E Fry Sask: helping women in conflict with the law
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Testimonials

Donna S | Unsigned



Resident at WCTR: Donna Sanderson

"Today, I am very fortunate to be in WCTR. The opportunities that this place has given me are as follows:

  • The freedom to go out in the community, the constant Life Cheerleaders, better known as Staff.
  • To be able to lock the bathroom door and not have to worry about a guard coming in to check on me.
  • The privacy of my own space, my own room and a key to lock the door, not a key to lock me in.
  • Choices, this is a big one. If I choose to go against the support I receive, the repercussions are mine and mine alone.


    • The one thing that I truly enjoy about living here is my biweekly visits with my 6 year old daughter Misty Rose, and for this I owe an immense amount of gratitude as well as thanks to not only the staff but to the Residents as well. My child is very important to me and to have this amount of patience, with not only me but to my daughter, acceptance, love and support will be a cherished memory.

    This place has helped me to better myself, and its place in the Justice System is clearly needed. It will however be not a perfect place, but really which place is? It does however, give women like myself, a safe environment for us to learn and grow from, therefore be in the position to contribute in a more healthier frame of mind and to also be a functional parent as well as a human being in society as a whole."




    Resident at WCTR: unsigned

    "I've been in the system for 13 years so coming out here was a big culture shock. I couldn't believe the lack of rules, everything was so free and relaxed that you wondered what the heck's going on. I think what really helped me was trust between the staff and myself. I didn't trust anyone when I got here, so if I was feeling down I just tried to handle it on my own. This changed when I was able to see the staff here are not federal guards. I finally took the risk and trusted them, and they kept reassuring me that what I was feeling was absolutely normal, like my fear of going out on my own. I try to be really aware of my surroundings now and take notice of what's going on. CTR helped me to integrate and get rid of the institutionalized mentality I had.

    I found out I had a brain and was smart. I could do university classes, crafts, beadwork, sewing, making blankets. What's been really helpful for me is to be able to tell how it really is instead of sugar coating and saying I'm fine when I'm not. So I tell the staff everything now, good and bad. Staff here have helped me so much, they've given me confidence and helped me to stand on my own two feet by helping me to learn to trust in myself. They did this by gently pushing me and encouraging me to do things like getting my learners. I hope to get my full license soon then I can be a volunteer and drive people to where they have to go. Everything I have now has been given to me either by staff or a volunteer. A staff's mother has rented me her basement suite in her house so I have a palace to live in instead of a slum.

    My long term goal is to save enough money for a down payment on my own home and have my 7 year old daughter out of foster care and living with me full time. I have a full time job now so I think these goals are realistic for when I get out of here."