OLDS — Ground was officially broken in Olds Wednesday for an emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children in the Mountain View County area and nearby communities.
The shelter, located on land made available by the Town of Olds, is expected to be completed by about November, or December at the latest, Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society president Joe Carignan told the Albertan.
The building will be named Kirsten’s Place in honour of Kirsten (Gardiner) O’Donohue, who was murdered in her Bowden residence in 2021. Family believe her death was a case of domestic violence.
The first-degree murder trial of the man accused in the killing is expected to start this month.
Several members of her family were present for the proceedings. Brian Gardiner, Kirsten’s father, stepped forward to be the general contractor for the building project.
Efforts to create and fundraise for the emergency shelter date back about 15 years.
A total of roughly $1 million has been raised for the project. Carignan said the province has provided $125,000 and at least another $250,000 or so has been raised in the community through donations, radiothons and other efforts.
Hundreds of people came out for the May 1 event during a very snowy day, huddled in tents and warm clothing as several speakers addressed the crowd.
Those speakers included Carignan, Mayor Judy Dahl, society employees and Elder John Sinclair, who blessed the event and its participants.
When all the speeches were concluded, Shane Webb of Webb’s Excavating dug the first dirt with a backhoe.
Carignan says enough money has been raised to construct the building, but fundraising will still have to be done for things like furniture, fencing and security.
In an emotional speech, Carignan thanked all those who made the building project possible.
“It takes a village to raise a child and a community to help someone when they need support. Mountain View County is that community to do that,” he said.
