2017/18 ANNUAL REPORT

1981A group from the local AA community in New Westminster rented a house for women whose lives had been devastated by addiction and had nowhere to live. The Julien House Society was formed and incorporated in April that same year.

1985The Society formalized the recovery program and incorporated the 12 steps. The women began attending three twelve-step meetings per day, one of them the morning meeting of Narcotics Anonymous – I meeting now referred to as AMNA; a meeting the women still attend today.

1986The future of Westminster House became uncertain. Operating the house was not an easy task, bills had to be paid, and for four years the directors of the society used out of pocket money to keep the doors open.

1990The Society moved to the location on Seventh Street, and a bingo license from the provincial government was issued to raise funds, ensuring Westminster House would be able to continue to provide services to Women.

1999 The Society entered into a contract with the Province to provide program funding.

Over the last 37 years, we have helped thousands of women, answered thousands of phone calls and supported thousands of families to recover from addiction.

This past year Westminster House implemented a strategic plan to help us continue to deliver sustainable programs and services that meet the needs of our community and the women we serve.

Westminster House experienced a record-breaking revenue year, and Fraser Health provided a contract increase that allows us to help more women and their families each year.

Westminster House launched the Loud Recovery forum to help keep our friends and supporters informed of our tremendous successes.

Seventy-two percent of women who complete the full continuum of care at Westminster House, go on to have successful lives without the use of drugs. Addiction recovery depends upon a treatment continuum, and we are very proud of the unique continuum available at Westminster House.

The partnership with Last Door Society strengthened over the past year and includes co-ed groups, events, horticulture program and the branding of #NewWestRecovery.

Our successes could not be possible without the continued support of the donors who believe in the work we do. Thank you to the Board and volunteers who generously donate the gift of time, the staff who work tirelessly through these challenging circumstances to help save someone’s life, and all our clients who, just for today, choose to find a new way of life.

Susan Hogarth, Executive Director Scott Emerson, Board President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Scott Emerson, PresidentMarie Murray, Secretary/TreasurerRon Argue, Vice PresidentMary Broadland, DirectorMichelle Mix, DirectorJill Toews, DirectorKathryn George, Past Director

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Susan HogarthTanis MauriceCassandra SmithClaudette SamsonKristy FeserChristal Coughlin

OUR VISION

OUR MISSION

To provide residential addiction treatment for women through integrated social recovery, education, and wellness.

2000Awarded the Donor Award as a finalist for excellence in the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.

2002Westminster House receives CARF Accreditation (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) a signal that the program is committed to continually improving services, encouraging feedback, and serving the community.

2003 Westminster House signs the first contract with Fraser Health as a Stabilization and Transition Living Residence for Women.

2004 Julien House Society purchased the property on Seventh Street with a Federal Grant to provide long-term sustainability of the program.

2009 The Society won another Federal Grant and did the first capital renovation that included a new kitchen, exterior upgrade, and full electrical upgrade.

The Society re-brands introducing the Acorn as the symbol of recovery as an acorn needs to hit the ground hard to reveal the strong oak within.

THE NEEDAddiction has changed over the past ten years. Drugs are more potent to the point of being fatal. More then ever, the nature of addiction needs immediacy and women need a fast track to services when they are asking for help.

There is no cookie-cutter client that enters the Westminster House program. Addiction is complicated, and we are treating multiple addictions at once. Ninety-eight percent of our women have a cross addiction that includes, sex, self-harm, disordered eating, gambling, and addictive relationships. Not only are they facing cross addiction, but they also suffer from concurrent disorders, many which have been misdiagnosed due to substance abuse or not diagnosed at all.

THE RESPONSEThis year we hired two additional clinical staff and with an increased educational component and broad background. This has been proven essential not only to our diverse clients demographic but also in the aid to our clinical team.

The Trauma Yoga Program answers to the clinical studies that suggest that conversation around trauma is not enough and often goes stale after six months. After applying this method of moving trauma through the body, our clients have been able to shift into living in the present.

Our model has grown to offer autonomy to our clients, especially in making decisions while socializing in the community. Clients help to develop their own treatment plan learning the ability to make the right decisions for themselves.

The trust is well established with our community partners knowing that they will be influenced in a positive, supportive way. This has had significant benefits in relationship building. On average 70% of the women continue to seek employment within the community or our affiliations.

- Tanis Maurice, Program Manager

All the staff are enrolled in post-secondary education. We are very proud that our staff are educating themselves on hidden issues, such as eating disorders and body dysmorphia, that no one wants to talk about.

The need to have conversations regarding these hidden issues has been brought to light this year. Seventy-five percent of our women report having a history or still struggle with this stigma that’s been placed in society regarding how a woman needs to look to fit in. The need to empower women and teach them how to build relationships has been a focus this year, and the benefits of women addressing hidden issues and having relief have been significant.

22% aged 18-24

41% aged 25-34

37% aged 35-65

80 women successfully completed Westminster House Primary Care

690 women put on the waitlist

2010The Society secured another property on Seventh Street for an aftercare pilot project named the Transitional Living and OnGoing Recovery Project

2011The Society secured funding from a donor and the OnGoing Recovery Program was formalized.

2012The Society purchased another property on Third Ave. for Ongoing Recovery Sober living. The facility is used to provide safe, aff ordable housing to women who had completed the Westminster House Primary Care Program.

2013The “Win a Vespa Raffl e”, was introduced and raised over $70,000 over a 5 year period for OnGoing Recovery.

2015The Society won another Federal Grant and underwent the second capital renovation including a welcoming courtyard, commercial kitchen, and bistro style dining hall.

The Society introduced the Meal Program welcoming families and alumni to participate in weekly meals and events at the facility.

The Westminster House partners with Douglas College and creates the Award of Education. Nicole Karpluk was awarded the fi rst scholarship and enrolled in the Youth Justice Program in partnership with Douglas College

THE NEEDA gap remains in the continuum of care between primary residential treatment and living independently in the community. It is a common occurrence for clients leaving treatment to struggle with maintaining the connections they made while in residing in the program, keeping up with their meeting attendance, fi nding safe, supportive housing, fi nding employment, or accessing education. These challenges can lead to an increased risk of a return to substance use.

THE RESPONSE Our answer to the gap is the Westminster House Ongoing Recovery program. We aim to address the needs and support our clients through their transition process, so they can successfully transition into the community and feel confi dent in their ability to practice recovery outside of the treatment setting. We continue to off er transitional residences in the community where clients can rent a room and practice recovery in a safe and supportive environment.

This year our Relapse Prevention Workshop had 75 participants, and the Alumni group had a regular attendance of 10-15 alumni on a weekly basis.

All year the volunteer shifts were booked the month in advance, with a waitlist of alumni willing to step in for cancellations. Our alumni travelled to Powell River to stay at Rainbow Lodge for our fi rst annual alumni retreat, and we formed our fi rst “Westie Girl” softball team, and after a losing season, the team went on to win the championships.

Twenty-six alumni received fi nancial bursaries from Westminster House to put towards their education. Our Women Do Recover Award of Education was won by a recent graduate of the program who received $5,000 towards her education at Douglas College, and she plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Today I live in recovery and addiction can no longer rob me of my hopes, dreams and goals. It is my time to reclaim my life and fi nally fi nish what I started. I want to take general studies, apply for the Academic Foundations for Nursing and later the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The Women Do Recover Award of Education would be life-changing, giving me the ability to continue working, start school and above all else focus on my recovery. Getting into nursing would be one of my greatest gifts of being clean.

- Danielle I.

80% of our Ongoing Recovery clients have remained abstinent this year.

65% of our Ongoing Recovery clients chose to relocate to the #NewWestRecovery community.

36% of graduates from the Ongoing Recovery program accepted a Westminster House education bursary.

– Cassandra Smith, Continued Care Coordinator

Last year we renovated one main bathroom.

Built a new private family group space.

Over 20,000 lights were hung for our Winter Wonderland event.

2016The Julien House Society hosts a 35th Anniversary Tea with Friends Celebration where the board of directors reveal the renaming of the Society to Westminster House Society.

A Sober Living residence is opened with a family unit suitable for children.

The Society receives a Day of Giving from Avison and Young, and a second courtyard is built.

Westminster House received non-profit of the year from the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce.

2017Fraser Health provides a contract increase to Westminster House.

New West Recovery is branded as a community project with Last Door Society. The Westminster House recovery message goes on the road across Canada.

2018Westminster House Society secures 17,000 square foot property suitable for a 35-bed treatment centre. A business plan is initiated to work towards a capital campaign

Westminster House Society Board of Directors approve a youth program.

THE NEEDWestminster House programs are situated in heritage houses in the community of the Brow of the Hill in New Westminster. Every inch of space is used to house women who are engaged in the full continuum of care at Westminster House. The upkeep of these houses can be a challenge, as not only do the houses require day to day maintenance and cleanliness, but also need full-time preventative TLC to keep all properties at a maximum level of operation and regulations.

THE RESPONSETo capitalize on our revenue and avoid costly contractors, Westminster House created an opportunity for alumni to obtain a Project Management designation from BCIT while acting as the Facilities Superintendent. Now we can keep ahead of the daily upkeep and cleanliness of our houses in accordance with Fraser Health standards.

Responsibilities include the internal and external functioning of buildings as well as the curb appeal standard of Westminster House. The maintenance and work standards synergize our beautiful heritage houses and the ongoing daily operations of landscaping, organizing, winterization, spring clean-up, repairs, gardening, painting, and building of our facility as well as gardening and future projects.

Our properties continue to be upgraded to accommodate our clients’ needs and to provide a healthy environment for recovery, and health and wellness, combining healing with comfort.

– Christal Coughlin, Maintenance Superintendent

3,064 alumni were provided meals

870 families of our clients were fed

208 vegan meals were served

THE NEEDAddicted women usually care more about feeding their addiction than feeding their stomachs. Often, women in early recovery are not ready for a nutrition behaviour change, since most are just trying to get past the immediate crisis of addiction and the associated adjustments of abstinence. Entering treatment may even aggravate pre-existing dysfunctional and unhealthy eating behaviours. As a result, we strive to help develop healthy food and nutrition habits for women in recovery.

The importance of proper nutrition is vital in repairing the havoc and destructive life practices we create to our bodies, minds and spirit living in the chaos of addiction.

OUR RESPONSEWestminster House prides itself on feeding and facilitating recovering women with healthy, nutritious, and delicious food, nourishing from the inside out! Our team of chefs are fueled with passion

TRUE RECOVERY IS RESTORING AND REJUVENATING YOUR MIND AND BODY AND SPIRIT.

and recovery producing collective nutritional meals with a modern flare. The menu is based on the Canada Food Guide and governed by Fraser Health, working with local food producers and distributors.

Westminster House receives an abundance of produce from the New Westminster community garden. Our horticulture program provides vegetables from our garden at Keystone, a Last Door Facility.

The food program helps and welcomes all alumni and families to Westminster House and contributes to long-term ongoing recovery for a stable future. Any alumni and families of clients are welcome to have a meal when they would like; creating a holistic atmosphere which is the synergistic connecting our unique facility offers.

Over the last year, we have incorporated “Meatless Mondays,” which directly impacts the environment around us and helps facilitate creative cooking and nutritious meal planning to our clients.

– Claudette Samson, Kitchen Manager

Fiscal 2017-2018 was tumultuous. The summer of 2017 British Columbia was facing a health emergency in the form of an overdose crisis. The fake news and media attention to the lack of treatment beds available had all of us at Westminster House confused. We were facing our own crisis, as our capacity was at 50% – the lowest capacity in 15 years.

Nonetheless, due to the amazing management team, we were able to sustain our program while increasing donation revenues and lowering expenditures. As the year progressed to its conclusion, we are relieved to announce that Westminster House had an 82% overall occupancy rate for the year and is now in a best fi nancial position in the history of the Society.

While government fee for services and contracts accounted for 21% of our total revenues, our donations increased by 882% and represented 42% of our total revenue.

To support our programs and services, we continue to diversify our revenue streams by investing in strategic fundraising initiatives. This has proven to grow and broaden our community friendships and donor base. Our strategic plan supports this strategy of revenue growth, and in 2017, we launched our fi rst in a series of four “Win A Car Raffl e” fundraisers that will continue to provide employment and training to our alumni, increase fundraising revenue, as well as raising awareness of the Westminster House program.

What we are most proud of is that the majority of our revenues were invested back in the Westminster House programs model that directly benefi ted the families whose lives have been devastated by the consequences of addiction.

REVENUE $2,292,452

Earned Revenue

37%$849,990

Program

73%$1,379,932

Buildings

14%$259,757

Administration

13%$254,484

Government Support

21%$480,258

Fundraising

42%$961,751

Earned Revenue

37%$849,990

Program

73%$1,379,932

Buildings

14%$259,757

Administration

13%$254,484

Government Support

21%$480,258

Fundraising

42%$961,751

EXPENSES $1,894,173

Audited Financial Statements available upon request.

OAK TREE Strong and Indestructible

Alatari Capital Corp

ROOTSStrength that Holds

People’s Pharmacy #369

Dennis Wardman

Joseph Dee McLean

Taylor Kitsch

Susan Hogarth

Lisa Wong & Michael Hutchinson

Gail Faure

Tim’s Automotive Repair

Walmart

Tim & Susan Millar

ACORNThe Heart of the Process

Lindsay Viscount

Barry Tucker

Darlene Galer

New West Fire Fighters

Dave Leask

Randolph Arnett

Shelley Neil

Sandy Cove Creative

SAPLINGSBranches reaching out to others

Province of British Columbia

Wheeler Family Foundation

Anonymous Donor

Avison & Young

Akber Kassam

Mr. & Mrs. PA Woodward’s Foundation

Westcoast Auto Group

Simply Computing Vancouver

OAK FLOWERWhere it all begins

Harry & Barbara Veller

Cammy Coughlin

Douglas Goertzen

Rebecca Farley

Jaime Murray

Jennie Letcher

Louise Green

Ron Argue

Barb’s Bakery & Bistro

Tanis Maurice

Richard Jones

Louise Cooksey

Mary Benn

Patricia Williams

Tracy Dodd

Helen Gracey

Sandra Matt

Susan House

William TaylorThe Westminster House Acorn is a symbol of hope. An acorn has to hit the ground hard to break open, grow, and reveal the strong oak within.

Westminster House Society 228 Seventh StreetNew Westminster, BC V3M 3K3T: 604.524.5633 F: 604.524.4634

info@westminsterhouse.cawww.westminsterhouse.ca

Design by Sandy Cove Creative

Thank you to the many people who donated anonymously and for those who were able to donate under $100. We greatly appreciate your support.

Thank you to the 1,500 people who purchased a raffle ticket or merchandise to support Westminster House. You are all angels.