Society’s compassion and support for domestic abuse survivors spans 25 years, legislature hears
Rowan House is named for the rowan, also called the mountain ash. In folklore the rowan symbolizes the endurance of life through the dark of the year, because its berries often remain intact through winter. The tree or shrub, whose more than 100 species are widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, was said to protect nearby dwellings. “Rowan trees have traditionally been associated with peace, sanctuary, privacy and beauty,” says the Rowan House website. George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Domestic abuse survivors across southern Alberta benefit from the life-changing shelter and support offered by Rowan House Society, the legislature heard as the group geared up for a March fundraiser.
Chelsae Petrovic, the member for Livingstone-Macleod, celebrated the organization’s 25th anniversary in a statement to colleagues in Edmonton, highlighting the High River group’s humble beginnings and its role in breaking cycles of abuse for women and children fleeing abuse.
Rowan House began in 2000 as a two-bedroom shelter in a Black Diamond basement suite. Today it’s an ultramodern, high-security facility in the north end of Petrovic’s riding.
Speaking to her legislature colleagues Feb. 25, the UCP’s Petrovic said: “Over the years Rowan House has provided life-saving emergency shelter, outreach services and preventative education, transforming countless lives.”
She said the society’s impact “extends far beyond providing a safe place to stay.” Rowan House empowers survivors through counselling, advocacy and other programs. It helps survivors “rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.”
With seven bedrooms and a 24-person capacity, the house offers 30-day emergency shelter for women with or without children.
One initiative reaches more than 3,000 students a year to help stop domestic violence before it starts, Petrovic said in her statement.
Rowan House offers a children’s program, a legal resource navigator program, a safe-at-home program and even a 24-hour support line: call or text 403-652-3311.
Sun Country 99.7 FM will broadcast a radiothon for the society this Thursday, March 6. Donations all month of up to $25,000 will be matched by other supporters, doubling their impact.
High River flooding in 2013 forced Rowan House to rebuild. “But like the survivors they support, they emerged stronger, expanding their services and reinforcing their commitment to trauma-informed care,” said Petrovic.
“Today they continue to evolve, adapting to the growing and changing needs of those they serve, ensuring their impact is felt across generations.”
In 2023, intimate partner violence reported to police was committed against 385 of every 100,000 Albertans. The Statistics Canada figure represents victims aged 12 or older, and it’s higher than the national figure of 354 per 100,000 people.
Under the separate reporting category of family violence for all ages, the numbers are 366 in Alberta and 350 in Canada per 100,000.
Domestic abuse often goes unreported to police. Some studies even peg the unreported rate at 90 per cent, the result of demotivators like fear of retaliation, shame and stigma, economic or social dependency on abusers, and distrust of law enforcement and the justice system.
The Canadian government cites studies that suggest 44 per cent of women who have been in an intimate partner relationship have experienced psychological, physical or sexual abuse from a partner since turning 15.
Women and girls are statistically more likely than men and boys to have experienced any form of intimate partner violence.
But for a quarter century, Rowan House Society has provided a pathway for escape and recovery.
Said Petrovic: “This milestone is a testament to the dedicated staff, volunteers and community supporters who make Rowan House’s work possible.
“Their efforts have saved lives, strengthened families, and built a safer Alberta for all, and the compassion and dedication they offer is a shining example of the power of community.”