About Us

The world can change when women come together around a common vision. 

Several years ago, the provincial, territorial, regional and aboriginal organizations representing women’s shelters and transition houses recognized that though each served and supported the shelters and transition houses in their respective regions, no organization existed to do the same at a national level. 

There simply was no national forum in which the leaders and members of these organizations could share ideas and resources. There was no space for them to learn together and innovate together so as to advance high quality services they offer. There was no unified voice for women’s shelters and transition houses on the national stage to help generate systemic change. 

In 2009, drawn together by a shared vision to end violence against women, these 14 associations formed the Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters & Transition Houses. Together, we became a national, collaborative voice for change. 

Our Beliefs

The 14 members of the Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters & Transition Houses have more than 350 individual member shelters. Together, we are guided by our shared beliefs:

We believe that governments and societies are responsible for ensuring women’s human rights.

We believe that violence violates women’s human rights and equality.

We believe that the women’s shelter movement plays a critical leadership role in the provincial/territorial, national and global effort to end violence against women and their children.

Our Work

A Space for Collaboration

The Network helps to create opportunities for our members and their member shelters to come together, exchange ideas, learn from one another and share resources. Through coordinated working groups, events, virtual work spaces, research, publications and more, we help to connect knowledgeable and dedicated individuals from coast to coast to coast. Exciting new ideas are born, best practices are promoted and transferred and those who work in our challenging field feel more connected and more supported.

All of this helps to ensure the women and children who turn to shelters and transition houses receive the most effective and compassionate support possible.

A Unified Voice

Thanks to the Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters & Transition Houses, our member organizations now have a strong, unified voice on the national and international stage. We tell our story and help educate national media outlets and the public. We bring the Canadian perspective on violence against women to important international events. We help increase awareness to ensure policies, legislation and regulations are informed by the experiences and insights of our members. 

A unified and strong voice means the issue of violence against women is on the agenda at a national level. It means the vital role of shelters and transition houses is understood and valued. It means hope to women experiencing violence everywhere. 

A Conduit for Innovation

The Network channels the amazing energy and reach of our member organizations and partners. Together, we build on the strengths of our diversity to conduct research and find innovative solutions to serious challenges affecting women in this country and around the world. The roster of projects we are undertaking is growing and includes partners such as Status of Women Canada, United Nations Women, and the Canadian Women’s Foundation. As the roster of projects and partners grow, so too does the sustainability of the Network – the assurance that our work will continue so long as the challenge of violence against women remains. 

Our Team

Our efforts are led by representatives of our provincial, territorial, regional and aboriginal members, with the support of a small but passionate team of professionals in Ottawa. Together, we are a unified voice for women building on the strengths of our diversity to generate transformational systemic change. We are collaborating, educating and innovating to end violence against women making Canada a model for safety in the world. 

The efforts may pass through our national office but they begin and end in the 14 provincial, territorial, regional and aboriginal organizations that constitute the Network. It can truly be said that we are our members.