As a women’s centre, we welcome women in the Carlington community, in all our diversity, challenges and gifts, as individuals and as community. We embrace women of all spiritual, cultural, sexual and racial backgrounds. We provide a nurturing, safe place where women can discover and flourish in their gifts, believe in their own dreams and fly with their own wings. In responding to the needs of women in this community, we want to build healthy relationships among people in a spirit of hope and healing and with a vision of holistic community.

Our Beginnings - Your Future

Linton Worrall, the Chaplain at the Carlington Community Chaplaincy, asked a group of women in the community to vision and plan a women’s centre.   The Chaplain saw the need for women of diverse backgrounds to meet, to celebrate women’s contributions and gifts, and to support one another in the community. Thus, the D.R.E.A.M.S. Centre was born.  It is a safe place where women can come to relax, have fun, talk and have a refreshment.  It is a place for women to voice their ideas and to meet one another.  The D.R.E.A.M.S. Centre is committed to hearing your dreams for your community and yourselves.   The D.R.E.A.M.S. Centre is an initiative of the Carlington Community Chaplaincy and is sponsored by the Carlington Community Chaplaincy Council.

Our Programs

Women’s Support Group

¨ Six weeks duration

¨ Ongoing

¨ Dates and times posted

Rainbow Weavers

¨ Women’s social group

¨ Wednesdays 1:30 to 3:30 pm

¨ Summer and Fall retreats

¨ Fundraising activities

¨ Field trips

¨ Crafts

¨ Community involvement in times of crisis and for special neighbourhood events, working with church groups

Dreaming Together Circle

¨ Every third Thursday 1:30 to 3:00 pm in the D.R.E.A.M.S. Centre

¨ Guest speaker in dialogue with women on a chosen topic

¨ Light snack provided

Our programs are under the leadership of an Oversight Committee.  Other educational and social programs will be offered throughout the year depending on community needs or wishes.  The D.R.E.A.M.S. Centre embraces a feminist model towards empowerment.  This is a community-led approach and every woman has a voice.  The D.R.E.A.M.S. Centre Oversight Committee, with the Chaplain, consults with other service providers to augment support.  We want to celebrate women in this community and discover who we are together!  The success of the D.R.E.A.M.S. Centre depends on you and your ideas.

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer ; it sings because it has a song.” Maya Angelou

“Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done, arms to hold us when we falter, a circle of healing, a circle of friends, someplace where we can be free.” Starhawk