How do I become a volunteer at the Women’s Centre?
To become a volunteer at the Women’s Centre requires an interest, a small time commitment, and a willingness to be dependable. Volunteers help run the Centre’s daily operations, create programming and events, help coordinate our various portfolios, and provide peer-to-peer support. We can also help to link you with volunteer opportunities in HRM. Volunteers make the Centre happen—without our volunteers, we could not function. Volunteers at the Centre can be women, men, transfolk, or people who do not identify with a gender at all.
If you would like more information on how to volunteer with us, see our Staff and Volunteers page.
Does the DWC offer counselling services? Are there doctors at the Women’s Centre?
No. The Women’s Centre is not a healthcare facility. The Dalhousie Women’s Centre does not have doctors on staff nor do we have professional counseling. We CANNOT dispense the Pill, nor are able to do PAPs. To get the Pill you need a prescription from your Doctor. For more information, please check out our Resources and Referrals page, or contact the Centre. The Women’s Centre is a pre-crisis referral service and resource centre. We can refer you to an appropriate resource or health professional in the community or on campus. We can also accompany you to an appointment if you feel uncomfortable or nervous. Our volunteers are trained in peer counselling and are happy to lend an ear and inform our clients of their options in any given situation. We do dispense free condoms to the public.
What are Women’s Events anyway? Why is there an International Women’s Day?
Due to the historical exclusion of women from every aspect of life—social, political, economic, intellectual, creative, etc.—international movements have been critical in highlighting and recognizing not only the oppression of women everywhere, but their accomplishments as well. Historically and today, women remain underrepresented in public life and their experiences, needs, issues, silenced. The United Nations (1945) has been a critical global influence in bringing to the international stage the plight of women: Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day (March 8), and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women are international events the Women’s Centre commorates. As well, the DWC helped to bring the Vagina Monologues to Dalhousie and remains a vital partner in the V-Day Movement. V-Day and the Vagina Monologues are celebrated around the world.
Is the DWC just for women? Does it discriminate against men? Why isn’t there a Men’s Centre?
The Dalhousie Women’s Centre is a space for people of all genders. The resource library is open to community members of any gender. Anyone may attend events, and use the space or our referral service. We are one of the few gender inclusive Women’s Centres in Canada. The DWC defines “women” to include transfolk. The Dalhousie Women’s Centre does not discriminate against men.
According to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commisssion, the Women’s Centre is in compliance with Human Rights law under section 6 (1) of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. Indeed, the Women’s Centre is legally entitled to providing exclusive women-only services and resources. However, we at the DWC know that in order to fight sexism and other forms of oppression, we need to work together for the creation of a society that is vibrant, life-giving, and safe for people of all genders. Since our inception, the Women’s Centre was envisioned as a gender inclusive space. DWC volunteers can be women, men, transfolk, and people who do not identify with a gender. Due to the sensitive nature of some of the work that we do, men cannot answer the phone at the Centre or do crisis intervention work. We feel that we have something to learn from and something to offer to people of all genders. Indeed, the DWC follows the UN Beijing Conference: gender equality requires the partnership and collaboration of both men and women. The DWC works closely with a number of male allies to work toward gender equality. DWC Board members are women and trans women. This is because we feel it important for women to make important decisions about a service that’s designed to serve women, first and foremost. People of all genders are welcome to attend our Board meetings.
