'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
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Toronto eliminated from PWHL playoffs
Toronto has been eliminated from the PWHL playoffs.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.