(Safe Harbour Society)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

kath hoffman

Safe Harbour Society’s long-time captain to retire this summer

Apr 13, 2024 | 10:59 AM

It’s almost the end of an era at Red Deer’s Safe Harbour Society.

The organization, which has long been a beacon for the city’s most vulnerable, announced this week that long-time executive director Kath Hoffman will be retiring this August.

Hoffman says she’ll have more thoughts to share closer to her final day, but for now, Safe Harbour has shared a heartfelt message on its Facebook page.

“After almost 30 years of endless compassion, patience, and dedicated service to support people experiencing addictions, mental health concerns, and homelessness, Kath has decided to set sail on a new voyage,” the post, written by Board Chair Kathy Schepp, begins.

“We are deeply grateful that Kath chose to give 20 years of her career to lead Safe Harbour Society. Each day she used her expertise, experience, training, and learning from a huge diversity of relationships, without a single wave of ego getting in the way, to stay true to Safe Harbour’s vision and mandate and her unwavering commitment to saving lives.”

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Schepp adds that Hoffman has been a leader that built up everyone around her, showing up every day with unwavering commitment to the clients served by Safe Harbour.

That includes the hundreds who have been in and out of the Safe Harbour-operated emergency homeless shelter.

“While change can be difficult, we know Safe Harbour Society is in a good place thanks to Kath’s leadership example, laying down Safe Harbour Society’s ethical bedrock, exemplified by the seven stars guiding principles, and her relentless focus on relationships. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Captain for her extraordinary contributions and wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement,” says Schepp.

“As we embark on this transition, the board of directors is committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless leadership succession process. Please join us in expressing our deepest appreciation and warmest wishes to Kath, as she embarks on her new voyage.”

Safe Harbour says it will keep the public informed about Hoffman’s replacement.

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