In 1983, the Federal Government announced financial initiatives, which made it possible to pilot the development of sexual assault centres in Canada, particularly in rural areas.
A committee in Kindersley, with co-operation from the Saskatoon Sexual Assault and Information Services Centre made an application for a sexual assault centre for Kindersley.
The West Central Sexual Assault and Information Centre opened in February 1984 with funding for a six-month period. Those first six months demonstrated the need for such a centre in our area. Its boundaries for service covered the Prairie West Health District, and parts of the Greenhead Health District and Midwest District Health. Today, we continue to have the same boundaries, although the Health District is now amalgamated and renamed the Heartland Heath Region. Our services cover approximately 10,000 square miles. Although we try to stay within our borders, no crisis calls from outside our area are ever turned away.
Shortly after its inception, public awareness on domestic abuse began to grow, and the Centre began receiving calls from battered wives, and people in other forms of crisis. Thus, in October 1984 the name was changed to the West Central Crisis Centre in order to expand and provide services for all forms of crises in the community. At this time, some provincial funding was also obtained.
By the end of its first year, the Centre had established a network of short-term safe homes, which provided shelter for women and children leaving violent situations. A number of volunteers were trained to take after-hour calls on the crisis line, and the Centre provided public education, in the form of open meetings, on subjects such as sexual assault and domestic violence.
Over time, the Centre offered more services to the public, which included providing Parent Aide services, contracted through the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services. Because of the expansion of services being offered by the Centre, the name was changed once again to reflect this. In 1990, the Centre was renamed The West Central Crisis & Family Support Centre, Inc. As well, due to the need for more space, we bought our own building, which provides us with a more confidential environment for our clients.
Our Centre is a non-profit organization, which is overseen by a volunteer board. We are partially funded by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services. The rest of our funding comes through the generous donations of private citizens, corporations, businesses, churches, schools, and various community groups and organizations. To these people we are truly grateful.