'She definitely would be proud': Olds breaks ground on domestic violence shelter named after young mother
A new emergency shelter for women and children broke ground in Olds, Alta. on Tuesday, named in honour of a young mother who was killed in a case of alleged domestic violence.
Kirsten’s Place will provide a safe escape for those fleeing domestic violence and pays homage to Kirsten O’Donoghue, who was a 25-year-old mother of two-year-old twin boys.
She was found dead in a Bowden apartment in March 2021.
Ross Arran McInnes, 27, O’Donoghue’s boyfriend, was charged with first-degree murder in her death. The charge has not been proven in court.
The case returns to court for jury selection on May 9.
“It means a lot to my family,” said Brian Gardner, O’Donoghue’s father. “It’s difficult every day, but we’re working through it.”
Kirsten O’Donoghue was a 25-year-old mother of two-year-old twin boys. (Supplied)
Despite heavy snowfall, there was a big turnout for the ground-breaking ceremony, including O’Donoghue’s parents, step-parents, twin sister and nine other siblings.
“The weather is probably Kirsten I’d say, she’s always made things difficult,” joked her father. “She loved the snow.”
Her mother, Christina Ramage, described her daughter as bubbly and outgoing.
“Kind of quirky, she didn’t really care what anyone thought of her. She definitely would be proud this was happening in her name,” she said.
According to Joe Charigan, president of the Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society, Kirsten’s Place will have six rooms and be the first emergency shelter for women in the county, which is located between Calgary and Red Deer.
“The need is huge. We have one outreach worker and one program worker and in 2023 they dealt with 212 clients in Mountain View County and had 48 people attend their programs,” he said.
Charigan says demand for support around those fleeing domestic violence has increased more than 200 per cent in the area since before the pandemic.
“It’s definitely very well-needed at this time. If we do have people we take them to other shelters but they don’t have supports there (like) their family and their kids don’t go to school so, they end up going back," he said.
The town of Olds donated the portion of land the shelter will be built and the province contributed $125,000, but the majority of the million dollars raised came from the community.
“A lot of people knew Kirsten, they grew up with her, played sports with her, so there is a lot of local knowledge and understanding,’ said Charigan.
The family says the shelter will act as a lasting memorial and hopes it encourages other women to seek help.
“Just trying to help other families. To have a place to go,” said Gardner.
“I think for most women they can easily hide because they are ashamed. There is definitely a stigma that needs to be stopped,” said Ramage.
“There is always someone that will help, all you need to do is just say, reach out, tell somebody.”
Kirsten’s Place is set to open and begin accepting clients this fall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PWHL Minnesota defeats Boston to win inaugural Walter Cup
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.