Our Members

Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes was founded in 1988 by frontline workers who had identified the need for a province-wide organization. The organization comprises francophone feminist organizations working to end the oppression of women. AOcVF has a mandate to work to prevent violence, provide ongoing training for workers, set directions and take the initiative to establish French-language services, analyse issues and produce education and awareness materials in French, grounded in a feminist analysis of the social and community situation.

The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS) is the provincial network organization of family violence shelters in Alberta. They support over 40 member organizations operating more than 60 shelters for women, their children, seniors, and others experiencing family violence and gender-based violence. ACWS exists to strengthen and support the vital work of their members through frontline training and supports for shelter staff, provincial advocacy, opportunities for enhanced collaboration between member agencies and community partners, and province-wide research and awareness building.”

L’Alliance des maisons d’hébergement de 2e étape pour femmes et enfants victimes de violence conjugale connects and represents second stage shelters in Quebec who offer women, with or without children, specialized services for those who have separated following domestic violence. The 11 members of the Alliance offer 100 transitional housing spaces in 7 regions of Quebec and welcome an average of 200 women and 200 children each year. Second-stage transitional housing allows women in need to continue to receive support after leaving an emergency women’s shelter when there is continued need for a secure and confidential address.

With offices located in Vancouver, British Columbia, the BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH) is a member-based, provincial umbrella non-profit that enhances the continuum of services and strategies to respond to, prevent, and end violence against all women, children, and youth. BCSTH was created by 6 Transition Houses in 1978 and today trains, supports and advocates on behalf of 143 members that offer over 300 anti-violence programs across the province including Safe Homes, Transition, Second Stage and Third Stage Houses, Long term Housing and  87 PEACE counselling programs and 77 Violence is Preventable school-based prevention and awareness programs for children and youth. BCSTH members are making a difference in thousands of lives each day.

Located in Montreal, Quebec, and representing 41 women’s shelters across the province, the Fédération des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes supports shelters in providing quality services that meet the security and protection needs of women and children victims of violence. It promotes and defends the interests of its member shelters and provides them the necessary support to carry out their mandates.

Representing 9 provincially funded women’s shelters and several affiliate members working in the field of family violence, the Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters was created to provide: support to member shelters, increased negotiating abilities with funders, shared information and resources, increased public awareness, training of staff and improved services for clients.

The Domestic Violence Association of New Brunswick (DVANB) is a nonprofit organization advocating to end domestic violence. DVNAB represent 13 frontline organizations across New Brunswick - including transition houses, second stage shelters, and outreach programs - as a unified provincial voice for the sector. DVANB advocates for the frontline staff who support survivors of domestic violence on a day-to-day basis. Their research helps their members, partners, and provincial government to better understand the needs of survivors, and they facilitate shared learning and collaboration across the province.

The Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses is a provincial umbrella organization working to end all forms of gender-based violence and femicide.  Our members—emergency shelters, second-stage housing providers, and community-based women’s groups—offer a lifeline to survivors and children fleeing violence. They provide a range of essential services, from 24-hour crisis support and safe shelter to outreach programs such as counseling, legal advocacy, employment, training, housing support, specialized programs for children and youth and community-based prevention programs. OAITH supports this vital work through advocacy, education, prevention, research and training.

PEI Family Violence Prevention Services Inc. is a community volunteer organization, based on the principles of justice, equality and peace. It is dedicated to the eradication of physical, sexual and emotional violence in families through advocacy, prevention programs and the provision of quality services designed to empower and support those affected by family violence. PEI Family Violence Prevention Services Inc. is designated the regional Network member for PEI, which includes 1 provincial shelter for abused women, 4 outreach offices across the province and 3 second stage facilities.

Formed in 1984, the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan is a non-profit organization whose membership is comprised of 19 transition houses, second stage houses and organizations providing services to women who have experienced violence. PATHS’s mission is to provide integrated, collaborative support for its members and research, program development, public awareness and education on personal and family violence in Saskatchewan.

With some 50 member shelters across Quebec, the Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale helps to modify laws and policies to make them more adequate measures of protection for women and children victims of domestic violence. It also provides its members with a forum for reflection, training and mobilization.

The Réseau is a non-profit organization whose members are shelters, second stage shelters, and services for women and children who are victims of violence. It serves a French-speaking and bilingual population. The Réseau’s vision is “a society free from all violence.” Its mandate is to offer support services to its members, act as spokespersons for its members, and to make the general population of the province aware of the reality of violence and its harmful effects.

Since 1987, the Transition House Association of Newfoundland and Labrador has provided its now 8 member organizations with guidance, training, research and community awareness initiatives. As a strong collective voice in equality-seeking work in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, it lobbies for the financial support needed to operate and establish new transition houses, participates in anti-violence activities in the province and offers regular networking opportunities to staff and management.

The Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS) is a provincial umbrella association of violence-against-women organizations. Our members support women and their families experiencing violence through services such as 24/7 emergency shelter, crisis lines, safety planning, counselling, outreach, referrals, court accompaniment, and system navigation.

Our mission is to eliminate violence against women in Nova Scotia by strengthening and supporting our members. We work with government and community partners to advance sustainable funding, effective policy, and coordinated services, while leading public education and advocacy to drive systemic change.

Located in Whitehorse, Yukon, the Women’s Transition Home is a registered not-for-profit with charitable status that provides safe, confidential and non-judgmental support, advocacy and shelter to women, and their children, who are in crisis and/or experiencing and responding to violence or abuse. WTH operates Kaushee’s Place, an 18-bed emergency shelter for women and their children. In addition, Kaushee’s Place contains 5 apartment units for longer-term second-stage housing. WTH also operates Betty’s Haven, a 10-unit second stage housing complex.

Since 1966, the YWCA Northwest Territories has been a leading provider of housing and services for the most vulnerable people in its community. As a non-profit agency that exists to increase the well-being and independence of people, particularly women, the YWCA NWT provides shelter for women fleeing family violence, transitional and emergency housing programs, community support services and after-school programs. YWCA NWT is designated the regional Network member for NWT, which includes 4 other sheltering organizations.