Full Members

Full Members are national, provincial, and territorial violence against women shelter/transition house associations. In provinces and territories where there is no incorporated VAW shelter organization, the VAW shelters in that province or territory have named a representative VAW shelter.

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.

With offices located in Edmonton, Alberta, and representing 41 member shelter organizations, the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters is a province-wide, voluntary organization supporting women’s shelters and partner organizations through education, research and services for the benefit of abused women and their children. It assists shelters by initiating violence prevention projects to improve shelter services.

The Alliance of Second-Stage Shelters for Women and Children who have Experienced Domestic Violence 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 a first stage 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 is a non-profit association of 63 transition houses, 13 second stage houses, 26 safe homes, 100 Children Who Witness Abuse programs and other groups which serve the needs of women and their children fleeing violence. Through numerous initiatives, it enhances the continuum of services and strategies necessary to end violence against women, youth and children.

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 Coalition was formed in 1987 and brought together all New Brunswick facilities serving women fleeing abusive relationships and was successful in lobbying the provincial government for more helpful policies for their clients. Funding for twice-yearly meetings and a part-time coordinator was lost when the mandate of Status of Women Canada changed in 2007 and, eventually, two separate coalitions were formed – the NBSCTHSSC and the Réseau (see below). The Coalition has five second stage facilities and eight transition houses. It develops training for staff, including publishing “Building on our Strengths,” a crisis intervenor training manual and workbook. Representatives sit on provincial working groups and collaborate with other equality-seeking organizations to effect change to benefit all women.

The Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses is a provincial coalition founded by women’s shelter advocates in 1977. The Association works with 61 member agencies to educate and promote change in all areas that abused women and their children identify as important to their freedom from violence. It operates from an integrated, feminist, anti-racist / anti-oppression perspective on violence against women.

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.

Founded in 1989, the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia represents 11 member organizations that provide crisis and transitional services to women and their children who are experiencing violence and abuse. It advocates for sufficient programs, services and funding for transition houses in Nova Scotia; provides training and networking opportunities for boards and staff of its member organizations, and works collaboratively with other equality-seeking organizations to increase public awareness of violence and abuse in our society.

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.