Announcing ACWS’ New Executive Director, Cat Champagne

Edmonton, Alberta, October 7, 2024 – The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters is proud to welcome our new Executive Director, Cat Champagne, following an extensive executive search. 

“I am thrilled as the new Board President to welcome Cat to ACWS”, says ACWS Board President Sandy Vander Ziel, “she is the ideal candidate for this position, and we are excited to work with her to continue furthering ACWS’ goals and mission.” 

Champagne joins a dedicated team and will continue to build the organization’s advocacy to end domestic and gender-based violence. Her strong leadership skills will contribute to the ongoing work of the organization as well as advocacy for ACWS members and the sector. 

Hailing from Southern Alberta, Champagne is an experienced Shelter Director who has supported survivors of domestic and gender-based violence as well as led collaborative rural and urban housing initiatives to secure safe housing options for survivors and their children. At Safe Haven Women’s Shelter Society and YWCA Lethbridge & District, she excelled at public and government relations, policy development, and fund development, including securing capital funds. She found success working collaboratively to secure financial supports for survivors at all phases of their journey.  

Champagne has extensive experience in the justice system helping survivors and their families navigate multiple levels of court. Her roles as a provincial instructor for Alberta Justice as well as manual developer honed her expertise in family law.  

Cat Champagne brings energy and enthusiasm to help solve the complex barriers survivors of domestic violence navigate. Her time supporting rural and urban service providers gives her a broad view of the sector and survivor experiences across Alberta. Champagne’s work serving people with disabilities, who experience a disproportional amount of domestic violence, has expanded her understanding of services, options and opportunities for survivors with disabilities as well as cemented her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion practices. 

“Cat brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to ACWS,” says Jan Reimer, former Executive Director, “I’m confident that she will be an effective leader to advocate for and raise the profile of our members and the issue of domestic violence and to drive change.” She thanks the many members and partners she has worked with over the years and knows Cat will be warmly welcomed. Reimer will continue to support Champagne and the organization in her new role as executive advisor.

We thank Jan for her long-time advocacy for Alberta’s domestic violence shelters and 23 years of service to the sector as ACWS’ Executive Director.  

For Media Inquiries:

Contact: Chantal Cooknell 

Email: chantal.cooknell@acws.ca 

Phone number: (587) 686-5855 

About ACWS

ACWS is the provincial network organization of domestic violence shelters in Alberta. We bring over four decades of experience and knowledge to serve our 41 members operating over 50 shelters across the province for women, their children, and seniors facing domestic abuse. We advocate for ACWS members and work with them to end domestic violence through culture-shifting violence prevention programs, collective data and research, and front-line training. With support from ACWS, Alberta shelters are helping to provide safety, support families, and improve communities.