HISTORY

Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society has a lengthy record of responding to the needs of families affected by family violence.

1980: DISCOVERY HOUSE OPENS
Community members recognize that many abused women and their children need long-term shelter to cope with the consequences of domestic violence. The Calgary Family Support Society opens Discovery House - the first long-term shelter for abused women in Calgary and one of the first of its kind in Canada. Women in immediate danger from their partner can receive up to six months accommodation. Women bring their children with them to the shelter. The facility is an old apartment building with 7 furnished suites.

1981: NEW START VOLUNTEER PROGRAM BEGINS
Shelter staff become increasingly aware of the need for social support among shelter residents. A volunteer develops and implements the New Start Volunteer program, pairing lay helpers with shelter residents. These partnerships help break the social isolation common among abused women and their children.

1984: DISCOVERY HOUSE MOVES
Discovery House doubles the number of residents it can accommodate by relocating to a facility with 14 furnished apartments. This facility has a security system, a common room for socializing, and increased office space for an expanding program staff.

1986: VOLUNTEER PROGRAM EXPANDS
Volunteers are trained to assist professional staff in their work with women and children using shelter services, and to carry out fundraising and public awareness functions.

1987: COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM BEGINS
Discovery House responds to increased need for community-based support. Individual and group counselling are offered to those who have experienced abuse from a current or previous partner.

1989: THE CHILD & YOUTH PROGRAM EXPANDS
There is increasing awareness of the potential for long-term consequences to children who experience or witness violence in their families. The program offers individual and group counselling for the children of parents receiving services from Discovery House. Summer and after-school recreational programs are developed.

1994: THE COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM EXPANDS
The Community Based Program expands in size to better meet the needs of families in the community.

1995 - 1999: FUND RAISING STRATEGIES DEVELOPED
A fund raising and marketing strategic plan is developed in 1998.

1998: THE GENERATIONS PROGRAM BEGINS
There is growing recognition that a large number of individuals remain with partners perpetrating abuse. This indicates the need for services geared to assist those who are abusive in intimate relationships. Counselling services are provided through The Generations Program.

1999: A NEW NAME AND A PLAN FOR A NEW BUILDING
A name change to “The Calgary Centre for Prevention of Family Violence” is adopted to reflect the nature of the Centre's overall goals. Discovery House remains the branding name for the organization.

The agency now has several programs in addition to the original shelter. Discovery House shelter has a waiting list that averages 30 women and 60 children. Of the 14 apartments in the shelter, four function as offices to house program staff due to a lack of counselling space. Five other staff members are housed in a different location from Discovery House.

Planning begins for a new facility with an increased shelter capacity of 60% and adequate space to house all programs.

2001 - 2002: FAMILIES BUILDING FUTURES CAMPAIGN
The Society changes its name to Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society. Discovery House embarks on a capital campaign to raise $6.5 Million to build a new facility and expand services. Significant funds were received through Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Homelessness Foundation, Human Resources Development Canada, and an anonymous donor. The location is identified and arrangements for a land exchange with the City of Calgary are finalized in May 2002. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 7, 2002.

2003: NEW CHALLENGES
Excavation for the new shelter begins in early 2003, with an expected completion date of December 2003. There will be a 60% increase in the number of apartments available for those at high risk of injury and life threatening danger. In addition, 200 more families will receive care and support from expanded community based services. The new facility will include an emergency “overnight” room for families in crisis situations when there may not be space at other emergency shelters in the city.

However, in the fall of 2003, the original shelter had to be vacated before the new facility was complete. Thanks to the Calgary Health Region, finding a temporary location was a challenge successfully met. The move to the temporary location was only one of a total of five moves that were made between July and February 2004.

2004: OPENING OF THE NEW FACILITY
The construction of the new facility is complete and the final move is made. The shelter can now accommodate 19 families. Much work is done to organize the apartments, including picking up numerous donations of furniture from the community at large. Everything is ready for the first residents in mid-February 2004.

The Grand Opening is held on April 22, 2004. This marks the beginning of operational changes: focusing on clients with high safety needs, developing new shelter guidelines, and planning program expansion. Final touches to the facility are made when the landscaping is completed in June, 2004.

2005: VICTORIOUS 25 YEARS
Discovery House has been operating for 25 years and a celebration was held in May to commemorate this milestone. Discovery House is dedicated to continue to provide the necessary programs and services to help families learn to be healthy, safe, and free from the effects of family violence. With the help of our community we are making a difference.


Back to Top