Chrysalis House looking for a new home
KENTVILLE – The Chrysalis House Association is seeking to relocate – ideally into a new purpose-built shelter.
The Project Renew committee has been meeting with provincial government officials, including the community services minister, said Ginger MacPhee.
At the annual meeting, she reported a good year for fundraising, including a concert, barbecue and the Helping Handbags event.
According to MacPhee, Chrysalis House gained $20,000 more this year in donations with a total of $84,114.
Rhonda Fraser, who had been executive director since 2004, resigned and has been hired at Juniper House in Digby. MacPhee, who had filled in for more than a year, is the new executive director.
“Rhonda has provided tremendous leadership to us during her time as director. She has built many strong connections that help us made the community a safer place for women and their families,” said MacPhee.
Statistically, there were 83 admissions to the shelter over the previous year. There were 655 distress calls made, 532 advocacy The new executive director of Chrysalis House in Kentville is Ginger MacPhee, right. She has replaced Rhonda Fraser, who has taken up a job at Juniper House in Digby.
calls and 100 distress visits.
MacPhee reported that frontline staff notice an increase in complex mental health and/or substances issues.
“Single staffing sometimes means a woman’s need surpasses what we are able to prove and referrals have to made to other services,” she said. “We recognize that there is a greater need for services for women in crisis than is currently available.”
Betty Kalt, the women’s outreach worker, provided services to 97 women in the past year, about one third of whom were considered at a high risk of further harm. Advocacy work is carried out in Kings, Annapolis and West Hants counties.
Brenda Wood, family transition support worker, noted in
her report that there were “no major victories but many small successes that we celebrate and a vital network of community agencies providing a safety net for women as they struggle.”
Chrysalis House staff appreciate volunteer contributions whether they are grocery shopping to freshening up rooms with new paint.
Brandon James Cleveland, 20, of Kingston, has been fined for having care or control of a motor vehicle while his blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
Cleveland pleaded guilty to the charge Sept. 27. Judge Claudine MacDonald fined him $ 1,300 and imposed a one- year driving prohibition.
Cleveland committed the offence in Coldbrook May 4. The legal blood alcohol limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. Cleveland gave breathalyser readings of 130 and 130.
Meanwhile, Derek Arnold Lloyd, 54, of New Minas, was also fined $ 1,300 for impaired operation Sept. 27. He is also prohibited from driving for a year but will be eligible for an ignition interlock device after three months.
Lloyd committed the offence in New Minas May 5, when he gave breathalyser readings of 110 and 110.
Candace Lorraine Burgess, 40, of Halifax, has been sentenced to probation and fined for resisting two RCMP constables engaged in the execution of their duties by physically resisting arrest.
Burgess pleaded guilty to the charge Sept. 23. Judge Claudine MacDonald sentenced her to one year of probation and fined her $32.50.
Burgess committed the offence in McKay Section July 20.
Peter George Guptell, 51, of Lower Vaughan, has been handed a conditional discharge with probation for committing an assault by pushing a woman down a set of front steps.
Guptell changed his plea to guilty Sept. 23. Judge Claudine MacDonald handed him a conditional discharge with nine months of probation and fined him $100 in victim surcharges.
Guptell committed the offence in Lower Vaughan Nov. 22, 2015.