Women’s Shelters Canada’s Community of Practice (CoP) on Second Stage Shelter Operations launched in March 2024 and will continue until December 2025.
This CoP brings together 22 organizations from across the country so staff can connect, share, and learn from each other about the intricacies of running a second stage (longer-term) shelter. Participants were selected through an application process in late 2023 that was open to all second stage shelters across the country.
The CoP meets virtually every other month and held one in-person meeting in Ottawa in February 2025. 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. So far, the CoP has covered topics such as building maintenance, staffing models, programming, pet sheltering, culturally appropriate services, and many others. The CoP is intended to foster discussion and strengthen practice.
WSC is developing a resource package based on the discussions and learnings of this CoP which will be available to all second stage shelters in Fall 2025. There will also be a virtual national gathering for second stage shelters in November 2025. Stay tuned for more information!
Here are some moments from our in person meeting in February 2025
