PearlSpace is a local not-for-profit that provides much-needed support services in the local community. Previously known as the Howe Sound Women’s Centre Society, this organization is one that works tirelessly in the background to support many of our most vulnerable.
We recently spoke to Ashley Oakes, Executive Director of PearlSpace, to learn more about what they do, why they do it, and how we can support them in their work.
Can you give us a quick introduction to PearlSpace?
On October 7, 1981, PearlSpace (formerly the Howe Sound Women’s Centre Society) was created as a grassroots organization dedicated to the prevention of gender-based violence and support for survivors impacted by violence or abuse. Since our founding, we have grown and expanded in response to the needs of the individuals and communities we serve. Today we provide emergency house programs, 24-hour response services, drop-in centres, outreach services, referrals, and advocacy. With a dedicated team of employees and volunteers, we serve the needs of people in the Sea to Sky Corridor and Stl’atl’imx regions including Skwxwú7mesh, Lil’wat, and Stl’atl’imx Nations and the communities of Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton.
PearlSpace is the only service provider in the Sea to Sky Corridor and Stl’atl’imx regions working from an intersectional feminist framework to provide inclusive supportive services for individuals and communities.
Which service are you most proud of and why?
Over the past 43 years, PearlSpace has grown and adapted to meet the evolving needs of the communities that make up the Sea to Sky and St’atl’imc regions. As the population in the region has grown, so has PearlSpace.
Over the past 6 years we have more than doubled our operating budget, expanded our emergency housing programs, established 24-hour sexual assault response services, renovated our drop in centre spaces to better meet the communities needs and growing demand, and expanded violence prevention education in schools to all children in grades 5-8 enrolled in SD 48 with plans to expand further. We now reach 10,000 people each year with our programs, services and outreach activities.
What do you wish more people knew about PearlSpace?
PearlSpace services are available to all people who experience gender-based violence which include women, Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, gender diverse individuals and children and youth. In addition, our sexual assault response services are available to all people, regardless of their gender, who have experiences sexual assault, discrimination, harassment, and violence.
What challenges do you face running an organization in Whistler, and how do you manage them?
Due to the location of our drop-in centre in Spring Creek, people may not know where to find us or have difficulty accessing our services due to limited transportation options. Space more centrally located is out of reach financially due to lease costs and our reliance on donations and grants to operate the space.
We manage this through outreach services provided at the Whistler Library and by working closely with other local non-profits supporting vulnerable populations. An additional challenge in Whistler is ensuring new residents are aware services such as ours are available in the community.
Do you have any big plans for PearlSpace you can share with us?
We have just launched a new safe home program in Whistler for survivors fleeing intimate partner violence!
We are incredibly grateful to the RMOW for providing pilot funds to operate a safe home program in hotel accommodations during and just post the covid pandemic when hotel stays were lower. This pilot program allowed the organization to generate statistics to validate the need for a permanent safe home in the community which was recently acquired by BC Housing with PearlSpace acting as the operators of the program.
Is there a way other businesses and organizations in town could support PearlSpace?
PearlSpace programs and services in Whistler rely on the generosity of the community for our operations. Donations of cash go a long way in ensuring we can adapt to the evolving needs of the community.
In addition, each March we hold an annual fundraising auction in celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8th and are always seeking auction items to support our fundraising efforts. One unique way a local donor supported PearlSpace this past year was through an ultra-affordable lease of a suite in their home they weren’t using. We were then able to sublet the space to a local family at a rate substantially below market.
Is there a business or organization in town you particularly admire, and if so, why?
We are so grateful for the work of other non-profits in the community supporting the needs of Whistler’s vulnerable populations. Whistler Community Services Society, Zero Ceiling, Sea to Sky Community Services are all incredible partners in this work. By working together, we can provide wrap around supports for those most in need.
