Nancy Smith retires from Interval House

Nancy Smith, the executive director of Interval House of Hamilton has retired after nearly 25 years at the west Mountain shelter.

She was appointed executive director in 2015.

“It’s time,” said the 62-year-old Smith, who plans to spend more time on her golf game and looking after the family home. “It’s wonderful to pass the baton to (new executive director Sue Taylor) who is an incredible leader in her own.”

Under Smith’s leadership, Interval House has grown from being a shelter (now known as Victoria and Friends Women’s Shelter) for women and children fleeing domestic abuse, to offering a variety of community-based programs aimed at stopping gender-based violence.

Those programs include Jared’s Place, Women’s Centre of Hamilton, Flamborough Women’s Shelter and the MentorAction — Be More Than A Bystander program that has recruited male leaders and partnered with several Hamilton sports teams and organizations including the Tiger-Cats, Bulldogs, and McMaster University.

Smith said the 26-bed shelter (22 beds and four overflow beds) is almost always at or over capacity.

“What we’re also seeing is really an increase in the severity and frequency of abuse in our community,” Smith said.

Among the reasons for the increase is greater awareness in the community about gender-based violence, the support services that are out there for victims, plus changes to legislation surrounding children’s welfare and other factors.