Women’s Shelters Canada launched a new Community of Practice (CoP) focused on second stage shelter operations in March 2024.
This CoP brings together 21 organizations from across the country so staff can connect, share, and learn from each other about the intricacies of running a second stage shelter for women, children, and gender-diverse people who have experienced violence. Participants were selected through an application process in late 2023 that was open to all second stage shelters across the country.
The CoP held its first meeting virtually in March 2024 and will continue to meet until December 2025. Meetings will be held virtually every other month, with one in-person meeting occurring mid-way through the project. These meetings are an opportunity for participating shelters to focus on particular areas of practice and hear how other shelters are approaching specific issues and challenges. The CoP is intended to foster discussion and strengthen practice.
This initiative is made possible through a grant from CN/Unifor.