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About Us
Land Acknowledgement
Bryony House (HTHA/Halifax Transition House Association) acknowledges that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People and pay respect to the Indigenous knowledge held by the Mi’kmaq People, and to the wisdom of their Elders past, present and future.
At Bryony House, we understand that we are all treaty people and bear responsibilities accordingly. We recognize that acknowledgement is hollow without corresponding action. We are committed to reconciliation in all of our approaches, seizing every opportunity to reflect, ask questions, and seek guidance and direction from our relationship with Mi’kmaw knowledge keepers. We uphold trauma informed practices that acknowledge the generational trauma experienced by many Indigenous folks and their families who seek our services. We are devoted to fostering ongoing education among our staff members and actively pursuing avenues to support those we serve.
We also acknowledge that people of African descent have been in Nova Scotia for over 400 years, and we honor and offer gratitude to those ancestors of African descent who came before us to this land.
Who We Are
Bryony House is a 24-room shelter. Each year, approximately 500 individuals and their children stay with us and 2,500 distress calls are answered. Our dedicated counselors answer the 24-hour distress line, provide individual/group support, public education, advocacy and referrals. An important part of our work is to break the cycle of violence. Those who contact us come from many walks of life, socio-economic classes and cultural backgrounds. What they have in common is that they are in, or are fleeing, an intimate partner violence (IPV) relationship. Today, we continue to provide transitional supports and services that strengthen our community, educate the public and empower individuals to live a life free from violence.
Vison, Mission and Values
Vision
- Thriving communities free of intimate partner violence
- Diversity and Inclusivity
- Integrity, Accountability, and trust
- Safety
Mission
- To provide a safe haven for those and their children experiencing intimate partner violence
Values
- Dignity and respect
- Empowerment, empathy, compassion
Our History
Before the mid-1970s, formal services for those experiencing violence and their children did not exist in Halifax. A group of dedicated individuals came together to explore the possibility of formalized supports and services, resulting in a study on women leaving abuse. The results showed the extent of abuse in which they and their children were living and recognized the lack of available resources in the community. This group formed the Halifax Transition House Association and opened Bryony House in 1978, the first – and still only – transition house in the Halifax Regional Municipality, whose sole mandate is to help those affected by intimate partner violence. Over the years, 12 new transition houses were established. The transition houses then worked to create the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS).
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors provides strategic direction and establishes the governance of HTHA. The Board is composed of volunteers with a range of skills and lived experiences. Board members are elected at the Annual General Meeting by the voting members of the society. Interested in becoming a member of the board of directors, email [email protected] for more information.
Join our board
HTHA is seeking individuals from the Halifax Regional Municipality who are interested in serving on our volunteer Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is a governance board which meets once a month in Dartmouth. Progressive and committed to demonstrating all aspects of diversity, the Board is currently seeking socially conscious individuals with a passion for event planning, building community relationships, marketing and raising social awareness through various methods. Additional non-profit, governance, and union experience is considered an asset however not mandatory. We are open to all candidates who are willing to dedicate their time. If interested, we welcome you to join our critical work supporting survivors of IPV.
Requirements of board membership include:
- Commitment to the work of the organization – must know the vision, mission and mandate of the organization.
- Understanding and support of the governance model
- Willingness to serve on at least one (1) committee
- Attendance at monthly meetings (10 months)
- Attendance at the Annual General Meeting in June
- Attendance at any other general meetings called
- Support of and participation in any fundraising events
