portrayed in the media. Upon completion, Carvalho and her husband packed up and headed to the west coast. They settled in Vancouver where her passion for women’s issues resurfaced.
“I worked with women and children who had been affected directly by family violence and were rebuilding their lives. I worked there for quite a few years before we moved here in 1999.”
Before joining the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society Carvalho spent about six years working as a case manager at Southeast Alberta Child and Family Services — working again with a vulnerable demographic.
Natasha Carvalho, executive director of Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Society, is a voice for women and children in the community who have been affected by family violence.
Rebuilding
shattered lives Local feminist works tirelessly to end family violence
By STACEY LEE
Before a community can liberate its most vulnerable population it needs to put a fierce feminist in charge of the effort and the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society chose Natasha Carvalho.
Carvalho is the Executive Director of the Women’s Shelter and has been helping provide battered or abused women and children a safe place to heal. Her job is difficult but there are few as tenacious and determined as Carvalho to eradicate ignorance and prevent family violence.
Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Carvalho immigrated to Canada with her parents. Growing up in Winnipeg she knew she wanted to help people but wasn’t sure exactly how.
“While I was growing up I frequently volunteered to work on a crisis hotline for women. Even then I felt a call to get involved with vulnerable populations. Did I know I was destined to be a social worker? I am not sure, but that is definitely where I was heading.”
After graduating high school, Carvalho earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Manitoba before moving to Montreal
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where she attended Concordia University’s Simone de Beauvoir Institute. There she delved into women’s studies and issues.
“I was there when the ‘Montreal Massacre’ took place,” she says. “I was President of the Women’s Studies Association and that day was pivotal for me. I realized those women had been murdered simply because they were feminists like myself, because they were women who wanted to accomplish something. I was raised to believe I could do anything I wanted and I woke up to the imbalance of power, which reaffirmed my interest in women’s issues.”
Carvalho says her parents instilled in her a desire for higher education, the will to get out into the world, a need to support herself, told her never to change her name and warned her against becoming dependent upon a man.
“I’ve done all of those things,” she says.
After returning to Winnipeg, Carvalho began work on her Master’s Degree researching the social construction of menstruation and how it has been
“It was a good time to make a change,” Carvalho says. “This position is my dream job. I get to wear so many different hats. I get to be a feminist and work for the rights and equality of women and children. I get to pursue my passion — the belief that women and children should never be abused. And, I get to help my staff realize their passion for this work.”
The mother of two daughters, Carvalho stands at the helm of the Women’s Shelter. Holding a psychology degree gives her a unique ability to guide women through difficult parts of their lives and mentor staff.
“I don’t necessarily think I am more compassionate or empathetic but I do understand a bit more than most,” she says. “When I talk with women in distress I try to emphasize I am in a healthy, safe relationship. I want them to understand family violence has nothing to do with who deserves it or who doesn’t.”
Alternatively Carvalho spends a fair amount of time helping the larger community understand the plight of those whose bodies are battered or whose wills have been broken. It is, in fact, her business.
The Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society provides far more than just a temporary shelter. It is a safe and supportive environment. A 24-hour Crisis Line (403-529-1091 or 1-800-661-7949) is always available. When the phone rings someone will answer — ready to listen, offer their shoulder and provide helpful information.
“We have calls coming in all the time,” says Carvalho. “We have two staff at all times and last year (2011-12) we received 1,400 crisis calls equal to 34,000 minutes. Think about what it must be like to have to call a 1-800 number to find someone who understands you.”
She says the crisis line receives a lot of “rural calls” because those women, in particular, feel isolated. Unfortunately family violence is a reality in every community. Although many believe this quiet city of about 60,000 to be safe and inviting dozens of women and children successfully escape violent situations each year.
“We have a purpose built shelter downtown. It is quite nice and has a lot of faces,” Carvalho says. “Phoenix Safe House was an 11-bed shelter (11 staff) but since I started we’ve grown to 24 beds
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