Our Awards

2017

Literacy Innovation Award 2017

In the Fall of 2017, ABC Life Literacy awarded WISH’s Learning Centre honourable mention in the national Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award! WISH Executive Director, Mebrat Beyene and WISH Learning Centre Coordinator and Capilano University Instructor, Betsy Alkenbrack traveled to Toronto to receive the award on behalf of WISH.
For 17 years, the Learning Centre, in partnership with Capilano University, has done innovative peer-driven work with women in the DTES. This award recognizes this innovative work, including one-on-one supports, widely shared research projects produced over the years.

2012

WISH: A Charity Intelligence Top Pick for 2012 and 2011!

For the second year in a row, Charity Intelligence has selected the WISH Drop-In Centre Society as a Top Pick.

“Charity Intelligence is pleased to announce that the WISH has been selected as a Ci Top Pick Charity 2012. WISH excels in addressing important community issues in the DTES and has a track record of producing outstanding results for Canadians in need. Our picks were selected from an initial pool of almost 250 charity contacts.

“Once again, we thank you for your efforts and for participating in Ci’s 2012 search for charitable excellence. Keep up the amazing work that you do. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with WISH”.

Nancy Self, December , 2012

“Charity Intelligence is most pleased to announce that the WISH Drop-In Centre Society has been selected as a CI Top Pick Charity 2011. The WISH Drop-in Centre Society excels in addressing a social issue, is cost efficient, and most importantly, has a track record of producing outstanding results for Canadians in need.”
Bri Trypuc, December 7, 2011

Want to read the whole reports and learn more about the rigorous review process used by Charity Intelligence to evaluate Canadian charities nationally? Visit their website.

2011

Crime Prevention and Community Safety Award 2011

In November 2011 the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General named WISH as a recipient of the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Award for a Community Organization “for exemplary leadership in developing and supporting initiatives that promote safe communities in British Columbia”. WISH was nominated for this award by the VPD in recognition of the Peer Safety Patrol, a group of women who attend WISH and who are trained and employed to maintain the safety of the block adjacent to the WISH Drop-In Centre and undertake outreach in the community.

Past

Past Awards and Funding

In November 2003, WISH was the proud recipient of the Vancity $1 million Award. This award was made to WISH to enable our organization to establish the WISH Wellness Centre, a 24/7 facility for women working in survival sex. The centre will include relevant programming, a primary health clinic, meeting space for other organizations serving women as well as for women’s groups within the community.

In 2004, BC PWA – BC Persons With Aids – honoured WISH with their “Above and Beyond” Award for the work that WISH does for women who are both infected and affected by AIDS. WISH was nominated for this award based on the focus of health and safety for women working in the sex trade and particularly the service of hot meals six nights a week to women who frequently have compromised immune systems. It was truly a privilege to be nominated and chosen for this award.

The Innovative Community Development Award was given WISH by BC Healthy Living Alliance in 2009 for the WISH Food Program.