Domestic violence continues to be an ongoing issue here in Cochrane and the surrounding areas but with support from the Cochrane community, the Big Hill Haven women's shelter continues to make great strides.

This past Friday (February 12, 2021) Brio Boutique presented Big Hill Haven Women's Shelter with a $1400 cheque to help them better serve local women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The funds were raised from the #briobabe sweat top fundraiser. The carefully thought out sweat top was designed by Nikstar Promotions, and has the words #Briobabe on the front, and the purple Big Hill Haven logo placed on the left sleeve, closest to the heart. 

Tara McFadden is the Fund Development and Public Relations Officer for Big Hill Haven and she says that it has been an extremely challenging and unprecedented year, with domestic violence cases escalating at an alarming rate.

She says that donations like this one are crucial, in their mission to provide a safe haven for victims of abuse.

"The number of people we were able to house last year in an entire year over a six month period already from our recent reports we've already doubled," says McFadden. "That's really showing that the need is there. Of course to have the capacity, that ability to help people, help women and their families, help end that cycle of violence we need the funding. The funding has changed, it's no longer the world of having a big event and we really appreciate donations and contributions like this from Brio Boutique."

Brio Boutique has been a long time supporter of the local women's shelter. Last year they held a fashion show to raise funds for the women's shelter, and in turn presented Big Hill Haven with a cheque for over $10, 000 which just so happened to coincide with Brio's 10th Anniversary.

Owner, Toni Montanaro says while holding a fashion show event wasn't in the cards this year due to COVID-19, it was still important for her to make a donation. She says that the services that Big Hill Haven provides for families truly resonates with her, being a mother herself and having young children of her own.

"I am a mom with two young children. I love my community, I love the schools they attend and I have great friends," says Montaro. "What resonated with my heart is 'what if that was me?' I would never want to leave a community that I love and my kids' love so that was a trigger for me."

While domestic violence situations grew over the course of 2020, awareness was also brought to the forefront here in Cochrane.

The Cochrane community has rallied together this year more than ever and have been extremely instrumental in helping Big Hill Haven to expand their hours of service, and provide their own housing solution for women and kids fleeing domestic violence.

Jacquie Matechuk is on the Board of Directors with the Big Hill Haven and she expressed her sincere gratitude for the ongoing support and commitment from the community. 

"I consider myself very fortunate to be working with such a caring and committed group of women and men that want to see this community be the best version of itself," says Matechuk. "We are also very fortunate to have the type of businesses  and people living in this community that won't sit by idly and let something like this happen" 

Big Hill Haven remains committed to ending the cycle of abuse and violence by raising awareness through prevention, intervention, and education.