EVAW

     E.V.A.W. (Ending Violence Against Women) is the brainchild of founder Anna Zanella who determined a need for a service to provide safe rides along highway 16 in an effort to address what is known as the Highway of Tears. Her vision coincided with the Province of British Columbia who also proposed a concept of a transit system that could be affordable to everyone at a cost of $5.00 per seat one way between communities. Prior to this Anna and the Friendship House staff had joined with the Manitoba Walkers for the final leg of their journey into Prince Rupert. The Walkers had started this journey along highway 16 to bring awareness to the disappearance of women over the past years along this route. She then provided a presentation of E.V.A.W. to the North Coast Transition Society in Vancouver. Along with a grant from the Ministry of Transportation E.V.A.W. had purchased it's first transportation vehicle, then started "safe rides" between Prince Rupert and Terrace early on in 2018.