Justice gets more accessible for women in the Sea to Sky corridor on International Women's Day Tuesday (March 8).
Research conducted by the Howe Sound Women's Centre showed that low-income women in the Howe Sound corridor are in serious need since provincial cutbacks forced the closing of Squamish's courthouse and legal aid office in 2001.
And there is hope that a new legal clinic for women about to open this week will soon lead to a broader clinic for men of low income.
Status of Women Canada, the 樱桃视频Community Foundation and the United Way funded research that resulted in strong recommendations for legal services.
"We spoke with many service providers in town and we interviewed women's rural organizations all over B.C. and we spoke with women who were having custody and access situations in town," said the centre's Karen Clarke. "It was a recommendation from everyone involved in the research."
The Women's Centre has partnered with the Western Canada Society to Access Justice to create a free legal clinic for low-income women. Starting Thursday (March 10) the centre, located at 38116 Loggers Land, will host the clinic every Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. Two local lawyers will donate their time to give half-hour consultation sessions on civil and family law issues.
Although lawyers will not represent clients in court, they will help with self-representation and a host of other legal needs that have been difficult to meet since the loss of Squamish's courthouse and other legal services.
"Right now people have to go down to North Vancouver, there are a couple of legal clinics down there," said Clarke. "Women who have kids to look after and low incomes are finding it really difficult to travel back and forth."
Although currently limited to women, the centre is applying for grants from the Law Foundation of B.C. for a community clinic for men and women. Clarke said she expects to the clinic to get busy fast.
"Any other legal clinic I've ever heard of is inundated with people and they can't even handle all the cases that they have. So I have a feeling once it catches on that there is one in town it will be very busy."
The clinic's grand opening will be held March 8 in conjunction with International Women's Day. 樱桃视频councillor Sonja Lebans will cut the ribbon at 12:30 p.m. and an open house and potluck will be held from noon to 4 p.m. The sessions begin Thursday (March 10) by appointment only. To book an appointment, call the Howe Sound Women's Centre at 604 892-5748.
