Advisory Council
The Advisory Council consists of one representative from each of the provincial/territorial shelter associations. As WSC’s ear to the ground across the country, the Advisory Council’s role is to inform organizational priorities, provide recommendations to the Board on policy and direction, and serve as a peer support group for provincial/territorial shelter organizations.
British Columbia
Amy S. FitzGerald is the Executive Director and formerly the Director of Training & Programs at the BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH). In BC, Amy has also been a policy analyst. She has been a public interest lawyer for over 20 years serving as the domestic violence Assistant Attorney General at the Vermont Attorney General’s Office working on unsolved homicides and domestic violence litigation, policy, training and legislation, a Legal Services lawyer and Public Defender in Vermont and NYC. Amy was the founding chair of Vermont’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission and served on Vermont’s Child Fatality Review Team.
Nova Scotia
Ann de Ste Croix is the Provincial Coordinator of the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia. In this role, Ann advocates for and works towards increasing public awareness around violence against women. She espouses a strong feminist perspective and is committed towards supporting women and children impacted by violence in her province. Ann holds a BA in Political Science and a Master’s in International Development Studies, during which she conducted research on the political determinants of public health within Canada and internationally. Prior to THANS, Ann has worked in the legal field as a Litigation Paralegal and in academic research as a Research Assistant.
Alberta
Cat Champagne is the Executive Director of the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS) and a seasoned leader in the domestic and gender-based violence sector. With a strong background as a Shelter Director, Cat has supported survivors and led collaborative rural and urban housing initiatives to create safe, stable housing for women and their children.
During her time in leadership roles and multiple shelters, she demonstrated leadership in government and public relations, policy development, and fund development—securing vital operational and capital funding for frontline services and housing supports.
Cat has extensive experience supporting survivors and their families through the complexities of the justice system, across multiple levels of court. Her work spans both rural and urban contexts, giving her a comprehensive understanding of service delivery and survivor experiences throughout Alberta.
She also brings deep knowledge in supporting people with disabilities, who face disproportionately high rates of domestic violence. This work has strengthened her commitment to advancing equity, accessibility, and inclusive practices across the sector.
Known for her energy, dedication, and strategic thinking, Cat is a passionate advocate for systemic change. Her leadership at ACWS continues to drive forward transformative efforts to end domestic and gender-based violence across the province.
Saskatchewan
Newfoundland and Labrador
Dan Meades is originally from St John’s, Newfoundland, where he studied English and Business at Memorial University before starting his career in community development and poverty reduction. Dan’s work has led him throughout Canada, Europe, the United States, and West Africa; all the while, his focus has been on poverty reduction, housing, and homelessness. Dan currently serves as the Provincial Coordinator of the Transition House Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Québec
Élise Brien is a policy analyst for the Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale since September 2025. Her work at the Regroupement focuses mainly on social services and social law in Canada and Québec. Passionate about feminist advocacy from a young age, she wishes to contribute to build a society free of gender-based violence.
Prince Edward Island
Ellen Ridgeway has been working to end violence against women for over 20 years. Ellen has served as a board member and volunteer at PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Center. In 1993 Ellen became Manager of Anderson House, the Provincial Shelter for abused women in PEI. Currently, Ellen is Program Manager for PEI Family Violence Prevention Services. She is developing a Program, ASPIRE, to assist and support abused women who are oppressed, marginalized, and living in poverty. Ellen is also the HIFIS Community Coordinator for PEI and oversees shelters’ data collection on homelessness.
Over the years Ellen has sat on various committees to advocate for women. Currently, she sits on the Victims Services Advisory Board, PEI Community Advisory Board to End Homelessness, and the Board of Women’s Shelters Canada.
Northwest Territories
Hawa took on the role of Executive Director in 2020. Prior to that, she held the position of Director of Child and Youth Services within the YWCA NWT. Hawa has extensive experience working with families, victim services, youth, and adults with disabilities. She has worked in community development in Sierra Leone on a project to reduce maternal mortality in rural areas, provided support to women and children arriving at shelters fleeing family violence, and has worked extensively with people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and mental illness. Her wide worldview, compassion, and expertise is invaluable to YWCA NWT. Hawa has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Calgary.
New Brunswick
Quebec
Julie has been interested in issues surrounding social justice and women’s rights for nearly 10 years. Throughout her career, she has been involved in feminist struggles at various levels, whether through activism, community work or research. She finds many of her motivations reflected in her current position as Policy Advisor at the Federation of Women’s Shelters. Julie holds a master’s degree in international development with a specialization in feminist and gender studies, a bachelor’s degree in international studies, cooperation and development, and training in project management. She is driven by the analysis of political economy and social context from an anti-oppressive feminist perspective and is particularly interested in the impact of policies on women’s living conditions and their access to services.
The issue of violence against women and systemic discrimination are central to her involvement in feminist struggles. Before joining the FMHF team and the Women’s Shelters Canada Board of Directors, Julie was the coordinator of the Accessibility to Interpretation Services for Immigrant, Refugee and Precarious Status Women Victims of Domestic Violence project at the Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes (TCRI).
Quebec
Ontario
Maïra Martin has been the Executive Director of Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes since 2015. Through this organization, she advocates for the recognition of gender-based violence and for access to quality French-language services for Francophone survivors. Raising awareness about gender-based violence has always been central to her commitment: in France, she coordinated an awareness campaign on intimate partner violence targeting youth, and with Action ontarienne, she launched the first provincial awareness campaign against sexual assault in Ontario. Her ongoing community engagement has also led her to work with asylum seekers and people with low incomes.
Ontario
Marlene currently works as the Executive Director at the Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses and brings more than 25 years of experience in GBV, social justice and equity work in the areas of direct service, learning and training development, policy change, advocacy, government relations, organizational administration and leadership. Currently Marlene is a member of the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee. Marlene has been a collaborative author in a range of journal publications, community-based research reports and other edited works spanning GBV issues, femicide, GBV training, substance use, HIV/AIDS, 2sLGBTQ programming and social work.
New Brunswick
Maureen Levangie joined the Domestic Violence Association of New Brunswick as Executive Director in August of 2024. She has a Master of Gender Studies from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, and she is passionate about intersectional feminism, reproductive justice, and the ways that community outreach can help diverse populations such as those impacted by DIPV. Maureen values taking a sensitive and person-centred approach to her work and her research, and she is particularly interested in the way that individual stories play a role in education and activism.
Yukon
Manitoba
Tsungai (Sue) Muvingi is the Associate Provincial Coordinator with the Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters (MAWS). Her background includes a B.A. in Psychology, post-graduate diploma in International Management, and extensive work with non-profit organizations.
She was born and raised in Zimbabwe where she started volunteering with charitable organizations from a young age. Tsungai is passionate about advocacy and working with organizations that support vulnerable people in local and international communities including family violence, intimate partner violence, and gender-based violence.
As a member of Conquer Academy, a performance development coaching academy, Tsungai challenges herself in all areas of her life to grow in leadership, integrity, mental toughness, and service to others.
Her various roles and previous work have included event planning, fundraising, emergency disaster services, poverty alleviation, peace literacy and peace initiatives, coaching and mentoring adults, residential support work, and travel across Canada, the USA, and Europe.