Refuge pour les Femmes de l’Ouest de l'Île

What Refuge pour les Femmes de l’Ouest de l'Île does

Refuge pour les Femmes de l'Ouest de l'Île (West Island Women's Shelter, WIWS, RFOI) is a Quebec-registered non-profit charitable organization founded in 1979 and headquartered in Kirkland, in the West Island of Montreal. The organization provides free, confidential services to women and children who are victims of conjugal (domestic) violence, operating a 24/7 crisis line (514-620-4845 ext. 221), a short-term emergency shelter accommodating up to five families and two single women simultaneously, and a second-stage housing program called Alternat'elle comprising 14 partially subsidized, furnished, and secure apartments with stays up to 21 months. Beyond crisis and housing, WIWS offers external intervention services that do not require shelter entry, individual and group counseling, child- and youth-focused services, support groups for relatives, legal accompaniment, and customized awareness training for schools, businesses, and healthcare organizations.

The organization has developed proprietary multilingual intervention resources that are both used internally and distributed externally — notably a Guide Handbook for women victims of conjugal violence available in nine languages (French, English, Spanish, Arabic, Punjabi, Mandarin, Creole, Tamil, Vietnamese) and coercive control screening questionnaires / evaluation grids extended to French, English, and German as of June 2025, alongside brain trauma and family mediation tools. These resources are sold in packages (e.g., $12/guide, packs of 25 for French/English) to other organizations and professionals.

Revenue is generated primarily through individual and corporate donations, an annual Pumps and Pearls / Talons et Perles gala (tickets $250, corporate tables $5,000), charity concerts, the FundScrip gift-card affiliate program, corporate partnership sponsorships (Le Château, Royal LePage National Shelter Foundation, Montreal Neon Signs), minor product sales of educational guides, and government program funding (notably a 2023 grant from Employment and Social Development Canada). Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, and tax receipts are issued for donations of $10 or more. Governance is overseen by a Board of Directors with Madame Guylaine Simard serving as Directrice générale.

Name

Refuge pour les Femmes de l’Ouest de l'Île

Legal name

Refuge pour les Femmes de l'Ouest de l'Île

Website

https://wiws.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Refuge pour les Femmes de l'Ouest de l'Île (West Island Women's Shelter), founded 1979 in Kirkland, Quebec, is a non-profit that provides free 24/7 crisis support, emergency shelter, second-stage housing, counseling, and multilingual intervention resources to women and children victims of conjugal violence in the West Island of Montreal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Shelter and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Women's shelter services
• Crisis intervention
• Second-stage housing
• Community education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirkland

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The primary revenue source. The shelter is a non-profit organization relying on donations from individuals, corporations, and community groups. Tax receipts are issued for donations of $10 or more. Various donation programs include direct cash donations, project-specific donations, and estate planning (bequests).
2. Fundraising Events: Annual galas (Pumps and Pearls/Talons et Perles) with ticket sales, corporate table sponsorships, and raffle proceeds. Charity concerts and community-organized events also generate funds.
3. FundScrip Gift Card Program: A fundraising program where supporters purchase gift cards at face value from participating retailers and a percentage of each gift card is contributed to the shelter's fundraising efforts. Costs supporters nothing extra.
4. Guide Handbook Sales: Sale of accompaniment guide handbooks for women victims of conjugal violence. Sold in packages: $12/guide, packages of 25 for French/English, packages of 10 for other languages.
5. Partnership Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships such as Le Château's 'Avancez avec style' initiative, Montreal Neon Signs billboard sponsorship, and Fairview Pointe Claire Chateau footwear sales donation program generate both funds and in-kind support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The organization provides confidential shelter, crisis intervention, and second-stage housing for women and children victims of conjugal (domestic) violence in the West Island of Montreal. Services are delivered free of charge and include a 24/7 crisis line, short-term shelter accommodation for up to five families and two single women, 14 partially subsidized second-stage apartments (Alternat'elle) for stays up to 21 months, external intervention services, support groups for relatives, youth services, and customized community education and training. The organization also develops and distributes multilingual educational and intervention resources, including coercive control evaluation tools and a guide handbook available in up to nine languages.

Product overview

Refuge pour les Femmes de l'Ouest de l'Île (West Island Women's Shelter) is a non-profit organization offering a comprehensive suite of services for women and children victims of conjugal violence. The organization operates a 24/7 Crisis Line as the primary entry point, providing immediate support and evaluation. Core services include emergency shelter (accommodating up to 5 families and 2 single women), Alternat'elle second-stage apartments (14 partially-funded units for up to 21 months), external services without shelter for ongoing support, support groups for relatives, and youth services for children exposed to violence. The organization also provides specialized intervention tools including coercive control evaluation resources, family mediation materials, brain trauma awareness resources, and a comprehensive Guide Handbook available in 9 languages. Community education and awareness programs are delivered through schools, businesses, and health organizations. The portfolio functions as an integrated social services ecosystem where crisis intervention, housing support, therapeutic services, legal resources, and community education work together to support victims through the full continuum of care from immediate safety to long-term recovery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alternat'elle: Second-stage housing program with 14 partially subsidized secure apartments for women and children who have been accommodated in shelter for a minimum of one month. Maximum stay is 21 months.

Products and services

• 24/7 Crisis Line Telephone information and support service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing instant response for victims of conjugal violence, as well as support for relatives and professionals. Functions as the primary intake channel for the shelter.
• Shelter Services
• Alternat'elle Apartments
• External Services (Without Shelter)
• Support Groups for Relatives
• Awareness and Education in the Community
• Coercive Control Evaluation Tools Screening questionnaires and evaluation grids for coercive control targeting women, children, and mothers, available in multiple languages (English, French, German).
• Family Mediation Resources
• Brain Trauma Resources
• Guide Handbook
• Youth Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Shelter accommodation for up to 5 families and 2 women alone simultaneously, plus 14 second-stage apartments for up to 21 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pointe Claire SenatorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 January 2020The Pointe Claire Senators donated $6,000 to the West Island Women's Shelter in January 2020.
• Global TV (Jamie Orchard)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 November 2019Global TV News anchor Jamie Orchard hosted the 2019 Pumps and Pearls Gala, providing media visibility and credibility to the fundraising event.
• Royal LePage National Shelter FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 April 2019100% of ticket proceeds from the Mark Broady Charity Concert go directly to the Royal LePage National Shelter Foundation and the West Island Women's Shelter, supporting the national campaign to end violence against women.
• The Beat 92.5 (Donna Saker)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 May 2017The Beat 92.5 radio host Donna Saker hosted the 'IGNITING POSSIBILITIES' fundraising event featuring Miranda Esmonde-White, Lisa Brookman, and Yolande James, supporting WIWS.
• Academy Kuper, Club piscine, Imotion, Biopsy, Design My Move, Liliane Lingerie, Montreal Gazette, TFO, RTS, Copie 2000, ALFID, WebZenitudeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 November 2016Multiple community partners contributed to the '40,000 Thanks' backyard rejuvenation project at the shelter, including installation of a commercial play structure, swing set, gazebo, patio, and security fence. Partners included local businesses, media organizations, and community groups.
• Le Château Fairview Pointe ClaireminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 November 2016The company donated a percentage of all ladies footwear sales on November 17 and all ladies footwear sales from November 25 to December 6 (the '12 days of action to end violence against women') as part of the Pumps and Pearls campaign in support of WIWS.
• Montreal Neon SignsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 November 2016Montreal Neon Signs sponsored 100 promotional billboards as part of the 12 days of action against violence taking place November 25 to December 6.
• Le Château of MontrealcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 May 2016Le Château of Montreal launched the 'Avancez avec style' partnership with three Montreal women's charities including WIWS. Each month, Le Château personnel meet four women from each charity in their stores and provide personalized assistance and exclusive vouchers for free clothing to boost self-confidence and support reintegration. The initiative included delivery of nearly $250,000 of clothing to nine community charities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Auberge Shalom pour femmes: Montreal-based women's shelter providing emergency shelter, crisis intervention, and post-shelter support to women victims of conjugal violence — directly comparable in mission, service mix, and Quebec operating context to WIWS.
• Logifem: Montreal women's shelter serving women victims of conjugal violence and their children, offering shelter, external services, and post-shelter follow-up — directly comparable service model and beneficiary population in the same Montreal market.
• Interval House of Ottawa: Canadian women's shelter providing emergency shelter, second-stage housing, crisis line, and community education for women fleeing domestic violence — closely comparable service portfolio and non-profit structure in a different Canadian market.
• S.O.S. Violence conjugale: Quebec-wide bilingual crisis telephone helpline and referral service for victims of conjugal violence, operating 24/7 across the province — directly comparable intake channel and mandate, with broader geographic reach.
• Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter: Alberta women's shelter providing emergency shelter, second-stage housing, crisis line, and community education for women and children fleeing domestic violence — directly comparable service model at a larger scale.
• Interval House Toronto: Toronto women's shelter offering emergency shelter, second-stage housing, 24/7 crisis line, children's services, and community education for women and children fleeing abuse — directly comparable continuum of services at a larger scale.
• La Maison de Marthe (Maison St-Jacques): Quebec women's shelter for women victims of conjugal violence and their children, offering shelter, intervention, and accompaniment — directly comparable in scope and Quebec francophone context.
• Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale: Quebec network of women's shelters providing shelter, external services, and second-stage housing — WIWS is a member organization, and the network aggregates comparable member shelters across Quebec.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Canada: National federation of YWCAs operating women's shelters, housing, and gender-based violence programs across Canada — broader portfolio of services but overlapping mandate in DV shelter and second-stage housing.
• YWCA Montréal: Montreal-based YWCA operating women's housing, shelter, and gender-based violence programs — overlapping mission and services within the same Montreal ecosystem as WIWS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Refuge-pour-les-femmes-de-lOuest-de-l%C3%8EleWest-Island-Womens-Shelter-669278266594829

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Refuge pour les Femmes de l’Ouest de l'Île