Halifax Sexual Health Centre

What Halifax Sexual Health Centre does

Halifax Sexual Health Centre is a non-profit community health clinic founded in 1970 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It delivers sexual, reproductive, and gender-affirming health services including STI and HIV testing, birth control, pregnancy testing, HPV and Mpox immunizations, gender-affirming care, and pelvic physiotherapy. The centre operates as an independent charitable organization outside the Nova Scotia Health Authority and serves a deliberately broad population: youth, the 2SLGBTQ+ community, trans and non-binary individuals, newcomers, seniors, and patients without a family doctor. Its gender-affirming care program supports 850+ active patients and serves 22.8% of Nova Scotia's trans/non-binary population, with an average wait time of 4-6 weeks and a ~60 patient waitlist.

The business model is a hybrid public-funding and philanthropic model. Services are free at the point of care for holders of a valid Nova Scotia health card. Revenue is generated through Medical Services Insurance (MSI) billings, government and community grants, and donations, rather than direct patient fees. Distribution is primarily through a single physical clinic in Halifax, supplemented by province-wide reach via its role as a member-centre of Sexual Health Nova Scotia and partnerships with PrideHealth, Action Canada, Kits for a Cause, and SUGAR Health.

Strategic activity in 2026 includes the launch of the Sex Over Sixty Guide Volume 3, a Newcomer Sexual and Reproductive Health Guide, the SHNS Transformation Closet program, and expansion of the gender-affirming care program. The organization is led by Executive Director Abbey Ferguson and Medical Director Dr. Hali Bauld, the latter of whom also founded the Truro Sexual Health Centre.

Name

Halifax Sexual Health Centre

Legal name

Halifax Sexual Health Centre

Website

https://hshc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Halifax Sexual Health Centre is a non-profit community health clinic founded in 1970 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing free sexual, reproductive, and gender-affirming health services to youth, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, newcomers, seniors, and underserved populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

NAICS

Family Planning Centers (621410), Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health Centers (FQHCs & Look-Alikes) (HLAFAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sexual Health & STI/HIV Prevention Health Departments (HLAJAAAL)

Keywords

• Sexual health clinic
• Reproductive health services
• Gender-affirming care
• STI testing
• Community health centre

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. MSI Health Billings: Medical services billed to Nova Scotia's health insurance program (MSI) for eligible residents. Quebec health card holders pay upfront and seek reimbursement.
2. Government and Community Grants: Relies on community and government grants to support clinic operations as stated on fundraising page.
3. Donations: Accepts one-time and monthly donations via CanadaHelps, securities donations, wills and estates, and Amazon wishlist contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Halifax Sexual Health Centre (HSHC) is a non-profit community sexual health clinic that delivers clinical services including STI and anonymous HIV testing, birth control and pregnancy options, transgender and gender-affirming care, HPV/mpox immunization, and pelvic physiotherapy. It complements these clinical services with educational guides, youth programs, free safer sex supplies, and partnerships such as SUGAR Health and the SHNS Transformation Closet. Most clinical services are free for Nova Scotia health card holders, with the organization funded through MSI billings, grants, and donations.

Product overview

Halifax Sexual Health Centre (HSHC) offers a comprehensive suite of sexual, reproductive, and gender-affirming health services as a non-profit community clinic. Services are organized as clinical offerings (STI/HIV testing, birth control, pregnancy services, gender-affirming care, vaccinations), educational resources (guides on sexual health topics, partner communication, senior sexuality), and community programs (youth initiatives, safer sex supply distribution, book clubs). The core clinical services are provided free with valid health cards and include online appointment booking as an access feature. Educational resources span guides for various populations (youth, seniors, newcomers, transgender individuals) and topics (birth control methods, STI information, pregnancy options). The organization partners with Sexual Health Nova Scotia on provincial initiatives including the SUGAR HEALTH registry and Transformation Closet program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STI Testing Testing services for sexually transmitted infections including oral, vaginal, anal, and penile urethral testing. Free with valid health card; targets individuals needing confidential STI screening in Halifax.
• Anonymous HIV Testing/STBBI Testing Confidential testing for HIV and sexually transmitted/blood-borne infections (STBBI) including syphilis, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Blood draw may be done on-site or via requisition.
• Transgender/Gender-Affirming Health Specialized healthcare for transgender and gender-diverse individuals, including hormone therapy support and gender-affirming surgery readiness letters. 850+ patients receiving GAC, approximately 60 on waitlist.
• Gender-Affirming and Pelvic Physiotherapy Physiotherapy services supporting gender-affirming care and pelvic health needs for trans/gender-diverse patients.
• Birth Control Services Comprehensive birth control services including Oral Contraceptive Pills, IUD, Contraceptive Implant (Nexplanon), Contraceptive Injection (Depo Provera), The Patch, The NuvaRing, Diaphragm, Emergency Contraception, and referrals for tubal ligation and vasectomy.
• Pregnancy Testing and Options Pregnancy testing services with counseling on pregnancy options and decision-making support.
• Mpox (Monkeypox) Immunizations Vaccination/immunization services for mpox (monkeypox) prevention.
• HPV Vaccine (GARDASIL/Gardasil 9) HPV vaccination service to prevent cervical cancer, vulvar/vaginal cancers, cervical dysplasia, and genital warts. Recommended for ages 9-26 not yet sexually active; approximately $230/dose, 2-3 doses required.
• Social Work Support Social work assistance and support services for clinic clients.
• Workshops, Health Fairs, Consultations, and Presentations Educational programming including workshops, health fair participation, consultations, and presentations on sexual health topics for community groups and organizations.
• Compassionate Contraceptives Program Program providing compassionately priced birth control products. Accepts payment via cash, debit, or credit.
• Free Safer Sex Supplies Free safer sex supplies including external condoms, internal condoms, dental dams, gloves, finger condoms, cervical caps, and spermicide available for order.
• DO YOU MIND Youth Program Youth-focused sexual health program including the Queer Love as Revolution Zine Art Submission initiative.
• Young Readers Book Club Book club introducing participants aged 4-8 to gender and sexuality through 2SLGBTQIA+ focused storybooks. Free books shipped to participants; facilitated via Zoom sessions.

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sexual Health Nova Scotia (SHNS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSHC is a member-centre of Sexual Health Nova Scotia, a provincial network of sexual health centres. SHNS has launched SUGAR Health, a province-wide sexual, gender, and reproductive health warmline and registry.
• SUGAR HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSUGAR Health is Nova Scotia's sexual, gender, and reproductive health registry and warmline operated by Sexual Health Nova Scotia. Connects community to essential SGRH care.
• PrideHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrideHealth provides safe and accessible primary health care to 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. HSHC partners on gender-affirming care navigation.
• Kits for a CauseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKits for a Cause connects charities with groups and individuals looking to give back. Offers donation portal and charitable event hub with 'kit packing' initiatives for essential items.
• Action Canada for Sexual Health and RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSHC hosts links to Action Canada's Sexual Health Hub with resources on STIs, abortion access, healthy relationships, and sexual health topics.
• Community Directory PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of community organizations including Adsum for Women and Children, Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, Byrony House, Laing House, Phoenix Youth Program, South House, The Youth Project, and STI Clinic for referrals and collaborative care.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Callen-Lorde Community Health Center: New York-based federally qualified community health center specializing in LGBTQ+ primary care, sexual health, and gender-affirming care. Larger-scale analog with comparable mission, target population, and FQHC-style funding model — useful benchmark for HSHC's potential trajectory.

Direct peers

• Hassle Free Clinic (Toronto): Toronto-based non-profit sexual health clinic offering anonymous STI/HIV testing, birth control, and gender-affirming care on a walk-in/community-clinic basis. Closest functional analog in Ontario with similar service mix and inclusive, non-judgmental positioning.
• Saskatoon Sexual Health: Prairie-based non-profit sexual health clinic offering STI testing, contraception, pregnancy support, and 2SLGBTQ+ programming. Comparable community-clinic structure, revenue mix, and advocacy orientation.
• Calgary Sexual Health Centre: Alberta community-based sexual health non-profit delivering STI testing, birth control, gender-affirming care, and sex education. Closely comparable Canadian non-profit clinic serving a similar population with the same funding pattern.
• Island Sexual Health (Victoria): Vancouver Island non-profit sexual health clinic providing contraception, STI testing, pregnancy options, and gender-affirming care in a community clinic setting. Comparable scope, governance (non-profit), and inclusive service ethos.
• Options for Sexual Health (BC): British Columbia's provincial sexual health non-profit network providing similar free/low-cost contraception, STI testing, and reproductive health services through member clinics. Highly comparable community-clinic operating model focused on inclusive sexual health access.
• Head & Hands (Montreal): Montreal youth-focused non-profit providing medical, sexual health, and social services for teens and young adults. Comparable youth-friendly, sex-positive, inclusive approach with similar funding model.
• SHORE Centre (Kitchener-Waterloo): Ontario sexual health non-profit providing STI testing, contraception, pregnancy options, and 2SLGBTQ+ affirming care through a community clinic model. Direct peer in scope, target population, and revenue mix (grants, donations, fee-for-service).
• RÉZO (Gatineau/Montreal): Quebec non-profit offering sexual health screening, prevention, and community programs targeted at MSM and 2SLGBTQ+ populations. Comparable mission, community-led model, and bilingual inclusive service delivery.

Regional players

• PrideHealth (Nova Scotia Health): NS Health Authority program providing 2SLGBTQ+ primary care navigation and gender-affirming care in the same province. Regional partial overlap — partners with HSHC on GAC navigation but operates within the public health system rather than as an independent community clinic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/155865784447760
• Xx.com/hfxsexualhealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Halifax Sexual Health Centre