Established in 2016, Shelter Movers is a national, volunteer-powered charitable organization that supports survivors of violence by facilitating their transition to a safer life.
From 2018-2022, Alberta consistently has a higher rate of women and girls killed by violence involving a male accused than the yearly national average. These concerning numbers were particularly prevalent in Alberta, where a #CallitFemicide report found that the province exceeds the national annual average for female victims of homicide.
Bringing Essential Services to Calgary & Edmonton
Thanks to the generous support from Women and Gender Equality Canada, Shelter Movers is bringing its essential services to Calgary and Edmonton this summer. We will be working in tandem with local shelters to help survivors overcome the daunting task of moving and storing their belongings at no cost.
To experience domestic violence and abuse is very overwhelming and stressful. [It is wonderful] having Shelter Movers come in to make sure their safety is being honoured while seamlessly moving and storing their items for free until a safer home is found. Items often include important documents, sentimental belongings, and children’s toys. This will just absolutely cut the barriers that survivors in Alberta are currently facing, enabling them to build upon the items they possess without having to start completely fresh.
About 30,000 domestic conflict and gender-based violence calls are made to Calgary police each year. The statistics are stark reminders of the urgent need to support survivors to safety.
Edmonton Women Shelters LTD (WIN House) is looking forward to partnering with Shelter Movers. Recently, we had a woman who was pregnant staying with us, and she needed to organize movers. Unfortunately, she was met with multiple barriers. With Shelter Movers those barriers will be removed making the transition out of violence much easier and sustainable
The Government Stands Beside Survivors of Gender-Based Violence
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism, Associate Minister of Finance, and Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, states “as a government, we must continue to address and stop gender-based violence across Alberta and Canada. By investing in Shelter Movers, we take a crucial step towards creating a safer and more supportive environment for individuals and families in our community. Their dedicated efforts ensure that survivors of gender-based violence have the necessary resources and a safe place to turn to during their most vulnerable moments. The Government of Canada will continue to stand alongside experts, advocates, and survivors of gender-based violence to build a safer Canada for everyone.”
The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, also underlined the importance of this free-of-cost service, especially at a critical juncture when survivors are trying to escape from domestic violence. “This is such an essential service because we know that one of the most dangerous times in the life of someone experiencing domestic violence, is when they are trying to leave home.”
Call for Volunteers
As a volunteer-driven organization, Shelter Movers heavily relies on the community’s goodwill and support to accomplish its mission. With the imminent launch this summer, the new Edmonton chapter urgently needs volunteers right now. Local businesses and individuals who share the vision of helping survivors rebuild their lives are encouraged to sign-up.
I’m truly inspired by how their incredible team, who are mostly volunteers, work day in and day out to make sure that survivors of gender-based violence can move safely and quickly.
The expansion of Shelter Movers into Edmonton and Calgary offers a unique opportunity for the community to make a real difference in curbing alarming statistics and helping survivors transition out of violence. Honourable Marci Ien urges “Canadians to consider volunteering for Shelter Movers—to strengthen your own communities and improve the quality of life of all Canadians.”
As a volunteer-powered charity Shelter Movers has 1500 active volunteers across Canada for both on the ground help as well as administrative roles including logistics, fundraising and more. To learn more about volunteer opportunities or to join Shelter Movers in their mission, please visit www.sheltermovers.com or contact nationalvolunteerservices@sheltermovers.com.
About Shelter Movers
Shelter Movers is a national, volunteer-powered charitable organization that provides moving and storage services at no cost to individuals and families fleeing abuse. It is the only service of its kind offered in Canada. We collaborate with local businesses and community agencies to support people, primarily women and children, as they transition to a life free of violence. To date, our team of dedicated volunteers have completed more than 5,500 moves for survivors of abuse.
For more information, please contact media@sheltermovers.com.