Second Story Women's Centre

Hours of Operation
Monday - Thursday: 10:00 - 4:00
Friday: 10:00 - 1:00

543-1315 or 640-3044

Reminder: We're located at 22 King Street, Lunenburg (Post Office Centre)

WHAT'S NEW?

WE NEED SPARE JARS! If you have glass jars large enough to put a label on, please consider donating them to SSWC’s Social Action Committee for a special project to address violence against women. Call the Centre for info.

IF YOU WANT TO COME TO THE CENTRE BUT FIND TRANSPORTATION A PROBLEM, please call us. We can help!

Donations can be made in person, by mail, or online though www.canadahelps.org.

WORKSHOPS – THIS WEEK!

· Senior Friendly Communities

· Alcohol Marketing for Women

PROGRAMS

EVENTS

HEALING ROOM

Please register by contacting the Centre. All programs are free and open to all women.

SENIOR FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES

Second Story Women’s Centre is proud to present Beth George, Seniors’ Safety Coordinator, Bridgewater Police Services.

The “Senior Friendly Communities” Project is a program that shows businesses and organizations how to be more age-friendly and welcoming to seniors. Through the program, volunteer conduct check-ups that look at the physical building, the service and products offered by the business/organization and assess them for senior friendliness.

Beth will explain how the Senior Friendly Program works, provide information about aging and attitudes towards aging, and explain how we can all become a little more “age-friendly”.

Marketing doesn’t work on me! Or does it? Marketing is a powerful method of encouraging purchases, influencing habits, even changing social and cultural norms. In the last 5 years, the marketing of alcoholic beverages in Nova Scotia has focused on the segment of the population that has shown the most potential for sales growth – women. Since we are often the primary decision-makers for household grocery purchases, the move to build liquor stores attached to groceries stores was strategic. Knowing that women are more vulnerable than men to the effects of alcohol, why is our government trying to increase consumption levels among women? Please join the discussion as we look at how women are being targeted by alcohol advertisements in Nova Scotia, how this affects drinking patterns and consequent health and then what we can do about it.

STORY SEEKERS

Do you enjoy listening to stories of the past? Are you interested in preserving the memories of women who have lived full and fascinating lives? Over six sessions, members of this group will create partnerships with senior women in our communities to collect and share their stories.

Call if you are interested in joining this group as a story-teller or story-collector. We can help you find a partner.

Beginning in December, Second Story will be providing an opportunity each month for women to come together to cook for others. Each month, you will be invited to come and cook up large batches of food to freeze in the big freezer that we have here at Second Story. Women who are our clients can then have access to healthy, balanced frozen meals that they can take home. The ingredients and recipes will be available when you get here. All you have to do is get cooking! What a simple and fun way to assist women and their families in our community, and to form new friendships and networking! Lunch will be what we make!! Please call to let us know that you will be attending (543-1315 or 640-3044).

SSWC and the Department of Community Services Employment Support Services join in offering women a 10-week personal development program designed to offer a safe, supportive place to share with other women in learning skills and ways to begin to move forward and take more effective control of their lives. Transportation and childcare subsidies are available.

A confidential support group for women who have stopped gambling and women who are still gambling and wanting to stop. No referral needed, just drop in.

Monday nights, 7-8 pm at the Centre

For further information call Sally Hutchinson 543-1315 or 640-3044 ext.14

YOUNG WOMEN’S PROGRAM at LHS

Thanks to a grant from the IWK Community Fund, we are offering an arts program for girls in grades 7-9. The participants will be coming to the Centre to work together on self-expression projects in a variety of media. This project is a pilot for future offerings with other schools.

Facilitated by Joanne Jefferson and Patti Hirtle

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN - AN ISSUE IN SMALL COMMUNITIES

Violence against women/girls is a very real and current issue in all communities in Nova Scotia. In Lunenburg County, informal statistics gathered from January 2007 to June 2009 indicate almost 300 reported incidents of violence against women, and tragically two homicides. In another, more recent report (May 2009), records indicate that Nova Scotia has the highest sexual assault rate in the country.

The impacts are enormous, and felt even more acutely in small communities. Isolation, shame and fear may impact on a woman’s self-esteem and her contributions to the community. Family life and the well-being of the community are affected. Lost time and productivity for victims of violence result in economic impacts for employers. As well, the burden that is placed on the services that a community offers (e.g. Health Care, Emergency Services, Police Services, Mental Health Services, the Court System) is significant.

In this session, we will explore the issues and impacts associated with gender-based violence and discuss the “big idea” of ending violence against women and girls in Lunenburg County.

We are in the process of establishing a volunteer driver program, which will help women in Lunenburg County access programs and services offered by the Centre. If you are interested in participating as a driver, we need to hear from you. We will be contacting interested drivers for an orientation session early in the fall.

We are asking for your involvement and input by becoming a member of the Social Action Committee! The more people who are involved, the more clout we can have. Have your voice heard. Our current focus is action on violence against women. For more information or to become a member, call 543-1315 or 640-3044.

The Healing Room offers free introductory sessions in a variety of healing practices. Practitioners are at the Centre on a volunteer basis. Staff can provide information about any of the healers, and help you make an appointment time.

Practitioners: Barbara Holland-Smith (Reiki), Margareta Schirra (Reiki), Jane Moody (various, visit www.janemoody.ca), Jennifer James (Healing Touch), Gina Freeman (Therapeutic Touch).

HEALING ROOM Second Story Women’s Centre has offered workshops on alternative healing such as various forms of massage, energy healing, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, to name a few. Therapeutic practitioners of various modalities have generously donated their time to offer these sessions, which have been very well received by women. Now a group of practitioners are offering regular mini-sessions here at the Centre, free of charge to women. If you’re looking for stress reduction, relaxation, relief from pain or simply a way to treat yourself, consider signing up for one of the sessions. Information on the various practitioners is available and many will also be offering workshops to introduce their specialty. We will announce times as we confirm them or call the Centre for information. Pre-booking, at least 24 hours in advance, is required. We welcome donations to the Centre.

Jane Moody- last Thursday of each month from 1 to 5 pm. Jane Moody has spent the past 14 years treating conditions from cancer to depression. Her approach reflects her belief that the whole person needs to be treated, if true progress is to be made. Combining bodywork with energy medicine and psychotherapy means that people see results and make progress quickly. Her training in New York and Nova Scotia has involved over 1800 hours in various modalities. She practices in Halifax out of Dr. Sarah Baillie's Naturopathic office, Chester, and soon in Wolfville. Please visit the web site for much more information: http://www.janemoody.ca/

Barb Holland Smith- first Thursday of every month from 1 to 3 pm. “I have been practicing Reiki for the past 12 years and a Reiki Master since 1999. Sharing Reiki with others is a blessing in my life and I invite you to sample a mini treatment of this ancient energy art form. You remain fully clothed, so even the modest can enjoy this non-invasive hands on therapy. Relax, Rejuvenate and Enjoy this wonderful nurturing experience that will promote and support your overall well being.” Pre-booking is necessary.

Jennifer James- second Thursday of the month from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Two 1-hour sessions. Jennifer James is a trained Healing Touch Practitioner. Over the past 9 years of private practice, she has developed a unique style of Intuitive Healing. She continues to study and consult with healers from across North American. Based in Rose Bay, Jennifer's practices serves women, men and family pets. She maintains a membership in the Healing Touch Association of Canada.

Margareta Schirra- Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 pm. Two 1-hour sessions. Margareta became a Reiki master in 2004, and has been practicing Reiki since 2002. She is giving Reiki treatments and also teaches Reiki classes. Reiki is a Japanese energy healing technique, which aids your healing on the physical, emotional and spiritual level. It revitalizes the natural self-healing abilities of the body. It is especially beneficial in stress reduction. Her sessions need to be booked.

Gina Freeman - third Thursday of every month, 2:30-4:00, Three - half-hour sessions. Gina operates EarthForce Healing Centre and is a Registered Practitioner of Therapeutic Touch Treatments. This is a non-invasive energy therapy in which the practitioner uses her hands in the client's energy field to facilitate healing. The client remains fully clothed in a sitting or lying position, and touching is with permission only. Therapeutic Touch works to stimulate the body's natural ability to heal itself and can play an important role in helping to prevent illness and maintain health.

Please register for all workshops by calling Second Story Women's Centre at (543-1315 or 640-3044).

Programs are free and open to all women. Coed programs are advertised as such or say, "Everyone Welcome". Minimal childcare and transportation subsidies are available. Second Story Women's Centre is a scent-free space. Pets are not permitted in workshops. All programs offered at Second Story unless otherwise stated.

Transportation: If you are willing to carpool and can provide a drive to a woman from your area, please let us know when you register. Transportation services are also available by VON on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am to 3pm for individuals whose phone number starts with 634, 624 or 640. This is a free service. Donations are gratefully accepted and charitable receipts are available. Please call the VON at 624-1897.

Parking: The Centre does not have client parking so please allow enough time to secure a space before the event time.

Please note that many of our informational programs are also appropriate for service providers to attend to receive up-to-date information on various topics.

**Facilitators are routinely not employed by SSWC. As such, the Centre does not necessarily endorse the services, products, etc. mentioned in workshops**

If you have ideas for programs, please contact Wendy at SSWC extension 14 or Sally at extension 13, or email secstoryprograms@eastlink.ca.

Wants: Now that we've been here for awhile, we have discovered that there are some furniture or supplies that would make things easier for us and our volunteers and more comfortable for our clients. We'll list them occasionally in our Program Updates, in case you may be trying to find a new home for some of these items or you simply would like to help but don't know what we need. If you have them, please call and we'll try to look at the items first to make sure they are a good fit for here. Thanks.

small end tables for program room and for library
small cd player
coat tree
magazine racks
dolly
comfy chairs

Girl Talk: Ongoing Programming

Girl Talk is a 3-day summer program for girls ages 9 - 12. The program is packed with crafts, games, activities, and chit-chats about issues relevant to girls. Girl Talk creates a safe environment for girls to have fun, ask questions and voice their opinions. Snacks and materials are provided.

Dress Well for Interviews or Business: Ongoing Programming

We have a supply of quality clothing available for women preparing for interviews or wanting to dress up for their work or a special occasion. Please call before you drop in to check out our selection. If you would like to make a clothing donation, please call us.

VOICES: Ongoing Programming

VOICES is a self-discovery and empowerment program for girls. Group sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis. Each session focuses on a different topic related to Girl Empowerment! The VOICES program is fun, interactive, inspirational and educational.