BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH ) has launched our very own in-house podcast! Today, in honour of Red Dress Day, we have launched episode one of the BCSTH podcast, featuring our member organization Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) and their work supporting the friends and family of missing and murdered Indigenous women girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people along highway 16. Episode one, Pillars of Hope and Strength, will focus on CSFS’s work to fulfill one of the recommendations brought forward by surviving...

Today on Red Dress Day – the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people – BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH) stands in solidarity with those who have lost loved ones and those still impacted by this ongoing tragedy. We value this day as a time to learn and reflect, join the calls for justice, and call for an end to violence against women and children.

On April 27, 2026 the BC Coroners Service Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Death Review Panel released the report, Our Time to Act: A Review of Intimate Partner Violence-Related Deaths in British Columbia, 2016-2024. A cross-sectoral panel including BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH) met in September 2025 with the BC Coroners Service staff and reviewed data collected through coroner investigations of the 135 confirmed IPV-related deaths, with the goal of identifying systemic gaps and creating meaningful, actionable recommendations intended to prevent...

A huge thank you to all of the Transition Housing and Supports Programs and PEACE Programs who participated in the 24 Hour Census on November 19- 20, 2025 . We are pleased to launch the full reports for Prevention of Violence Against Women Week 2026. Key findings show that in just one day, BCSTH Member Programs served 1,501 women, children and youth experiencing violence. However, a further 256 women, children and youth were unable to be served by these life-saving services...

A report on PEACE Program waitlists and the impacts on the delivery of PEACE and VIP and Promising Practices. Waitlists in the Peace Program have been identified as a key barrier to services in the BCSTH 24 Hour Census survey every single year since 2018. PEACE Programs have advised BCSTH that waitlists for their services are a barrier to the delivery of Violence Is Preventable (VIP) in BC schools. The BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH) gratefully acknowledges that this...

Victims of intimate-image abuse can now seek as much as $75,000 in compensation through the Civil Resolution Tribunal, with amendments to the Intimate Images Protection Act now in effect. The act is part of the Safe and Supported: Gender-Based Violence Action Plan and the Safer Communities Action Plan, two of the Province’s key initiatives to build stronger, safer communities in B.C.   The BC Society of Transition Houses’ Executive Director, Amy FitzGerald shared this quote regarding the damages increase: “Our 2024 research...

On this 2026 International Women’s Day, the BC Society of Transition Houses honour and celebrate the strength, leadership and dedication of our members. This year’s theme, Give to Gain encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration. It reminds us that when we give our time, care, knowledge and advocacy, we collectively gain stronger communities, deeper connections and lasting change. We thank our members and allies for the life saving work they do every day to end violence against all women,...

Today, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), announced over $4.3 million in funding for eight organizations to expand proven, community-based initiatives that strengthen supports for women and their families experiencing violence. BC Society of Transition Houses is receiving funding for the Cedar Blankets and Beyond project, expanding culturally safe wraparound supports for Indigenous survivors in four regions of the province. Click here to read the full press release...

The 2025 24 Hour Census survey numbers are in! A huge thank you to the 132 BCSTH Member Programs who participated. Key findings show that in just one day, BCSTH Member Programs served 1,501 women, children and youth experiencing violence. However, a further 256 women, children and youth were unable to be served by these life-saving services during the same period, and there were 561 children and youth on waitlists for PEACE Program services and 653 women, children and youth...

The National Housing Council’s Neha Review Panel has spent the last year collecting evidence and testimony from across the country, reviewing Canada’s duty to uphold the right to housing for women, Two-Spirit, Trans, and gender-diverse people including testimony from BCSTH and Women’s Shelters Canada. This has culminated in the Panel delivering summary and recommendation reports to Minister Robertson on Monday, November 24. Through the right to housing legislation, the Minister must respond within 120 days, publicly, in the House and...

The BC government has announced additional funding for BCSTH’s Violence is Preventable (VIP) program, which teaches K-12 students about intimate-partner violence and healthy relationships. The funding will come from Safe and Supported: BC’s Gender-Based Violence Action Plan. Read the full press release here. Excerpts from BC Government Press Release “As part of the Canada-British Columbia bilateral agreement to end gender-based violence, B.C. will receive $18 million this year from the federal government to support survivors and break the cycle of...

Emergency preparedness is more complicated for Women’s Transition Houses and Supports Programs (WTHSP) than a regular household or place of work. In addition to evacuation, they also need to worry about their prime mission – providing supports and a refuge from violence.

The preventive and restorative approaches recommended in this Report provide a roadmap to the province on providing meaningful access to justice to survivors of gender-based violence.

Our librarian Tina Chau curated six autobiographies by Indigenous women that you may want to check out. They’re all available upon request from our library, and from most local libraries.

BCSTH is honoured to host a webinar by Moon Time Connections, an organization that works to end period inequity for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis women in northern or remote communities by delivering period products free of charge. Attend to learn how Indigenous cultural practices around menstruation connect to empowerment and decolonization.

Staff from BCSTH learn how to develop their fledgling bursary fund to a sustainable $100,000 every year, with coaching from SVP Vancouver.

BCSTH is excited to launch the “Did Someone Share Your Image Without Consent?” Social Media Campaign for Victims and Survivors of Crime Week 2025. This campaign raises awareness about non-consensual image sharing and reminds survivors that they’re not alone—there are options and support available.  Watch our PSAs here: Video 1 and Video 2, and visit https://compass.bcsth.ca to learn more.

Red Dress Day on May 5 is a time to remember and honour the thousands of Indigenous women and girls who have been murdered or who are missing. This post explains the origins of this important day, and lists Red Dress Day events scheduled in BC in 2025.

A huge thank you to all of the Transition Housing and Supports Programs and PEACE Programs who participated in the 24 Hour Census on November 27-28th, 2024. We are pleased to launch the full reports for Prevention of Violence Against Women Week 2025. Key findings show that in just one day, 85 Transition Housing and Supports Programs and 67 PEACE Programs served 1,592 women, children and youth experiencing violence in their homes. However, a further 346 women, youth and children were...

The 2024 24 Hour Census survey numbers are in! A huge thank you to everyone who participated. Key findings show that in just one day, BCSTH Member Programs served 1,592 women, children and youth experiencing violence in their homes. However, a further 346 women, youth and children were unable to be served by these life-saving services during the same period, and there were 548 children and youth on waitlists for PEACE Program services. These numbers clearly demonstrate the lack of...