Since its inception in 2019, the Cortes Island Women's Resource Centre has struggled to find funds to ensure delivery of its basic services, but Director Tanya Henck says 2023 will see stable funding thanks to a number of grants from regional and national organizations. The organization received $42,000 through the Victoria Foundation ($5,000), Cortes Island Community Foundation ($17,000), and the Canadian Women's Foundation ($20,000).

The non-profit helps with finding safe spaces for women in crisis, along with helping clients with internet access, long distance phone calls and food security. They also offer skill building programs and opportunities for women to connect and share their experiences in a non-judgemental supportive environment.

An initiative that began more than a year ago to create a local non-violent crisis intervention team is moving forward, the director said. On a remote rural island with roughly 1,000 year round residents, quick response in critical situations is required, just as it is in urban settings, Henck adds.

The centre allocated $2,000 over the past year to help people cope with cold winter weather and Henck emphasizes that Cortes Island continues to experience a crisis when it comes to accessing affordable housing.

Henck outlines the funds received and how they're helping the centre to deliver needed services in the interview below with CKTZ News: