Blog Archives - Second Story Women's Centre

How to Access Counselling at SSWC

10/24/2022

We've had this question come up a few times recently!

Second Story offers free, one-on-one counselling for women and gender-oppressed people in Lunenburg and Queens counties. Here is how you can access those services and what to expect:

✨Reach out! Call or email us at [email protected] or 902-640-3044
✨We will ask for contact information (phone number, when is best to reach you, is it safe to leave a voicemail at your number)
✨We will have a short chat about your needs and your situation, and arrange for supports, including one-on-one counselling and referral to other resources that might be available to you
✨Counselling appointments are available in person (either at our Centre in Lunenburg, or we are able to sometimes travel to other communities), over the phone and via Zoom
✨All services at Second Story are FREE, confidential, and available to women, girls and gender-diverse people in Lunenburg and Queens Counties.

Coats 4 Kids - Teens and Adults Too

10/21/2022

Nobody should be cold this winter.
But unfortunately, for a variety of reasons many South Shore kids, youth, adults and families will be this winter.
If you have warm winterwear that you no longer use or need please consider donating them to Coats for Kids – Teens and Adults Too located in the South Shore Centre/ Bridgewater Mall. This free store is open to anyone needing warm winter wear. At the Coats for Kids Store folks have the opportunity to choose the perfect coat, accessorize it with a pair of gloves, some mitts and add a hat and scarf to finish off the look.
The store is open 7 days a week during Mall hours.
This year we have a particular focus on acquiring coats, snowsuits, sneakers, boots and socks for children and kids aged 12 and under.

...& the Howler Award Goes To....

10/18/2022

Congratulations to Dr. Krista Watson, the recipient of our 2022 Howler Award!

SSWC celebrates Persons Day every year by giving the Howler Award to a woman, girl or gender-oppressed person who is an exemplary, fearless community leader; an inspiring and hopeful champion who has found their voice and used it to mobilize others to effect change on issues of concern to women.

Dr. Watson has been living in Mahone Bay with her family since 2002. While she initially worked in Family Practice with a side of ER, Krista’s been working full time in the ER in Lunenburg since 2009. Through her work, Krista has been humbled to be part of such a compassionate and caring community.

Dr. Watson enjoys mentoring learners, and sharing the joys/realities of Being Human in Health Care. In spite of the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, she remains grateful for the gifts of hard work worth doing, for her patient and instructive colleagues, and for the community resources that continue care beyond the hospital.

Never explain, never retract, never apologize. Just get the thing done and let them howl. - Nellie McClung

Persons Day - An Honest Look at the Famous Five's Legacy

10/18/2022

Today is the 93rd anniversary of (most) women being declared persons under Canadian law in 1929. We mark Person's Day on October 18th every year with a tea party. Why a tea party? Because the Famous Five used tea parties as a cover for their organizing: check out this quick Youtube video to learn more.

Although Person's Day is celebrated every year as a milestone for equality, it is crucial that we remember that many Canadian women were not included when we were declared Persons in 1929. Women of colour would not get the right to vote until the 1940's and Indigenous people didn't have full voting rights until the 1960's. Married White women were the primary beneficiaries of the Famous Five's advocacy.

It is important to acknowledge the lack of intersectionality in the Famous Five's feminism, and that they held and promoted racist, harmful views. We encourage you to read some of the criticism against the Famous Five - and other White Canadians who are celebrated for their contributions to Canadian society while their more harmful views and actions are ignored.

To some, it's the Infamous Five - Globe and Mail
'Our Histories are Complicated: Famous Five fought a good but imperfect fight' - CBC
After 100 years of women's suffrage, do we really have progress? -Macleans

We would also like to share this article highlighting the work of the 'Indigenous Famous 5,' Mary Two-Axe Early, Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, Yvonne Bedard, Sandra Lovelace, and Sharon Donna McIvor in the hopes of expanding the spotlight on Canadian women who have fought to better the lives of their sisters to rightfully include more non-white settlers.

The women were leading advocates of eugenics and used their power and influence to push for legislation that led to the sterilization of nearly 3,000 Canadians (Albertans) deemed unfit to have children. Many of the victims were poor, disabled, mentally ill and aboriginal. The fact that the Famous Five were giants of women’s rights should not excuse their support for eugenics and the harm it did to innocent people. This part of their life-story must not be hidden - 'Monuments and mythology – let's not sanitize the past of famous Canadians,' The Ottawa Citizen

Why Does NS Have the Highest Rates of Human Trafficking in Canada?

10/14/2022

Many folks are surprised to learn that Nova Scotia has the highest rates of Human Trafficking in Canada and that Human Trafficking is ongoing in our communities.

This new report, written after consultation with almost 150 people who have lived experience, lays out some of the reasons why human trafficking is so prevalent in our province. We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read this report, in the hopes of better understanding this issue and the work that needs to be done to address it and make our community safer.

You can access the report here.

Join Us On Zoom for Persons Day!

10/13/2022

Join us on Tuesday, October 18 from 2-3 pm on Zoom to celebrate the anniversary of women becoming persons under Canadian law in 1929.

RSVP: [email protected] or 902-640-3044 and we'll send you the Zoom link

New! NS Mental Health and Addiction Peer Support Line

10/12/2022

The province is launching a new, province-wide mental health and addictions peer support line today.

The Peer Support Phone Service is a toll-free, non-crisis, province wide service, available to all Nova Scotians 18 years of age or older. It is staffed by trained peer supporters, who have personal or family-based lived experience with mental health and/or substance use challenges.

The service is intended for individuals who feel isolated, alone, anxious, concerned, or who need support and to talk to someone. Reasons for calling can be anything from having a tough day at work, feeling down, struggling with supporting a loved one, going through a rough patch in a relationship and so on. It is NOT intended for individuals who are experiencing a crisis. (Folks in crisis are still encouraged to call 911 or the NS Mental Health and Addictions Crisis line at 1-888-429-8167)

The NS Peer Support Phone Service does not operate 24/7 like the Crisis Line, it's hours are:

Wednesday to Friday - 5pm to 11pm AT
Saturdays and Sundays - 11am to 11pm AT
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Because the service is not 24/7, it is possible that some calls may need to be placed in a queue while peer supporters finish up with other callers. You may also choose to leave a voicemail with your name and phone number and if a peer supporter has availability during their shift, they will return your call. Otherwise, you are invited to call back during the next service shift.

The number is 1-800-307-1686. For more information, visit supportyourpeople.com/peer-support-phone-service.

Coming Out Late Support Group

10/12/2022

Coming Out Late is a new support group from South Shore Sexual Health for folks who are, or have, come out as 2SLGBTQ+ later in life (e.g. thirtyish and up) or are questioning. They are holding their second session next Tuesday, October 18!
Confidential, non-judgmental, no registration necessary.
Held bi-weekly at SSSH's office (109 Logan Road in Bridgewater, Unit 1B out back). 6:30 pm start time, everyone (all genders and orientations) / new folks welcome, snacks provided.

Congratulations, Sally!

10/11/2022

We're so proud to announce that last week, our very own Sally H. was the recipient of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia's 'Outstanding Healthcare Provider' award at the Let's Keep Talking Awards!

Sally has been with Second Story for almost 20 years, and is a much-loved Support Worker at our Centre. We're so pleased to see her work supporting women and gender-oppressed people in our community recognized. We love you, Sally!

NS Survey on Housing Needs

10/5/2022

The government is asking Nova Scotians to provide feedback on housing needs. If you have a few minutes, you can take the survey online at nshousingneeds.ca until December 4.

We know that much needs to be done to address the housing crisis in our province, this survey will help the government better understand what is needed and where.

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Location

PO Box 821, 18 Dufferin Street
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, B0J 2C0

Second Story Women's Centre recognizes that we are on Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw People. We honour the treaties that guide the relationships of our people.

HOURS *

MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
9am - 4pm

* The Centre is closed and staff work from home when school is cancelled due to weather.
* Appointments may be available outside of regular office hours.

Contact Us

902-640-3044
i[email protected]

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