Gillian’s Place
Gillian's Place is a registered Canadian charity in St. Catharines, Ontario, operating one of Ontario's first shelters for abuse survivors. It provides free 24/7 crisis support, shelter, transitional housing, counselling, legal services, and violence prevention programs to women, children, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals across the Niagara region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersSaint Catharines, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Gillian’s Place does
Gillian's Place is a registered Canadian charity (BN 129718037RR0001) headquartered in St. Catharines, Ontario, that operates one of Ontario's earliest shelters for individuals experiencing abuse. Founded in 1982 and active for over 40 years, the organization delivers a comprehensive suite of confidential, free services to women, children, and 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors of gender-based violence across the Niagara region. Its core service lines include a 24/7 phone and text crisis line (905.684.8331), emergency safe shelter, transitional/second-stage housing, individual and group counselling, legal advice and advocacy, child and youth services, and a Resource Centre with safety planning and a 12-question online Personal Risk Assessment tool. The organization is inclusive of all women, Two-Spirit, genderqueer, trans, and non-binary individuals facing violence.
Beyond direct service delivery, Gillian's Place runs community education and violence prevention programming, including the Coaching Boys into Men program delivered in partnership with the District School Board of Niagara and the Niagara Catholic District School Board. Signature fundraising and awareness events include Walk a Mile in HER Shoes (20th annual in 2026), the Break the Silence Auction, Wrapped in Courage during Woman Abuse Prevention Month, and the Breakfast to End Gender-based Violence. The organization also operates the Safer Futures capital/awareness campaign to fund future organizational growth.
The business model is that of a charitable nonprofit: all client services are provided at no charge. Funding is sourced from individual donations, corporate sponsors, foundations, community organizations, municipal and provincial government grants, and federal programs including a 2023 grant from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees, consistent with a small-to-mid-sized regional shelter operator. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
Gillian’s Place firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gillian’s Place
- Legal name
- Gillian's Place
- Website
- https://gilliansplace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gillian's Place is a registered Canadian charity in St. Catharines, Ontario, operating one of Ontario's first shelters for abuse survivors. It provides free 24/7 crisis support, shelter, transitional housing, counselling, legal services, and violence prevention programs to women, children, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals across the Niagara region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gillian’s Place industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Domestic Violence Support Services
- NAICS
- Temporary Shelters (624221), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- 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)
Keywords
Where Gillian’s Place is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Catharines
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gillian’s Place business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Gillian's Place operates as a registered charity (BN 129718037RR0001) funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and community organizations. The organization runs multiple fundraising campaigns including Walk a Mile in HER Shoes, Break the Silence auction, and monthly giving programs.
- Government Funding: The organization receives support from government at various levels (municipal, provincial) as part of the broader social services infrastructure addressing gender-based violence in Ontario.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Gillian’s Place product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gillian's Place provides confidential emergency shelter, crisis intervention, counselling, legal advice, and transitional housing for women, children, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing gender-based violence in the Niagara region of Ontario. The organization also delivers community education, violence prevention programming in schools, and outreach services free of charge to survivors.
Product overview
Gillian's Place is a confidential support services organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs for survivors of gender-based violence. The organization provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, crisis support via a 24/7 hotline, individual and group counselling, legal services, and specialized programs for children and youth. Key programs include the Personal Risk Assessment tool, Coaching Boys into Men (in partnership with local school boards), and community education workshops. The organization also hosts signature fundraising events including Walk a Mile in HER Shoes and the Break the Silence Auction. Gillian's Place serves women, children, Two-Spirit, genderqueer, trans, and non-binary individuals across the Niagara region of Ontario.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Crisis Support Line 24/7 over-the-phone and text crisis support and emergency assistance for individuals experiencing gender-based violence, available at 905-684-8331.
- Safe Shelter & Housing Emergency and transitional safe shelter accommodation for women, children, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals fleeing violence and abuse.
- Child and Youth Services Support programs and services specifically designed for children and youth who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence, including school-based educational workshops.
- Counselling & Support Confidential outreach counselling services provided over-the-phone and in-person to survivors of gender-based violence and abuse.
- Legal Services Legal advice and support services to help survivors navigate the legal system, including assistance with protection orders and related matters.
- Second Stage Housing Transitional housing program providing longer-term accommodation and support for survivors moving toward independent living.
- Resource Centre Educational materials, safety resources, and information about gender-based violence, including risk assessment tools and community education materials.
- Personal Risk Assessment An interactive 12-question risk assessment tool that helps individuals evaluate whether they may be in an abusive relationship and understand their safety level.
- Uniquely You Support services tailored to individual needs, helping survivors develop personalized safety plans and access appropriate resources.
- Surviving to Thriving A program designed to support survivors in their journey from crisis to recovery, focusing on empowerment and long-term stability.
- Community Education & Violence Prevention Educational programs and workshops for schools, community groups, and organizations focused on preventing gender-based violence and promoting healthy relationships.
- Coaching Boys into Men An evidence-based program partnering with local school boards to train coaches in facilitating weekly discussions with young male athletes about healthy relationships, consent, and building safer athletic cultures.
Quantifiable outcome
- 24/7 crisis support available via phone/text at 905.684.8331
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Gillian’s Place
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Gillian’s Place technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Gillian’s Place partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- District School Board of NiagaracorePartnership to deliver Coaching Boys into Men program, training coaches to positively influence young male athletes on healthy relationships, consent, and mental health.
- Niagara Catholic District School BoardcorePartnership to deliver Coaching Boys into Men program, providing coaches with training to promote healthy relationships and build safer athletic cultures.
- Birchway Niagara (Women's Place of South Niagara)coreReferral partnership for schools in South Niagara area, directing schools to appropriate services when Gillian's Place programming is not available in that region.
- Corporations, Foundations, and Community OrganizationscoreThe organization acknowledges relationships with corporations, foundations, small businesses, associations, community organizations, and all levels of government as instrumental to their growth and ability to continue supporting women across Niagara.
- Niagara Region MunicipalitycoreNiagara Region joined over 90 municipalities in declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic in September 2023, demonstrating governmental commitment to addressing gender-based violence.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Gillian’s Place competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH): Provincial umbrella organization coordinating Ontario's network of shelters for women and children fleeing violence. Comparable as the governing/advocacy body that shapes Gillian's Place's policy environment, funder relationships, and service standards.
Direct peers
- Anova (formerly Assaulted Women's Helpline): Ontario-based organization providing crisis line, shelter, and counselling services for women and gender-diverse survivors of violence, including the provincial sexual assault centre helpline. Comparable as a directly overlapping Ontario gender-based violence service provider.
- Interval House Toronto: One of Ontario's longest-running shelters for women and children experiencing violence, operating emergency shelter, counselling, and transitional housing in Toronto. Comparable to Gillian's Place as a legacy Ontario women's shelter offering the same core wraparound services.
- YWCA Niagara Region: Regional multi-service women's organization in the Niagara region that provides shelter, housing, and gender-based violence support alongside broader women's services. Directly comparable to Gillian's Place as a same-region provider of overlapping women's shelter and community services.
- Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region: Waterloo Region organization running Anselma House shelter and Haven House transitional housing for abused women and children. Directly comparable to Gillian's Place as an Ontario women's shelter with emergency and transitional housing plus 24/7 crisis support.
- Birchway Niagara (Women's Place of South Niagara): Partner shelter organization providing women's services in South Niagara, explicitly named in Gillian's Place referral network. Comparable as a peer domestic violence shelter in the same region with overlapping service lines.
- Luke's Place Support and Resource Centre for Women and Children: Oshawa-based Ontario organization supporting abused women and their children through counselling, legal support, and group programs. Comparable to Gillian's Place as a sister Ontario organization focused on women's shelter-adjacent services, especially legal advocacy.
- Ernestine's Women's Shelter: Toronto-based emergency shelter and support organization for women and children fleeing abuse, with culturally responsive programming. Comparable to Gillian's Place as a directly operating Ontario women's shelter with similar service lines.
- Interval House Hamilton-Wentworth: Shelter serving abused women and their children in the Hamilton-Wentworth region with emergency shelter, transitional housing, and counselling. Directly comparable to Gillian's Place as a neighbouring Ontario women's shelter with the same wraparound model.
Others
- Canadian Women's Foundation: National funder and convener focused on gender-based violence prevention, women's economic resilience, and gender equality. Comparable as a primary funding and convening partner that influences Gillian's Place's grant pipeline and sector strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gillian’s Place social profiles
Digital presenceGillian’s Place financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gillian’s Place leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Gillian’s Place funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gillian’s Place M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gillian’s Place
What does Gillian’s Place do?
Gillian's Place provides confidential emergency shelter, crisis intervention, counselling, legal advice, and transitional housing for women, children, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing gender-based violence in the Niagara region of Ontario. The organization also delivers community education, violence prevention programming in schools, and outreach services free of charge to survivors.
Is Gillian’s Place a public or private company?
Gillian’s Place is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Gillian’s Place founded?
Gillian’s Place was founded in 1982. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gillian’s Place based?
Gillian’s Place is headquartered in Saint Catharines, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Gillian’s Place make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are government Funding.
Who are Gillian’s Place's main competitors?
Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH) is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Anova (formerly Assaulted Women's Helpline), Interval House Toronto, YWCA Niagara Region, Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, Birchway Niagara (Women's Place of South Niagara), Luke's Place Support and Resource Centre for Women and Children, Ernestine's Women's Shelter and Interval House Hamilton-Wentworth. Canadian Women's Foundation is listed as an others.
Does Gillian’s Place have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gillian’s Place.
What industry is Gillian’s Place in?
Gillian’s Place's product category is Domestic Violence Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAD, Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services, with a secondary code of BPADADAH, Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid). Its NAICS code is 624221 and its SIC code is 8300.