The Gatehouse

What The Gatehouse does

The Gatehouse is a Toronto-based registered charity founded in 1998 by Arthur Lockhart to provide trauma-informed peer support, counselling, and community resources for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), operating from a renovated 1890s historic building at 3101 Lake Shore Blvd West in Etobicoke. The organization delivers a structured portfolio of paid and free programs across three tiers: core peer support (Phase 1 15-week and Phase 2 16-week groups, a 6-week 2SLGBTQIA+ group, and a free 5-week Young Adults Program for ages 18-25), individual services (counselling/psychotherapy at $60/session and individual expressive arts therapy), and supplemental offerings including an 8-week expressive arts therapy group, a moving meditation workshop, and a monthly partners/support persons group. The Gatehouse also operates a 24/7 child-friendly facility used by Toronto Police Service and child welfare workers for child abuse investigation interviews, and runs ASIST suicide intervention training and peer support facilitator training through partnerships with Living Works Education, Humber College, and art therapy institutes. The organization is funded through a mix of individual donations, corporate sponsorships (including Bell Let's Talk), government grants (Government of Canada, City of Toronto), nominal program fees on a sliding scale, and annual fundraising events (Healing the Voice Within Gala, Man Enough to Heal, Transforming Trauma Together Festival). It employs 1-10 core staff with significant operational reliance on trained volunteers, CREATE Institute and Toronto Art Therapy Institute practicum students, and a documented mentorship pipeline of 300+ post-secondary placements overseen by Executive Director Maria Barcelos.

Name

The Gatehouse

Legal name

The Gatehouse Child Abuse Investigation & Support Site

Website

https://thegatehouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Gatehouse is a Toronto-based registered charity (founded 1998) that delivers trauma-informed peer support groups, counselling, expressive arts therapy, and a 24/7 child-friendly police investigation facility for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and law enforcement partners in Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health & Trauma Support Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD), Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System) (BPAIAFAJ), Suicide Prevention, Self-Harm Prevention & Threat Assessment Programs (EDAKAMAI)

Keywords

• Trauma-informed peer support
• Childhood sexual abuse recovery
• Survivor counselling services
• Expressive arts therapy
• Community-based nonprofit support

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The Gatehouse relies on individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events including the annual Healing the Voice Within Gala, Man Enough to Heal event, and Transforming Trauma Together Festival. The organization is a registered charity.
2. Program Fees: Fees charged for Phase 1 ($150), Phase 2 ($160), Expressive Arts Therapy ($300-$350), ASIST Training ($280-$300), Facilitator Training ($200), and counselling services ($60/session). Sliding scale and payment plans available to ensure access.
3. Government Funding and Grants: Partnerships with Government of Canada and other government bodies provide funding through grants. The organization collaborates with government agencies for child abuse investigation support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

The Gatehouse provides trauma-informed peer support groups, individual counselling, and expressive arts therapy for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. It also operates a 24/7 child-friendly investigation facility used by Toronto Police Service and offers professional training in suicide intervention (ASIST) and peer support facilitation. The organization is a community-based nonprofit registered charity that combines direct survivor services, professional training, and community awareness events.

Product overview

The Gatehouse operates as a community-based charity providing trauma-informed support programs for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The organization offers a structured portfolio of peer support services organized across three tiers: Core Peer Support Programs (Phase 1 15-week trauma support groups, Phase 2 16-week transformation groups, 2SLGBTQIA+ 6-week support groups, and Young Adults Program for ages 18-25), Individual Services (one-on-one counselling/psychotherapy and individual expressive arts therapy), and Supplemental Programs (expressive arts therapy groups, meditation workshops, and partners/support persons groups). Additional offerings include TPS Investigation Support (24/7 child-friendly facility for police interviews), professional Training Programs (ASIST suicide intervention and facilitator training), and Community Events (annual Healing the Voice Within Gala, Man Enough to Heal panel, and Transforming Trauma Together Festival). The organization also produces documentary films, podcasts, and survivor-authored content as educational resources. Membership and volunteer programs support community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Phase 1 Peer Support Program 15-week peer-led trauma support group for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, providing a safe space to connect, share experiences, learn coping skills, and explore the impact of abuse through writing, discussions, and self-reflection exercises. Offered in-person and online via Zoom for $150 total with sliding scale and payment plans available.
• Phase 2 Peer Support Program 16-week all-gender peer support group building on Phase 1 concepts, focusing on trauma-focused mindfulness, meditation, self-reflection, SMART goal-setting, and deeper exploration of healing themes including healthy relationships and emotional management. Costs $160 total with sliding scale and payment plans.
• 2SLGBTQIA+ Peer Support Group 6-week online peer support group specifically designed for 2SLGBTQIA+ identifying individuals of all genders who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, offering a safe, inclusive, and trauma-informed environment for healing and connection.
• Young Adults Program 5-week free support group for survivors of childhood sexual abuse aged 18-25, featuring guided discussions, skill-building exercises, self-care education, and community connection with peers who share similar experiences.
• Partners/Support Persons Program Monthly online support group for partners and support persons of survivors currently registered in or having completed Phase 1, providing a safe environment to explore topics related to supporting survivors and managing second-hand trauma.
• Counselling/Psychotherapy Individual counselling and psychotherapy services for adult CSA survivors and their partners, delivered by graduate students or Registered Psychotherapist Paula Cordeiro, offering emotional validation and skill development in a safe, trauma-informed environment. $60 per session with a $60 intake fee.
• Expressive Arts Therapy Group 8-week expressive arts therapy group for survivors to creatively explore experiences through visual arts, music, movement, and reflective writing, promoting healing, personal growth, and community building. Led by CREATE Institute or TATI practicum students. $300-$350 plus a $50 intake fee.
• Individual Expressive Arts Therapy Sessions Personalized online expressive arts therapy sessions provided by CREATE Institute or TATI art therapists in training, offering emotional validation and creative expression for survivors and support persons. $50 intake fee plus $65 per session, up to 10 sessions.
• Moving Meditation Workshop In-person moving meditation workshops at The Gatehouse Community Healing Garden featuring Ba Duan Jin gentle practice, designed to decrease anxiety, increase energy, and improve self-esteem through mind-body connection. $60 per person, maximum 10 participants per workshop.
• TPS Investigation Support 24/7 child-friendly facility for Toronto Police Service and child welfare workers to conduct interviews with children (17 and under) and caregivers during child abuse investigations, featuring state-of-the-art audio/visual recording equipment. After-hours access managed through police divisions.
• ASIST Training 2-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) intensive course for health professionals, educators, and community workers to recognize suicide risk and learn intervention techniques. Includes Suicide Intervention Handbook and certificate. $280 per person (rising to $300 from January 1, 2026), delivered at Humber College Lakeshore Campus.
• Facilitator Training 3-day experiential training program for individuals interested in becoming peer support facilitators, covering transformative learning, group facilitation skills, shame/guilt exploration, mindfulness, and Tuckman's stages of group formation. $200 per person with sliding scale available for volunteers and current program participants.
• Membership Program Annual membership program offering information about programs and services, AGM attendance, volunteer activity participation, and community engagement opportunities. $10/year, $20 for 2 years, or $30 for 3 years.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase 1 program achieves 'Acknowledge What Happened', 'Be With and Connect With Others', and 'Develop Self-Awareness' outcomes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• McCormickminorOthersCorporate partner visible on website partner logo section, indicating financial or programmatic support for The Gatehouse mission.
• Government of CanadacoreOthersMajor government funder indicated by logo placement. Provides government grants and funding support for programs serving CSA survivors across Canada.
• Humber College Lakeshore CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumber College is a key partner hosting ASIST training workshops and the Transforming Trauma Together Festival. The Gatehouse has advisory panel involvement at the college, mentors students, and has co-founded the Centre for Transformative Social Change with the college's Faculty of Community and Social Services.
• Rotary EtobicokecoreOthersCommunity service organization that has contributed to The Gatehouse's work and building restoration. Visible as a supporting partner on the website.
• City of TorontocoreOthersMunicipal government partner indicated by logo, providing local funding and support for community programs serving Toronto residents.
• Survivors Council of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots committee co-founded by The Gatehouse to bring awareness, prevention, healing, and justice initiatives supporting sexual assault survivors across Canada. Stewart Thompson serves as Co-Chair.
• Centre for Transformative Social ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative between The Gatehouse, Humber College's Faculty of Community and Social Services, and post-secondary students. Founded by Maria Barcelos to advance community-based social change.
• Canadian Centre for Men and FamiliesminorOthersOrganization supporting male survivors. Maria Barcelos serves on their Family Shelter Advisory Board. Partnership supports male survivor outreach and resources.
• Toronto Police ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey operational partner for the TPS Investigation Support Program. The Gatehouse provides a child-friendly facility for police to conduct child abuse interviews 24/7. Police divisions provide after-hours access codes. Maria Barcelos and Paula Cordeiro participate in Toronto Police FOCUS Table for Rexdale.
• Etobicoke Children's CentreminorOthersPaula Cordeiro previously volunteered at Etobicoke Children's Centre Walk-In counselling services and delivered Women's Empowerment and Stress Management groups. Referral and collaboration partner.
• Living Works EducationcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) curriculum. Paula Cordeiro and Brad Hutchinson are registered Living Works Education ASIST trainers and master trainers. Licenses trainers to deliver suicide intervention training.
• CREATE InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt therapy education provider whose practicum students deliver Expressive Arts Therapy services at The Gatehouse under supervision. Provides trained therapists-in-training for the program.
• Toronto Art Therapy Institute (TATI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt therapy education provider whose practicum students deliver Expressive Arts Therapy services at The Gatehouse under supervision. Provides trained therapists-in-training for the program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Living Works Education: Provider of the ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) curriculum that The Gatehouse is licensed to deliver. Listed as an ecosystem/training partner rather than a service peer — The Gatehouse functions as a delivery channel for Living Works' curriculum via its ASIST trainers.

Direct peers

• Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre: Toronto-based child and youth advocacy centre that provides child-friendly interview facilities for abuse investigations alongside trauma support, directly mirroring The Gatehouse's TPS investigation and survivor support model for child abuse victims in the same city.
• SACHA (Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton): Hamilton-area sexual assault centre offering individual counselling, group support, and advocacy for survivors. Operates a comparable mix of counselling, group programming, and community education that overlaps with The Gatehouse's core peer support and therapy services.
• WAVAW Rape Crisis Centre: Vancouver-based organization providing crisis intervention, counselling, and group support to survivors of sexualized violence. Closely parallel to The Gatehouse's peer support, counselling, and expressive arts programming, though regionally focused on BC rather than Ontario.
• Etobicoke Children's Centre: Local Etobicoke children's mental health and development services provider; The Gatehouse's Program Coordinator Paula Cordeiro previously volunteered there. Provides counselling and walk-in services for children and families, with overlapping referral pathways and a shared geographic service area.
• Barbara Schlifer Clinic: Toronto-based charitable clinic offering counselling, legal, and practical support to women survivors of sexual violence. Highly comparable to The Gatehouse's adult survivor counselling and peer support programming within the same metropolitan area and survivor population.

Broad incumbents

• Kids Help Phone: Canada's largest 24/7 e-mental health service for youth, offering crisis support, counselling, and information across the country. Broad incumbent in the youth support space with overlapping mission on youth mental health, but does not focus on adult CSA survivor peer support.
• Canadian Centre for Child Protection: National nonprofit operating tip lines, child safety programs, and survivor support services. Operates in the same child abuse prevention space as The Gatehouse but at much greater scale and with a national prevention rather than localized peer-support emphasis.

Regional players

• Assaulted Women's Helpline (AWHL): Ontario-wide crisis line and counseling service for women who have experienced sexual violence. Comparable in trauma-informed counselling but focused on crisis intervention rather than the long-form peer support cohort model that distinguishes The Gatehouse.

Emerging players

• Canadian Centre for Men and Families: National organization supporting male survivors of sexual abuse, with whom The Gatehouse has a referral partnership and where Executive Director Maria Barcelos serves on the Family Shelter Advisory Board. Comparable in its male survivor outreach but focused more broadly on men's services rather than CSA peer support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gatehouse_the
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GatehouseThe
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheGatehouseChildAbuseInvestigationSupportSite
• Instagraminstagram.com/thegatehousetoronto
• TikToktiktok.com/@maria.thegatehouse.org

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Gatehouse