"A Status of Women" group of local women begin to talk about rape crises work with the goal of opening a rape crisis centre in the Cowichan Valley. The women take training in Nanaimo and Victoria. During this year, the group receive three year project funding to run a women's centre in the Cowichan Valley. Even before the centre is established, members are receiving calls for help at their homes.

The group begins operating a Crisis Line on a limited basis. Although the group intend the focus to be rape crisis work, battered women also access services. With a grant from Employment and Immigration, the first staff is hired. The Society’s first office is located in the “Bird House” behind Mental Health in Duncan, BC.

November 14th, 1980 the group incorporates as “Cowichan Rape Assault Society.” Registered as a charity April 1st, 1981 which becomes the anniversary date. In July. a 24-hour Crisis Line with one staff and a number of volunteers is established.

The Society moves to an apartment above Volume One Bookstore on Kenneth Street. They receive a contract from Ministry of the Attorney-General as a sexual assault centre. A second staff member is hired.

The Society lobbies for sexual abuse prevention programs in the local School District. Self defense classes are offered.

Four members attend Winnipeg Conference “Counselling Survivors of Sexual Abuse”, a Women’s Health Fair, and “Growing Up with Children” conference.

A sub-committee within the Society plans Somenos House, a women’s transition house. This joins the counselling and crisis program which had become known internally as WAVAW (Women Against Violence Against Women).

Somenos House opens in March 1987 with three staff. Somenos House is primarily for battered women and their children. “Somenos” means “place of rest” in the local Hul’qumi’num language.

Somenos adds a child and family counsellor to its staff.

Health and Welfare, Native and Northern Affairs funds the Native Education Project. The Society receives Victim Assistance contract from the Attorney General and adds a part-time position.

The Society gambles and increases staff positions for WAVAW to 3, up from 2.5 in 1989. The Society offices and WAVAW programs move to an office on Kenneth Street. A job development project also trains four women .The Society Moves again across Kenneth Street to offices just behind what is now known as the Sassy Lion.

The Society Mortgages a property which becomes the permanent location of Somenos Transition House. After initial updating and renovations the first clients take up residence.

The Children Who Witness Abuse (CWWA) counselling program for children who have seen others being physically assaulted and/or emotionally abused is establishes. The Horizons Pre-Employment Program for women who have been in abusive relationships starts with the aim of helping participants explore life skills, employability skills and personal development. In October, the Cowichan Valley Safety Audit Pilot project begins. The Safety Audit projects receive further funding to study Mill Bay and Coble Hill. These audits are the beginnings of Safer Futures. Finally, Women In Need Growing Stronger (WINGS) Thrift Store, a Society owned social enterprise opens in November.

Major organizational changes occur as the Society moves from a committee-based, consensus decision making structure to a feminist-based yet more traditional hierarchy.

The society name is changed to Cowichan Women Against Violence Society (CWAVS). CWAVS is now comprised of five programs: WAVAW, Somenos House, Horizons, CWWA, and WINGS Thrift Store. Society offices are moved once again from Kenneth Street to Station Street in the Cowichan Merchant’s Building, sometimes called the “Old Eaton’s Building.”

The Setting Sails Program also begins. Setting Sails is similar yo Horizons except the participants are under the age of 30. Somenos House begins undergoing major renovations. Upgrade projects take place over 9 years and range from wheelchair ramp to security features. An 8 passenger van is purchased.

Safer Futures becomes an ongoing program, focusing on community and social development initiatives. WAVAW begins to provide an on-going drop-in support group for women once a week.

CWAVS wins a provincial Building a Safer Future Award for organizational excellence in the field of anti-violence work. With the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), Safer Futures presents at the Union of BC Municipalities conference on women’s safety audits in the Cowichan Valley.

CWAVS transfers ownerships of WINGS Thirft Store to a supporter Petra Bruckbauer. While under her ownership, WINGS continues to support agency programs and clients.

Amazingly, CWAVS’ 24-hour Crisis Line is now completely run by paid staff and a 100% employer paid benefits package is offered to staff for the first time.

Finally, Children Who Witness Abuse (CWWA) moves under the WAVAW umbrella and counselling is provided at the Society offices.

Safer Futures leads a three year provincial initiative on women and community safety in BC and begins a regional initiative on Safer Community Planning and Neighborhood Action.

CWAVS embarks on school programming int he form of a Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) project at Frances Kelsey School.

At this time, CWAVS offices move again to 255 Ingram Street.

In June, Horizons Pre-Employment program loses its funding from the Ministry of Aboriginal Community and Women’s Services. Its future seems uncertain.

In August, along with 11 other BC communities, Horizons is awarded a three year contract with the Ministry of Employment and Income Services.

The Specialized Victim Assistance Program is renamed Community Based Victim Services Program. The mandate is expanded to include court support for child victims. Unfortunately, the provincial government cuts funding to Sexual Assault Centres throughout BC, resulting on cessation of funding for CWAVS’ local crisis line and crisis counselling for survivors of sexual assault and violence. This leads to WAVAW cutting two staff counsellors and forces the society to reorganize the remaining positions to respond to the change in its mandate. Somenos House and WAVAW work together to share the operation of the Crisis Line so that CWAVS can continue to provide 24-hour service to the Cowichan Valley.

Finally, Students for Diversity (SFD) Project collaboration with Cowichan Secondary commences.

The James Street Alexander Area Neighborhood Planning Initiative with North Cowichan, Safer Futures, and Cowichan Family Life Association consults with area residents about their needs. CWAVS also partners with Central Vancouver Island Crisis Soceity to provide back-up on CWAVS’ Crisis Line at times when staff are busy and not able to answer calls.

Cowichan is recognized for its leadership in Safer Community Planning to develop a Comprehensive Community Safety Initiative sponsored by Safer Futures.

Somenos House pays off its mortgage, laying a solid foundation for the future, building stability and permanence for the staff, residents, and the Society.

The Crisis Line is transferred permanently to the Vancouver Island Crisis Line. Somenos continues tot respond to calls 24-hours a day.

Also, School District #79 and CWAVS collaboration begins at Quamichan Middle School and Cowichan Secondary entitled Respectful Relationships Training. Service Canada funds the Cairnsmore Neighborhood Project youth and community development initiative.

Malaspina University-College partners with CWAVS on a pilot project for a 3-month Women’s Writing Program, culminating int the publication of the collected materials. Finally, The Planning Ourselves Project commences in the Alexander/Beverly Street neighborhood in collaboration with local government.

Horizons provides Bridging Employment Program (BEP) through the Ministry of Housing and Social Development.

Funding for Somenos House, STV Counselling and CWWA Counselling comes through Ministry of Community Services.

Safer Futures staff reduces from 4 to 1, increases back to 2 in 2008.

Government announces major restructuring that sees funding for Somenos, STV and CWWA counselling transferred to the Ministry of Housing and Social Planning.

CWAVS receives a grant from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to create a Domestic Violence Co-ordination Program that develops specialized support and court protocols for victim safety.

Funding transition houses transfers from the Ministry of Housing and Social Planning to BC Housing Corp. Three Strengthening Families groups are funded annually by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Children Who Witness Abuse is partially funded through MCFD. Cowichan United Way funds the remainder of the program.

Ministry of Justice funds Children Who Witness Abuse Program, Stopping the Violence Counselling program and Community Based Victim Services. Horizons becomes a sub-contractor to Global Vocational Services Inc. as the provincial and federal governments move to a privatized employment services model.

Civil Forfeiture grant funds a Violence Is Preventable (VIP) group in schools an the Domestic Violence High Risk Protocol policy development. Two Safer Futures projects: Youth Safety Dialogues and Safe Youth Advocacy are also funded by Civil Forfeiture grants. Additionally, Safer Futures receives funding from UBC for its Kloshe Tillicum project, a three year grant from the Vancouver Foundation for its inviting Voice, Creating Space (IVCS) project, and Status of Women Canada funds a two-year project on youth safety piloted by Safer Futures.

WAVAW gets funding for “Challenging Our Assumptions: Strategies for Working with Women Who Use Violence in Intimate Relationships.”

Canadian Womens’ Foundation (CWF) funds Strengthening Parenting groups for one year and provides four-year funding for a Teen Healthy Relationship program.

The outside of Somenos House is repainted. A carpenter ant infestation requires the removal of a wall and replacement of a beam. Asbestos removal protocols are required. Windows are replaced, electrical and heating systems are upgraded to high efficiency gas furnaces and heat pumps, and heat pumps are added to all bedrooms.

Safer Futures receives a Civil Forfeiture Grants and a grant from the Leon Koerner Foundation for “Youth Stand Up: Preventing Youth Involvement in Street Violence and Harassment.”

Somenos house is selected to provide BC Housing’s Homelessness Prevention Program which assists women with planning for and securing housing including some initial financial support.

CWAVS recognized as a finalist in the Small Business BC Awards, Community Impact Category.