Angel’s Corner was unveiled Wednesday afternoon. The site was created by the Big Country Anti Violence Association (BCAVA) to be a place of quiet reflection. At the ribbon cutting are (l-r) BCAVA members Diana Rowe, Cora Bolt, Marian Ewing, BCAVA president Cindy Stelmaschuk, Deputy Mayor Tara McMillan, and BCAVA members Kristi Donison and Brandy Reid.
After 2 years of planning, fundraising, dreaming and hard work, The Big Country Anti Violence Association’s (BCAVA) Angel’s Corner was realized.
The garden with seating to serve a quiet place of reflection in dedication of victims of violence was unveiled Wednesday afternoon. A Colour Guard from the Drumheller Institution and the RCMP in Red Serge attended, as did representation from the Town of Drumheller and other groups and organizations that contributed to the project.
“It is just such a wonderful experience, there was a small group that made it happen and pulled it all together and it brought everybody very close,” said BCAVA president Cindy Stemaschuk. “It is place where people can go to sit and reflect. They can be victims of violence or perhaps perpetrators of violence and just need a quiet spot to sit and think, maybe heal. It also lets the community know Drumheller’s a community that does not like domestic violence and we support our victims.”
She explained that two years ago after a trip to Newfoundland, BCAVA member Cora Bolt brought the vision forward after visiting an Angel’s Corner in St. John’s.
“She challenged us as a committee to establish the same type of site for our community,” said Stemaschuk.
“This site that we are celebrating today is the result of our community standing behind us, supporting us with donations, with men walking in high heels for us, folks listening to us as we spoke to various group meetings, various groups reading our request for funding, explaining our goal and a very small dedicated group of individuals in our committee who were determined to make this happen.”
She adds this is phase one of the site and they are planning to add more amenities in the future.
