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than eleven years ago they dreamt of a place where women could
escape the ravages of alcoholism. Seeing the crucial need for
a womens' centre for recovery from alcohol and drug addictions,
Virginia Giles and Helen Burnham worked to create a safe, healthy
environment for women to make their own decisions and leave
behind the patterns and life styles of dependency.
In 1989,
after countless hours of organizing, fundraising and managing,
their dedication helped them overcome society’s denial
of alcoholism’s destruction and open the doors to the
Avalon Women’s Centre in Vancouver. A second centre in
West Vancouver was opened in 1997.
Thanks
to the vision and leadership of Virginia Giles and Helen Burnham,
the centres have flourished as a safe haven for the newcomer
and for lifelong support for second-stage recovery and secondary
issues. Treatment centres throughout North America confidently
refer recovering alcoholic women to Avalon Women’s Centre
for outpatient care. Thousands of women have recovered at
Avalon and their recovery has helped many thousands of children
and other family members.
Virginia
Giles and Helen Burnham have each chosen the work of building
Avalon as their passionate lifelong vocation. They have given
years of selfless service to the women of their community,
making it possible for them to totally change their lives
for the better.
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