SERVICES

Skye's Place

Since 1997, we have proudly operated Skye's Place, a second-stage housing program offering a safe haven for women and children leaving abusive relationships.

Our residents enjoy the comfort of a close-knit community, a secure environment for their families, and access to transformative opportunities that empower both moms and children to thrive. Guided by a trauma-informed approach, our comprehensive program includes a diverse range of supportive services and activities:

  • Weekly groups and onsite counselling sessions, providing emotional and practical support.

  • Access to a dedicated health team, which includes a mental health clinician, life skills worker, and counsellor.

  • Specialized programs such as art therapy for adults and children, fostering healing through creative expression.

  • A Brain Injury Group, addressing unique recovery needs.

  • An addictions day treatment program, offering essential support to help participants stay on track.

  • Life skills workshops, covering topics such as budgeting, Winter Wellness, and residential tenancy rights.

  • Gardening activities, where each townhouse is equipped with grow boxes for families to cultivate fresh produce. The program reconnects residents with nature, teaching children about the environment and benefiting from the fruit trees and berry bushes on-site.

  • Indigenous Circle of Security groups, integrating Indigenous perspectives into the healing journey.

Our unique collaboration with Northern Health enhances the program’s impact. This partnership brings a dedicated Health Team—comprising a mental health clinician, life skills worker, and nurse—who not only work directly with Skye’s Place residents but also extend their services to the broader community through our offices.


Intake criteria for the program include the following:

  • Residents must be leaving an abusive relationship, with the abuse having occurred within the past six months.

  • Residents must have custody of their children, with the children living with them at least 50% of the time.

  • Residents must be drug and alcohol-free at the time of taking up residency at Skye's Place.

  • The program is a two-year residential commitment.

Together, we create a nurturing environment where women and children can rebuild their lives, find hope, and flourish.

Outreach Store

The Outreach Store provides essential support to individuals and families in need by offering free food, clothing, household necessities, hygiene products, and other critical items. This program is sustained through generous donations from the community and is managed by a dedicated full-time staff member with the help of volunteers. Seasonal needs are prioritized to ensure clients receive timely support. 


Men are welcome to access the store on Wednesdays only. The remaining days are reserved for women and children. A coffee table outside the store offers free coffee and snacks, ensuring everyone in need can access warmth and sustenance.

During the holiday season, the Christmas Hamper Program and Christmas Gift Table bring extra joy and relief to low-income families.

Outreach store rules: 

  • Men's Day: Men are welcome to access the store on Wednesdays only. The remaining days are reserved for women and children.

  • Time Limit: Each visitor is allocated 15 minutes per visit.

  • Visit Frequency: Clients may visit the store once per week.

  • Item Limit: Clients may take up to 4 items per category per visit: 4 food items, 4 clothing items, 4 household items.

Donation Guidelines:
While we gratefully accept most items, there are some exceptions. We do not accept furniture, medications, books, or baby items, except for diapers, pull-ups, wipes, and formula.

The Outreach Store is committed to fostering dignity and community while meeting the immediate needs of individuals and families. 

Hours of Operation:

  • Store Hours:

    • Mondays: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

    • Tuesdays to Fridays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

  • Donation Drop-Off Hours:

    • Mondays to Fridays: 9:00 am. - 3:30 p.m. (back door of the building)


Address:

9912 96th Avenue, Fort Saint John, BC

The Healing Place 

A welcoming and supportive community hub dedicated to empowering clients to overcome life’s challenges. At The Healing Place, clients can access comprehensive assistance, including crisis support, planning guidance, referrals, and information in critical areas such as counselling, housing, training, health, addictions, domestic violence, disability, and legal matters.

Through our Community Law Advocacy Program and Family Law Advocacy Program, clients can receive expert legal support during walk-in hours—no prior appointment is needed.

We offer harm reduction resources, including Naloxone kits, HIV/HCV information and support, and substance testing for Fentanyl. These services are designed to help clients prioritize their safety and well-being.

The Healing Place is a unique program in BC, offering access to the Health Team which consists of a Life Skills Worker, Mental Health Clinician, and Nurse all in one location. This innovative collaboration with Northern Health enables the Fort St. John Women's Resource Society to deliver free, specialized services tailored to meet the diverse needs of our community, a program that is not known in any other charity in BC. 

From practical budgeting sessions and relationship-building workshops to free HIV testing, this program empowers clients to take charge of their wellness and personal growth in a safe and inclusive environment.

We also offer Naloxone training sessions to equip individuals and organizations with life-saving skills. If your organization would like to train staff, we are happy to arrange a session.

Available Hours:

●       Mondays: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

●       Tuesdays - Fridays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Address:

9912 96th Avenue, Fort Saint John, BC

 

COMMUNITY Law Advocacy Program

The Community Law Advocacy Program was created in 2006. It enables the Women's Resource Society to provide free advocacy, support, legal information, representation, assistance and referrals to low-income individuals.

Community law areas covered include:

  • Persons with Disabilities (PWD) applications, reconsiderations, and appeals

  • CPP-D (Canada Pension Plan Disability) applications and Reconsiderations

  • Government Pension Applications (Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement)

  • Income Assistance (welfare) applications

  • Low-income housing applications

  • Residential Tenancy issues, complaints, and hearings

  • Employment Insurance (EI) issues

  • Debt issues

  • Employment standards complaints

  • Connecting women with safe housing when leaving abuse

  • Referrals to other services in the community

  • And many other issues


 Available Hours:

●       Walk-ins:

■       Mondays to Fridays: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

●       Appointments: Call 250 787 1121

Address:

9912 96th Avenue, Fort Saint John, BC


Family Law Advocacy Program

The Family Law Advocate program was created in 2018 and provides support, legal information, assistance, and referrals to low-income individuals facing legal challenges related to family law.

Family law areas covered include:

●       Safety plans while in or leaving abusive relationships

●       Child access

●       Child guardianship/custody

●       Applying for child support or spousal support

●       Responding to court applications

●       Mediation referrals

●       Help filling out court documents

●       Child protection matters

 

Available Hours:

●       Walk-ins:

■       Mondays to Fridays: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

●       Appointments:

■       Call 250 787 1121

 

Address:

9912 96th Avenue, Fort Saint John, BC

Key events and initiatives throughout the year

We are proud to host and organize several impactful events and initiatives throughout the year, designed to support and uplift our community:

  • March & April: Volunteer Income Tax Program
    In partnership with MNP, we offer free online tax filing services for low-income individuals and families. This program ensures our clients can access critical government subsidies, such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors and the Canada Child Benefit for families with young children, providing essential financial support where it's needed most.

  • Holiday Season: Christmas Hampers Initiative
    During the holiday season, we focus on spreading joy through the Christmas Hampers initiative. By collecting donations, we sponsor low-income families to ensure everyone in our community experiences the warmth and cheer of the holidays.

  • Ongoing Fundraising Events
    We host various fundraising events throughout the year to support our initiatives. Stay informed about upcoming activities and ways to participate by following us on Facebook (Fort St. John Women's Resource Society ) and Instagram (@fsjwrs.ca) 

We aim to foster a stronger, more connected community through these events and programs while providing essential resources and opportunities for those who need them most.