Co-founders of Blooming House
One thing that all Islanders can agree on: Prince Edward Island is full of heart and community. People have always been taken aback by how friendly and neighborly this small but mighty island truly is. No one embodies that heart and compassion more than Liz Corney and Brynn Devine.
Behind the postcard image that Prince Edward Island proudly owns, there is something that not every person is willing to see: housing insecurity and homelessness.
It has become a growing reality and concern. Emergency shelters are struggling to keep pace with the need, especially for women facing trauma, poverty, violence, or personal crisis. Liz Corney and Brynn Devine did not set out to simply build a shelter, they set out to build dignity.
They saw the undeniable need for a place that focuses on the safe, overnight shelter and support for women, especially within the Charlottetown area. They were driven by the understanding that safety is the foundation to healing, rebuilding, and hope. Together, they became the co-founders of Blooming House, a women-led organization born from compassion and fierce determination, opening its doors in 2019. It grew into a registered charity where women could arrive in the darkest hours of their lives and not be met with judgment, but with warmth, understanding, and the simple, powerful promise: you are safe here.
Their work has required courage. It has meant navigating funding challenges, advocating within systems that often move slowly, and speaking openly about homelessness in a province where many people once believed it did not exist and some still wish not to see today. It has meant showing up night after night, not just as leaders, but as witnesses to stories of survival, resilience, and bravery.
This courage has not gone unnoticed. With their hard work and determination, Blooming House was named as finalists for both the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce President’s Excellence Awards in 2022/2023, and People’s Choice for Community Impact Award in 2023. In 2024, they received the distinct honour of being presented the King Charles III Coronation Medal for their significant contribution to the community.
But they know this success doesn’t come without struggles, the ability to fight for what is right, and the help of the community around them. Every year they host the annual “Ride to Refuge”, a bike and walk/run event raising money for local charities seeking hope, safety, and freedom. In 2025, Blooming House saw 83 participants, 23 teams, and 37 volunteers. They attended with one collective goal, raising $40,000 for Blooming House, but Prince Edward Island showed their true heart of community once again, exceeding that goal by 125% and raising a total of $50,196. Liz and Brynn know that they would not be able to build safety without the help of the community’s heart, courage, and care.
Under their leadership, Blooming House has become a vital part of the essential network of services supporting vulnerable islanders, standing alongside emergency housing resources and communities that are confronting housing costs, trauma-related displacement, and the growing need for safe, accessible shelter.
But what makes Liz and Brynn extraordinary is not what they built, but rather why.
They saw women who had been overlooked, and they chose not to look away.
They turned compassion into action.
They turned action into a lifeline.
And in doing so, they helped ensure that even on the coldest of Island nights, there is still a place women can rest, recover, and begin again.
They are not only founders, they are protectors, advocates, and builders of hope.
Get in touch with Liz and Brynn
Website: https://bloominghouse.ca/
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