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Ann de Ste Croix is using her IDS degree to address violence against women in Nova Scotia

Ann de Ste Croix (MA IDS 2022) is the Provincial Coordinator of the Transition House Association of NS (THANS). THANS is an umbrella organization of Violence Against Women (VAW) shelters across NS, Including two Mi鈥檏maq Healing Centres. THANS鈥� objective is to stop violence against women in Nova Scotia. They provide a 24/7 communal shelter, crisis lines, advocacy and court accompaniment and counselling and outreach services.

听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭he reason that it is called a 鈥榯ransition home鈥� is because our goal is to give women and children an 鈥榠n-between鈥� place to set themselves up for a better life, to be able to move forward,鈥� Ste Croix explains. THANS also helps women to find employment. 听

鈥淲e really do provide what we call 鈥榳rap-around services鈥欌�� we鈥檙e more than just a bed.鈥� says Ste Croix.

THANS recently set up a project to collect used cellphones for victims of domestic violence so that they could access help. 听鈥淭here was a lot of attention and interest鈥� Ste Croix explains , 鈥淲e probably received 50 used cellphones. People were calling and asking how they could be of help by giving the organization anything else that they need. It made me realize that people do want to help. Once they are made aware of these issues 鈥� they want to do something about it.鈥�

Ste Croix is originally from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She graduated in May 2022 with her Master鈥檚 Degree in International Development Studies from Dalhousie after receiving her Undergraduate Degree from Acadia.

Ste Croix reflects on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on herself and others. 听She took a leave of absence early in the pandemic after completing her Master鈥檚 degree鈥檚 coursework, 鈥淭hat time was heavy for everyone. However, Once COVID happened, it put things into perspective for me and I completely changed thesis topics.鈥�

Ste Croix originally planned to write her thesis about the US-Mexican border. However, the experience of the pandemic led her to switch her focus to the effects of COVID-19 conspiracy theories on public health administration. 听That research now informs her work at THANS. 听

鈥淗aving had that research background and seeing how a social phenomenon can have very real and tangible effects on public health鈥� because women were forced to lock down at home with their abusers and domestic violence rates did go up. So, yes, I do think my background at Dalhousie was a big part of getting this position.鈥�

听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淚t was a very positive experience for me,鈥� Ste Croix answers after being asked about the process of researching and writing her MA thesis.

Ste Croix is extremely grateful for the support of her supervisor, Professor Ajay Parasram. 听鈥淗e was really able to encourage me even with everything going on, to stick to my thesis and get it done.

鈥淲ith how small the [IDS] department is, you certainly have a sense of community and get to know your professors. I was able to have that connection with everyone in the department, despite Dalhousie being such a big university.鈥�

听听听听听听听听听听听 Ste Croix also notes how her IDS degree at Dalhousie honed her creative writing and critical thinking skills 鈥� which have helped her in countless situations. 鈥淗aving that background in government and policy that you get when you go through your IDS degree is super helpful if that is the route you want to pursue. Even if not, those softer skills like writing well (for policies and grant proposals) that you learn are extremely helpful for the workplace.鈥�

Ste Croix was raised as a feminist and feels very passionately about women鈥檚 rights and issues, gender inequalities and animal rights. 听

听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淚 thought if I can work for a women鈥檚 or animal鈥檚 organization, I would be super happy. Then I was able to land this position at THANS, and it worked out really well.鈥�

Although Ste Croix only started working at THANS in December 2021, she already has some exciting professional highlights. 听She recalls being interviewed by BBC in January 2022 for a feature on 鈥淒omestic violence, rural N.S. and how transition houses remain a crucial lifeline for women.鈥� She is also engaged in advocacy, including work by THANS on to publish a policy brief on Intimate Partner Violence with the Metro Inter-Agency on Family Violence Committee. 鈥�

鈥淚 will also just say that there is such a strong network in HRM and province-wide of people in our sector and the non-profit community. So, it has been such a pleasure just getting to know those people and the organizations and learning about the work that has been done already.鈥�

Her advice for IDS students is 鈥渢o be open to different possibilities. Because the IDS degree has so many applications, keep an open mind about what you can do with it. 听

I know it can be overwhelming, especially when you thought what you could be doing isn鈥檛 exactly what are you doing. But sometimes, that is how you find your perfect fit. Keep an open mind and explore those opportunities.鈥�

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