PRE VLSCS Herstory

    The first meeting took place in 1985 at the home of Sandy McLellan and Jacquie Denage.
    The vision was to provide assistance to lesbians who might need care in their homes or eventually in some type of care setting. Our original group discussed support in the form of grocery shopping, housekeeping and/or home care either for temporary illness or disability or permanent issues. We also discussed providing an advocacy role for lesbians in mainstream facilities or using mainstream resources including hospital care.
    Our concerns were to provide care for lesbians in a setting that acknowledged who they were and to ensure that partners could remain together if one or both should need care. We created the Oldtimer's Dance to raise money for this project.   ...Sandy McLellan

THE GALA
    Began in the lesbian-feminist experience of the Status of Women Action Group. As a response to another complaint about “those lesbians”, Jan Brookstone came up with the idea of a dressy, elegant display of lesbian presence, a public statement that SWAG included and supported lesbians in Victoria in 1987.
    The Hot Flashes Coffee Collective, ( Debby Yaffe, Wendy Anthony, Elizabeth Duff, Cheryl Lassey, Sharon Wilkinson, Jean Caha, Tamara, Tanya Anderson) & many cohorts organized a formal, elegant evening of entertainment, dining and dancing for lesbians.
    The Crystal Gardens was the venue for 13 years until the organizers burned out on the setting up, decorating & clean up. Three different caterers were used over that time & live entertainment included a comedian, musicians like Heather Bishop, Lucie Blue, & a play by Lynn Greenough.
    In 2000 the Gala was bequeathed to VLSCS along with $2000 seed money to continue and promote the event.
The Gala moved to the Ocean Pointe Hotel in 2000 to accommodate a growing crowd & the hope of less effort.
    Discussion continues to ebb and flow around issues of cost, accessibility and general political correctness. The evening has not yet been a fund-raiser, in the days of live entertainment it sometimes did not break even. ( not true? - comments gala brought in $1500)
    In 2006 an anonymous donor provided money to cover the costs for a number of lesbians of lesser means who wished to attend.
    In 2007 VLSCS presented the 20th Annual Gala in at Harbour Towers Hotel and Suites.

HERSTORY  - 1994 Onward
&    December 12, 1994 VLSCS was born as a Society with the stated for government purpose, “To enable senior lesbians to live active and meaningful lives through the establishment of housing with various levels of support and community support network”.

FIRST A.G.M - JUNE 1, 1995

MEMBERS ATTENDING
Jacquie Denage - Donna Cameron - Sandy Mclellan - Lynn Murray - Steffan Carson - Diane Samolesky - Karen Gallagher - Toni Mercer - Milnor Alexander - Robin Durkin - Braude - Clarice Dillman - Sally Hamill - Kelevelyn Hurley - Sharon Wilkinson - Reva Hutkin - Tanya Anderson - Margaret Trenchard - Jenny Leary - Heather Young - Elaine Lewis - Donna Vogrig - Elaine McCague - Constance Jansma

    A major focus in the early years was the purchase or building of a house for 6 – 9 senior or disabled lesbians. Over twenty properties were considered and housing options explored. Lesbians and Aging: Housing and Services for Senior Lesbians, a Needs Assessment Survey was done by Helen Durie in 1996. The survey showed that the mostly 40 year old respondents saw a need in the future for lesbian-only elder housing while elder lesbians preferred independent home support. Home support service was happening on a small scale ad hoc basis. A Housing Information Network, also occurring on an informal basis, was suggested. The report is well-worth reading in its entirety and is appended. Avenues of government funding were explored. The Community Housing Initiatives grant was applied for and ---??---.

1998 brought the excitement of an invitation to apply to SOW (Society of Old Women) for a $42, 000 legacy endowment for lesbian housing. The excitement collapsed with the decision a more rural setting than Victoria was wanted.
    The dream of a HOME has been let go; burn out on fund-raising, legalities, changes in government support for co-op housing and rising real estate costs all contributed to a drastic change in focus. As well, investigation of local, existing facilities and resources showed what was needed was the acceptance & celebration of lesbian ties/family/culture in the wider community.

2000 - Lois Moon develops and maintains first VLSCS website.

2004 - Focus Group held at Fairfield Community Center.       A new logo was designed by Deb Pinard.  Also, www.vlscs.ca was launched, an interactive content management portal, a home on the web for members and the wider community, development by Cody Gregory.

2007 - Memberships : 77 

20th Annual GALA!  Held at Harbour Towers.  This one was special.  View some pics here.

Health Fund: This fund is an important member benefit. The Health Fund provides reimbursement to VLSCS members who live in Greater Victoria and the lower Gulf Islands, for the cost of products and services and for health related concerns not subsidized by other resources.
A designated amount of proceeds from the GALA and other fund-raising efforts go directly towards our Health Fund.

Wednesday Coffee Group: .... 11am JBNH

Fri. Nites: Events which provide informal, safe meeting space for lesbians in Victoria.  Movie Nights, Special Events including Craft Fairs, Open Mic Night, and Murder Mystery.
55+ Group: An ad hoc group of older lesbians which gets together for brunches, walks, pride celebrations and activities including dances, organized by members.

Initiatory year for the Rainbow Ribbon Award: The Rainbow Awards are a way of recognizing those women or organizations who enhance lesbian health and well-being in the Greater Victoria area.  Three Awards were presented at the 20th Annual GALA.

2008 -  Memberships today: 100