A Dream Realized

For Maple Ridge resident Joy Elcheshen, life is about helping people. The former owner of a business that organized weddings, and a Realtor since 1977, she is well-known for her dedication to community. Thanks in part to her efforts, New Westminster now has Monarch Place, a transition house for women and children in crisis.

Caring for others is something her family has done for years. "Our own home has always had an open door policy. It's a big house with extra bedrooms and they're usually full." Her home has given comfort to battered women, men who are between careers, pregnant teenagers, and men and women sorting out their lives. "Friends are always laughing at me because I'm never sure how many people we'll be having home for dinner. Our COSTCO-size food supplies disappear quickly."

Her commitment extends to the broad community. From 1984 to 1994 she sat on the Board of Ridge Meadows Hospital. She also served on the Women's Ministries Commission (WMC), a province-wide committee connected to the Fellowship Baptist Churches of BC. "As early as 1986 we had identified many women in the Church who wanted to be involved in social issues, especially those that affect women and children," she says. "Several of us on the WMC approached the Baptist Foundation. Coincidentally, its Board members had been discussing similar concerns among themselves for quite some time. They were very gracious."

The Board suggested that WMC establish a need for a transition house and then develop a business plan and form a society. Through the Ministry of Women's Equality office, WMC learned that New Westminster didn't have a transition house. Ministry staff also told WMC that in 1997 New Westminster had the highest incidence of spousal assault reported by police in BC. Acting on the Foundation's advice, WMC formed the Women in Need of Gaining Strength Society( WINGS). "We got good people involved so we had excellent community support," she says. The Baptist Foundation Board agreed to buy a house and lease it to WINGS for 1 dollar a year. However, the Foundation's Board members were not prepared to provide operating funds. They expected the Society to find continuing operating funds from other sources and also to raise money for renovations and equipment." We needed to find a wider body of support, especially since we knew that government wouldn't fund us entirely."

The Society found a beautiful five-year old house with room for 10 beds and 4 cribs, but it was time-consuming. Elcheshen personally looked at 75 buildings. WINGS then struck a fundraising committee and asked Anita Hagen, former NDP MLA for New Westminster and Minister of Education, to chair it. Hagen brought in terrific people. Support grew rapidly. The committee set a goal of $320,000 for renovations and equipment. To date the Society has raised $ 278,000. "The Real Estate Foundation really came through with a renovation grant of $40,000 for which we are very grateful, adds Elcheshen. "Renovations are underway and staff are being trained." Although proud of WINGS' achievement, she knows that many more transition houses are badly needed. "Statistics show that transition houses have to turn away twice as many people as they accept. Police and emergency services do their best to find beds, but often they can't, so they put people up in motels. This isn't ideal. Women and children in crisis need the support, compassion, and security provided by staff in a transition house."

Now that Monarch Place is a reality, what's in store for Elcheshen? Years ago she owned and operated a wedding business. "I still help with weddings. I'm the oldest of 38 first cousins on my mother's side, so there'll be many family weddings to organize in my spare time." She's also eager to get back to her real estate business full-time. "I have many wonderful long-term clients who have been extremely patient while I've been working on Monarch Place. I'm looking forward to serving them again."