New shelter opens in Selkirk for women and children

A new emergency shelter for women and children has officially opened in Selkirk.

Nova House emergency shelter is the new safe place in Selkirk to escape domestic violence. The new building replaces an older facility in Selkirk.

"It's the first shelter of it's kind in Manitoba," said Executive Director Anna Pazdzierski. "[It] combines emergency shelter services for victims of family violence, and second stage housing services for women and children who are fleeing family violence."

The building officially opened on Wednesday, June 28 and has 22 emergency shelter beds and four apartment units.

"We are able to accommodate more women and children," Pazdzierski said. "We're also able to do groups and a lot more outreach and follow up."

Nova House wants to continue offering the best services possible to women and children, and men in a different location.

"Violence should not be happening in 2017," Pazdzierski said.