YWCA Regina - Kikaskihtânaw Center
The Challenge
The Kikaskihtânaw Centre is a crucial refuge for women and families experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and crisis. They needed furnishings for offices, housing, childcare, and community spaces that felt safe and welcoming rather than institutional. The design also had to honour Indigenous culture, withstand heavy use, and support dignity, comfort, and belonging for every visitor and resident.
Comfort, connection, cultural integrity.
Meaning “the place we all succeed,” the Kikaskihtânaw Centre was designed to be a catalyst for healing and community. In partnership with 1080 Architecture, we sourced furniture that brought this vision to life - warm, tactile, and welcoming pieces that reflect care and respect, especially for the Indigenous community being served.
Furniture as a tool
Every selection supported well-being: soft textures, warm tones, residential elements and layouts that encourage connection. By investing in client-facing areas, the YWCA visibly demonstrated worth and respect to every resident. These choices helped shift the environment from institutional to home-like, signalling safety and belonging for women and families rebuilding their lives.
We were so impressed by the quality and feel of the furnishings, and the support C3BI provided throughout. We challenged them to provide furniture solutions that would fit office space, community gathering space, childcares, housing and shelter - with durable, trauma-informed solutions that now play a vital role in serving women and families.
Key Takeaways
Thoughtful design directly improved user experience - supporting staff effectiveness, participant well-being, and community connection within the centre.-Furnished five distinct environments—office, shelter, housing, childcare, and community areas.
- Applied trauma-informed principles to enhance calm, safety, and connection.
- Focused investment on client spaces to deliver durability, dignity, and cultural respect.
Project Summary
The YWCA Kikaskihtânaw Centre now stands as a vibrant, welcoming pillar in Regina - serving women, children, and families with safety, dignity, and care. Reflecting trauma-informed and culturally grounded design values, our furniture solutions played a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere and function of the space.
The result is a thriving environment where people gather, connect, and heal - and where community success truly feels possible.
