Our Story
Helen Burnham and Virginia Giles know all too well the unique challenges women face when battling drug and alcohol addiction. The pair met on their path to recovery from alcoholism, sharing the shame and guilt they felt about their addiction, and an understanding of how lonely and challenging recovery can be as a woman.
They both realized that having a safe space for women to connect and support each other was a key part of the path to addiction recovery. The only problem was, a space like this didn’t exist.
Helen and Virginia decided to take action. In 1990, they opened the first Avalon Women’s Centre in Vancouver. It was a warm, inviting space for women to share their stories, free of judgement and with others who had been there before. It was a beacon of hope for women around the Lower Mainland, who travelled from far and wide to attend.
The demand for the centres grew, and in 1997 the Avalon Women’s Centre in the North Shore opened, followed by the Avalon Women’s Centre in White Rock in 2012.
Today, these drop-in centres and meeting spaces help hundreds of women each month on the road to recovery. They provide compassionate, caring and safe spaces where women can heal themselves, and in turn, one another.
Virginia Giles & Helen Burnham
Founders of Avalon Recovery Society
Our Purpose, Vision, and Mission
Our Purpose
Avalon is a nurturing community that offers hope, compassionate support, resources and profound connections for women with lived experience of addiction and trauma. Our programs and services are accessible to anyone who identifies and lives full-time as a woman, trans-inclusive.
Our Mission
We create community for women with lived experience of addiction and trauma, empowering them to thrive. We do this by:
- Accepting women at any place on their journey
- Encouraging self-awareness, change and growth
- Enabling self-care
- Demonstrating integrity, accountability, honesty and respect
- Being an enduring presence in women’s lives
- Ensuring our services are accessible to all women
The Birch Tree
Birch Tree at Avalon Women’s Centre North Shore
In Celtic mythology, the birch tree symbolizes healing, protection, and renewal.
The symbol of the birch tree is at the heart of our organization, represented in our logo and depicted in beautiful murals on the walls of each of our centres.
Our Board of Directors
Avalon Recovery Society is governed by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors.
Valerie Olafson
Director
Retired Teacher
Directors Emeritus
Helen Burnham, OBC
Co-Founder
Membership
Avalon Recovery Society offers all of its services and programs at no cost, however individuals can choose to become Avalon Recovery Society Members and enhance their involvement in the organization.
Avalon Recovery Society Members:
- Ensure Board of Directors are elected volunteers
- Are invited to participate in Avalon Recovery Society’s Annual General Meeting
- Have an opportunity to review financial statements
- Receive invitations to all Avalon Recovery Society events
Membership cost is an annual fee of $10.
