What Strides Toronto does

Strides Toronto is a Canadian non-profit charitable organization (Charity Registration No. 87040 9489 RR0001) that operates as Toronto's designated Lead Agency for Infant, Children and Youth Mental Health, a status granted by the Ontario Ministry of Health in 2015. The organization delivers community, autism, developmental, and mental health services to children, youth (ages 0-25), and families in Toronto's east end, with primary geographic concentration in Scarborough and Toronto East. Service delivery spans walk-in counselling (What's Up Walk-In, six days a week at multiple Toronto sites), scheduled individual and family therapy, autism and developmental services delivered under the Ontario Autism Program, infant mental health (0-3), intensive in-home treatment, live-in residential treatment (Betty's Place), day treatment, dialectical behaviour therapy, tele-mental health psychiatric consultations, and youth wellness hub programming in partnership with Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario. The portfolio is human-delivered rather than technology-platform-based; there is no proprietary software, app, or AI tooling disclosed, and the technology stack is limited to standard website CMS, video conferencing for tele-mental health, and central intake infrastructure (Help Ahead). Operations are organized across four locations: the headquarters at 100 Consilium Place (Suite 600), a second 100 Consilium Place site (Ground Floor Suite 102 - Scarborough Youth Wellness Hub), the Toronto East Youth Wellness Hub at 3079 Danforth Avenue, and a Thursday family hours site at 1940 Eglinton Avenue East. Headcount is reported at 101-250 employees.

The business model is government and philanthropic grant funding rather than fee-for-service revenue. All client-facing services are provided free of charge and do not require a health card, with the explicit aim of removing access barriers. Revenue is anchored by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Lead Agency base funding and supplemented by United Way, RBC (supporting What's Up Walk-In), the City of Toronto (Parks, Forestry and Recreation for The Zone Youth Space), school board partnerships (TDSB and TCDSB via Priority Access for Students), and miscellaneous program-specific grants. The marketing and distribution model is community-led: clients are reached via self-referral, professional referral, and central intake (Help Ahead), with the school system, healthcare providers, and community agencies serving as the principal referral channels. The organization is led by founder and CEO Janet McCrimmon and is governed by a board of directors. Strides Toronto is not a venture-backed or privately-held for-profit enterprise; it is an independent registered charity, so its investment-relevant signals relate to funder concentration, Lead Agency contract continuity, and program expansion, rather than equity financing, M&A, or exit dynamics.

Name

Strides Toronto

Legal name

Strides Toronto

Website

https://stridestoronto.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Strides Toronto is a Canadian non-profit charitable organization and Toronto's designated Lead Agency for Infant, Children and Youth Mental Health, delivering free community, autism, developmental, and mental health services to children, youth, and families in Toronto's east end.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL), Inclusive Early Intervention & Transition-to-Preschool Services (EDACAFAM), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Transition & School-Readiness Support for Special Needs Children (HSAAAIAO)

Keywords

• Community mental health services
• Youth mental health
• Autism services
• Family counselling
• Developmental support

Headquarters

HQ city

Scarborough

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Funded primarily by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as a Lead Agency for infant, children and youth mental health services in Toronto.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Strides Toronto provides free, community-based mental health, autism, developmental, and youth support services to children, youth (ages 0-25), and families in Toronto's east end. The organization operates walk-in counselling clinics, scheduled therapy sessions, telehealth psychiatric consultations, Youth Wellness Hubs offering co-located integrated services, residential and day treatment programs, autism and developmental services under the Ontario Autism Program, and specialized programs for at-risk youth. All services are provided barrier-free at no charge, without requiring a health card, and are funded primarily by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, United Way, and other partners.

Product overview

Strides Toronto is a community-based mental health and social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs for children, youth, families, and infants in Toronto's east end. The organization operates as a service network, not a technology product platform. The portfolio is organized into three main service categories: Core Mental Health Services (including What's Up Walk-In, Community Counselling, Autism and Developmental Services, Infant Mental Health, Urban Tele-Mental Health, and Family Counselling); Youth Wellness Hubs (including Scarborough and Toronto East Youth Wellness Hubs providing integrated services for ages 12-25); and Youth Programming (including The Zone Youth Space, Studio 2 Multimedia, Newcomer Youth Engagement, and Youth Outreach Worker programs). Key partner services include One Stop Talk (virtual counselling) and Help Ahead (central intake). The organization serves as Toronto's Lead Agency for Infant, Children and Youth Mental Health since 2015.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• What's Up Walk-In
• Autism and Developmental Services Free Ontario Autism Program (OAP) and fee-based autism services for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder, offering flexible and responsive individual support.
• Infant Mental Health Program Family-focused mental health assessment and treatment services for families with infants and young children (0-3 years) living in Scarborough.
• Community Counselling Therapy services helping children, youth and families understand, overcome and manage personal problems and mental health issues through individual or family sessions.
• Urban Tele-Mental Health Service Psychiatric consultation via video conferencing for children and youth up to age 18 and their families connected to a mental health service provider.
• Scarborough Youth Wellness Hub Integrated youth services hub providing mental health, substance use, primary health care, and social supports for youth aged 12-25 in Scarborough.
• Toronto East Youth Wellness Hub Integrated youth services hub providing mental health, substance use, primary health care, and social supports for youth aged 12-25 in Toronto East.
• Short Term Counselling Focused therapeutic counselling services for children and youth ages 6-17 years and families seeking brief intervention support.
• CREST Program Trauma-informed case management, outreach, therapy and peer support for individuals aged 12-29 who have experienced or are at risk of exploitation and sex trafficking.
• Youth Outreach Worker (YOW) Program Individualized programming for at-risk youth ages 12-21 and their families in East Toronto, connecting them with community resources and services.
• Intensive In-Home Treatment Program Critical family support delivered directly within the home to prevent out-of-home placements and strengthen family functioning.
• Preschool Speech and Language Program Speech and language services for preschool children in need of communication support, provided at multiple locations.
• Studio 2 Multimedia Program Multimedia skills development program for youth emphasizing media literacy, employability skills and mental health through storytelling.
• The Zone Youth Space Drop-in youth space providing recreational activities, employment and leadership workshops, homework help, and multimedia programming six days a week.
• Newcomer Youth Engagement Program Program for immigrant youth ages 12-21 who are permanent residents or conventional refugees, focusing on skill development and socialization.
• Slaight Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Program Psychiatric consultation via video conferencing for youth living in Scarborough with complex mental health conditions requiring DBT treatment.
• Live-In Treatment Programs Intensive 24/7 therapeutic residential programs for children and youth with mental health, social and behavioural difficulties.
• Day Treatment Programs Educational settings combined with therapy for children and youth experiencing social, emotional or behavioural issues.
• Family Counselling Family therapy services helping families understand concerns and enhance problem-solving skills with trained therapists.
• Priority Access for Students (PAS) Individual and family counselling services and case management for TDSB and TCDSB students referred through school social workers.
• Youth In Transition (YIT) Program Support for youth aged 16-24 transitioning from the child welfare sector into adulthood, including bilingual services.
• ADHD Seminars Free online seminars for parents and caregivers of children ages 4-12 struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
• Anxiety Group for Children Skills-based program helping children ages 7-12 cope successfully in anxiety-provoking situations through virtual group sessions.
• Babies Best Start / Healthy Babies Healthy Children In-home support for families in the prenatal stage or with young children (0-3 years) providing developmental guidance.
• Community Support Flexible early intervention mental health services responsive to unmet needs of children and families.
• Gender Based Violence Program Support services for individuals at risk of or involved in human trafficking or the sex trade.
• Triple P Parent education program preventing severe behavioural, emotional and developmental problems by enhancing parental knowledge and skills.
• One Stop Talk / Parlons Maintenant Virtual counselling service available across Ontario providing immediate free mental health support to youth, children, and caregivers, partnered to expand access for Strides Toronto clients.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrides Toronto operates the Scarborough Youth Wellness Hub and Toronto East Youth Wellness Hub as part of the Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario initiative, providing integrated youth services including mental health, substance use, primary care, and social services for youth aged 12-25.
• United WaycoreOthersMajor funder of community services and mental health programs
• Ontario Ministry of HealthcoreOthersPrimary government funder through the Lead Agency designation for infant, children and youth mental health in Toronto
• What's Up Walk-In NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollection of 6 agencies operating at 8 sites across the City of Toronto providing free walk-in mental health counselling. Partners include Lumenus, Yorktown Family Services, YouthLink, CAFCAN, and Centre Francophone.
• RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)minorOthersFunder supporting the What's Up Walk-In service
• One Stop Talk/Parlons MaintenantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual counselling service providing immediate access to free mental health support across Ontario, partnered to expand access for Strides Toronto clients
• Help AheadcoreOthersCentral point of intake for mental health services for infants, children, youth and their families in Toronto - referral pathway for Strides Toronto programs
• Toronto Parks, Forestry and RecreationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to operate The Zone Youth Space, providing dedicated space for youth with programming tailored to youth interests

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lumenus Community Services: Toronto-based nonprofit providing children's mental health, developmental, autism, and family services; a fellow What's Up Walk-In network partner competing/collaborating in the same catchment.
• Yorktown Family Services: Toronto children's mental health and family violence services agency and walk-in network partner, serving the same child/youth/family population with similar publicly funded programs.
• YouthLink: Scarborough-based youth mental health and residential/outreach services nonprofit operating in the same east-Toronto geography and walk-in network.
• Kinark Child and Family Services: Ontario nonprofit delivering child/youth mental health, autism (OAP), and forensic services, directly comparable in program mix and government-funded model.
• SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health: Toronto provider (formerly Hincks-Dellcrest) of infant, child, and youth mental health treatment and day/residential programs, closely mirroring Strides' clinical offerings.
• George Hull Centre for Children and Families: Toronto children's mental health centre offering counselling, day treatment, and family services under the same provincial funding framework.
• Skylark Children, Youth and Families: Toronto nonprofit providing youth mental health, walk-in, and residential services to the same 0-25 population with comparable programming.

Regional players

• CAFCAN (Caribbean African Canadian Social Services): Toronto community mental health and social services agency and walk-in network partner serving overlapping youth/family populations with a community-led model.

Others

• Strong Minds Strong Kids / Children's Mental Health Ontario: Provincial association representing child and youth mental health agencies; an ecosystem/advocacy body relevant to Strides' sector rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Stella's Place: Toronto young-adult mental health nonprofit offering integrated peer, clinical, and drop-in supports, overlapping with Strides' youth wellness hub model for the 12-25 segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stridesto
• Facebookfacebook.com/StridesTO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/strides-toronto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Strides Toronto