Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit ( Jun 05/00) - Sometimes in life, things just go your way.

That pretty much sums up how Trish Hughes-Wieczorek is feeling these days, a mood that is easy to detect as she wanders dreamily through the halls of the facility the Qimaavik Transition House for Abused Women recently inherited.

Formerly the Territorial Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre, Hughes-Wieczorek announced last week that the women's shelter had been given the go-ahead by the Department of Health to pack up their belongings and move in.

For a 15-bed shelter that operates at an occupancy rate of 85 to 125 per cent, the announcement was a blessing. "We're quite spoiled here," said Hughes-Wieczorek, the executive director of Qimaavik.

"This new place will accommodate at least 20 and possibly 24 beds depending on how we use all the rooms. I think it will (make a big difference)," she said.

The roomy facility will also lend itself quite nicely to increased programming for both the women and the children it serves. Hughes-Wieczorek said the building they currently occupy has served them well over the years, but has kept them limited in the services they can offer. Those days will soon be over.

"It opens up the door to things we couldn't do before," she said. "We could invite women in the community, not just women who are residents in our building right now. We can increase our counselling efforts while a woman is with us because we now have the space to do it."

Given that their new home has special security considerations, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has agreed to give Qimaavik a $250,000 forgivable loan. The money will be used to install the new security system and as long as the shelter remains a shelter for a period of one year, they are not required to repay the money.

The one cloud in an otherwise clear sky is the shelter's distance from Iqaluit. Located in Apex, the new facility is about five kilometres away from the larger community. Hughes-Wieczorek said while it would result in less harassment from abusive partners, it could also cause problems.

"We don't have all the answers yet. We will not leave women stuck. It might take a little longer to get you out here, but we will not leave you stuck," said Hughes-Wieczorek.

She further added that a series of house meetings were scheduled for the month of July to seek input from the women who use the shelter to discuss solutions to the problem.

The shelter will move into its new location as soon as the renovations are complete.