federal government, dispersed through the provincial government, for the new shelter. It will be up to the community to foot the rest of the bill – about $1 million.

“I’m just delighted to see this and I know it’s going to go extremely well knowing how much this community supports Green Haven,” said Stanton.

Orillia city councillor Pat Hehn, representing Mayor Steve Clarke and council, presented Westcott a certificate of congratulations – and a hug.

Hehn has intimate knowledge of the importance of Green Haven. Hehn started the North Simcoe Victim Crisis Services organization in 1999.

“I remember (Westcott) coming to speak to our very first class of volunteers back in 1999 and saying how desperately needed a new shelter was,” said Hehn. “I know how hard she has worked for a number of years. … It’s wonderful to be part of this.”

The ceremony was also emotional for Gail Borthwick, a consultant for Stantec, a company that helped Green Haven update its business case that was required as part of its pitch for government funding.

“This project is pretty special to us,” said Borthwick, biting back emotion. “We often work on big, corporate projects. This is different.”

One of the differences is that the project team is comprised of women. She said women within her company clamoured to be part of the project.

“We’ve constantly (had) people asking to work on this project because they’re so inspired,” she said. “The design of the project has really been influenced by that, by stories from (Westcott) … and I think the shelter is the better for it.”

That was a sentiment echoed by Kim Bertram, the construction manager and general contractor.

“One of the things we came up with is this project (should be) designed by women for women in need and built by women,” said Bertram, who noted her company, Bertram Construction, is run by women, the project manager is a woman and the project co-ordinator is a woman.

She said she wished a women’s shelter was not needed. “But if it has to be built, I’m honoured to be doing it,” said Bertram, noting it’s fitting that a home-grown company that is owned by the third generation of the family, was chosen to build the facility.

Lynn Kerwin, chair of Green Haven’s board of directors, provided a bit of history of the agency, which opened its doors in 1991.

“Today we are embarking on the next phase of Green Haven Shelter’s quest to open new doors for women at risk of or experiencing partner violence,” said Kerwin, who also made an appeal for donors to step up to aid the cause.

“We are grateful for the funding from federal government, flowed through the Province of Ontario, that enabled this to become a reality and we are also inspired by the generosity of our community,” said Kerwin. “We still need to raise approximately $1 million and we are looking for support.”

Westcott is confident the community will step up and ensure the facility is open and occupied by March of 2020 - a requirement of the funding.

Westcott said this week’s ceremony was emotional for her. At various times over the past decade, she had almost lost hope about the project.

“This is literally a dream come true,” said Westcott. “I am almost without words.”

But, she noted, it’s not about her or her legacy.

“Women who have come to us and sought our services have taught us so much. They taught us to be informed about what we need for the future,” said Westcott. “I’m honoured and humbled every day. To bring this to fruition, I’m just thrilled. I can just feel my heart going 100 miles an hour.”

Green Haven's Opening New Doors fund-raising campaign is underway. To give, call the shelter (705-327-7319), or go to their Canada Helps fundraising page, https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/green-haven-shelter-for-women/p2p/openingnewdoors/.