Author: nico

The haunting, sometimes agonizing, stories of trafficked girls and women play out on stage as three wildly incompatible individuals—a social activist nun, a neurotic writer, and an out-of-work film director— grapple with how to stage a production about global sex trafficking. The trio argue, voice their doubts, and struggle with their own darkness. 

Written by Catherine Cunningham-Huston & directed by Catherine Cunningham-Huston and Kim Fournier. 

THE WALK premiered at the 2011 Ottawa Fringe Festival, where it won “Best in Venue.” An expanded version of the play was produced, again to sell-out audiences, in 2012 at Ottawa’s Natalie Stern Theatre. The play was adapted for audio in both English and French for Public Safety Canada’s TruckSTOP  Campaign and distributed in CD format to truckstops across Canada. Kelowna audiences had a sample of the show in 2016, when it was presented as a staged reading fundraiser for the Women’s Shelter.

The 2020 production will include new scenes to reflect the current trafficking of teens in Canada as well as the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. 

The show runs:

• February 19 to 23, 2020 inclusive, Wednesday through Sunday and 
• February 26 to 29, 2020 inclusive Wednesday through Saturday 

Karis Support Society will be the featured charity on Friday, February 21^st!  Please come on down and support us as a percentage from the sale of the tickets on this night will be donated to Karis.

Each performance will start at 7:30 pm, with the exception of February 23, which will be a matinee starting at 2:00 pm.  The After-Show will begin immediately following each performance. 

LOCATION: 

The Toolbox Theatre (home of Theatre Kelowna) located in the Rotary Centre for the Arts.  The After-Show is located in the Alex Fong Gallery (the hallway/display area immediately outside the theatre doors) Ticket prices are very economical at $15 students and seniors and $20 adults. 

The objective of mounting this production is to bring awareness to the issue of Human Trafficking and to highlight local and locally-based organizations which are addressing this abuse. A number of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals are targeted within the scope of this event: Goal #5 Gender Equality; #10 Reduced Inequalities; #16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities; #1 No Poverty; #3 Good Health and Well-being.

THE WALK is being produced through a partnership of  with thanks to the City of Kelowna & Dept. of Canadian Heritage.

PURCHASE TICKETS: http://trellis.org/the-walk

Carolily Charity Golf Tournament in support of Karis Support Society

VENUE: Sunset Ranch Golf & Country Club
DATE: Saturday, September 28th, 2019

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For more information & how to register:
Call: 778-552-3037
Email: info@carolily.com
https://carolilycharitygolftournament.com/

November 25^th – December 1^st, 2019

#StigmaEndsWithMe

Stigma is a significant barrier to wellness and good health for people who use substances.

This year we give voice to #StigmaEndsWithMe in order to highlight the devastating stigma associated with substance use and addiction and its impact on the well-being of people touched by this health issue.

With your help we can end stigma!  Breaking down barriers to recovery and wellness or good health is extremely important.

To donate to the our Recovery Program for Women visit https://trellis.org/national-addictions-awareness-week

Thank you to the following donors for their contribution to the renovation of our parenting room:  

Mennonite Central Committee Thrift Shop

Okanagan TELUS Community Ambassadors

Rotary Club of Kelowna

Morningside

Rotary Club of Kelowna

We’ve received a nomination in the category of Best Local Charity for #bestofkelowna 2019.   We require at least five nominations in a given category to be eligible for the voting round.  We would be honored if you would consider nominating us for Best Local Charity!

These awards highlight what we do and how we contribute to addiction and recovery services in our community.

Nominations are open until April 19^th!  Just click here to nominate us bestof.kelownanow.com/

Thank you to Carolily Finery for their incredible support this past year!  Since we met Donna and Danielle they have included us in a number of events and promotions and will be running a jewelry making workshop with our girls later this month.  

They have helped promote Karis and donated to Karis and we are so grateful for these 2 gorgeous women.   For more information on Carolily Finery visit www.carolily.com

Please join us for a fun, fabulous ladies evening to raise funds for women in recovery!  Together with Carolily Finery and Georgie Girl Vintage Clothing we’ll be hosting a vintage & retro apparel inspired fashion show featuring 6 of our gorgeous Karis participants who are all currently in our program!  Join us as we celebrate their success and journey through recovery. 
 
The event includes delicious food, drinks and fabulous inspirational guest speaker Doris Karvonen along with some amazing goodies to be won! 
 
We’ll also be showcasing a new non-profit organization called “Dress for Success Kelowna”, as they have recently launched in the Okanagan and we’d love to share with you their work in our community!  They will be working with women to empower, dress and prepare them for job interviews. 

Karis is proud to have been awarded the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Community Airtime Award, in partnership with Mr. Lube & Fresh Air Concept and Experience!

Starting in January 2018 we are looking forward to 6 months of valuable radio exposure for Karis Support Society and women in recovery.

LAUNCHING DREAMS INTO REALITY

Karis Support Society offers our participant’s recovery focused counselling, programming and support. Part of transitioning back into society is visualizing a future beyond addiction.

Launched in April 2017, the Dream Project aims to inspire, support and equip women as they move through the stages of recovery and aims to help women to live a life that is capable of so much more than they believed possible for themselves.

The Dream Project idea was introduced to Karis by Janice Taylor, founder of Mazu Family and the author of Wisdom. Soul. Startup. Janice graciously donated the proceeds from the launch of her book to Karis Support Society and her passion for helping women in recovery was ignited. At the launch event our ladies were given the opportunity to share their stories of tragedy and triumph.

Over the past year the Dream Project has facilitated and supported many of our ladies in their search for self. Our success stories include:

• Facilitating the recording of an aspiring singers original song
• Realizing one woman’s dream to speak publically about addiction where she had the opportunity to address students at KLO Middle School
• Facilitating a participants dream to take a ‘soul trip’ to Alaska
• Helping one participant to further her knowledge on caring for her autistic son by funding a course on autism
• Supporting an aspiring artist to have her own showing at Metro Community’s Red Couch Art Gallery
• Supporting a participants dream to become a fitness trainer by providing micro loans for her courses and exams

WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE DREAM PROJECT?

The Dream Project sessions involve bringing in guest speakers on topics that interest or inspire our women.

We are always looking for inspirational, educational and motivational speakers as well as a focus on caring for self. This year we would love to offer our participants experiential activities which get them out in the community, these would include things like hiking, adventure courses, boating and photography.

If you are interested in learning more about the Dream Project and how you can get involved, please contact pdouglas@karis-society.org to learn more about the program.

Areas of focus for 2 of our Aftercare ladies for 2018

• Humanitarian Trip to Nepal: Realizing C’s life-long dream to visit a children’s home in Nepal.
• Studies & Bursaries: Helping L to go back to school however she needs bursary funding to help her realize this dream.

The Dream Project by Geri Pauls, co-executive Director of Karis

 

Stephanie’s Dream

Charlene’s Dream

Over the past year the Dream Project has facilitated and supported many of our ladies in their search for self. Click for more information and how to become involved with the Dream Project.