Scarborough Women’s Centre

What Scarborough Women’s Centre does

Scarborough Women's Centre (SWC) is a Canadian non-profit charitable organization founded in 1982 (CRA registration #10795-9660-RR0001) that delivers free counselling, one-to-one mentoring, information and referral services, webinars, and workshops to women in the Scarborough area of Toronto, Ontario. The centre operates from a single office at 2100 Ellesmere Rd, Suite 245 and maintains 11-50 employees including clinically credentialed counsellors (multiple MSW/RSW staff and a Ph.D. Psychologist) supplemented by trained volunteer mentors. It runs targeted programming for distinct population segments including young women aged 13-20 (Building Strong Futures), senior women (SASS - Supporting Aging Sisters in Scarborough), newcomer women, women with disabilities, LGBTQ+ women, and Francophone women, and partners with Centennial College to deliver an iterative self-paced online micro-credential course for women exploring training and employment (currently in its 9th cohort for July-September 2026).

The organization is funded through a mix of charitable donations (processed via CanadaHelps), grants, corporate giving, community-hosted fundraising events, and volunteer labour, with all services offered at no cost to participants. Distribution spans in-person service delivery at its Scarborough office (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm), virtual channels including webinars and the Centennial College micro-credential course, and outbound community workshops delivered into schools and community spaces. Marketing and participant reach rely on a multi-channel digital presence (website, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, email newsletter, downloadable program brochures and resource guides such as the 2026 Moving Forward Resource Guide), supplemented by referrals from community organizations, social service agencies, healthcare providers, and educational institutions. Since its 1982 founding, SWC has supported 175,000+ women and children, with demographic data showing a participant base concentrated among lower-income women (59% household income under C$25,000) and those experiencing unemployment or economic dependence.

The centre's competitive positioning rests on its 40-year operational track record and accumulated municipal, provincial, and federal recognition (including the Mayor's Community Safety Award, Constance E. Hamilton Award, Paul Harris Fellow, Ontario Leading Women Building Strong Communities Award, and King Charles III Coronation Medal). A material near-term operational event is the announced Fall 2026 retirement of Executive Director Lynda Kosowan, who has led the organization for 40 years; succession arrangements are referenced but not yet publicly detailed.

Name

Scarborough Women’s Centre

Legal name

Scarborough Women's Centre

Website

https://scarboroughwomenscentre.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Scarborough Women's Centre is a 1982-founded Canadian charitable non-profit (CRA #10795-9660-RR0001) that delivers free counselling, mentoring, information and referrals, webinars, workshops, and targeted programs to diverse women across Scarborough, Ontario, including young, senior, newcomer, disabled, LGBTQ+, and Francophone women.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services for Women

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Women's support services
• Community counselling
• Women's mentoring programs
• Community social services
• Women's empowerment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Scarborough

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Scarborough Women's Centre is a registered Canadian charity that provides free support programs for women in Scarborough, Ontario. Its core offerings include professional counselling, one-to-one mentoring with trained volunteers, information and referrals, and educational webinars and workshops. Targeted programs address specific populations including young women (Building Strong Futures), senior women (SASS), newcomer women, women with disabilities, LGBTQ+ women, Francophone women, and women exploring training and employment (online micro-credential course with Centennial College). All services are delivered free of charge.

Product overview

Scarborough Women's Centre offers a single integrated service model providing free support programs for women. The core services include Information & Referrals, Counselling, One-to-One Mentoring, and Webinars & Workshops. Targeted programs address specific populations including young women (Building Strong Futures), senior women (SASS), newcomer women, women with disabilities, LGBTQ+ women, and women exploring training and employment (Micro-credential Course). The Moving Forward Resource Guide serves as a supplementary educational resource. All services are free and delivered in a safe, inclusive environment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Information & Referrals Connects women with appropriate community resources and support services, helping them navigate information about local programs and supports. Free for all women in the Scarborough community.
• Counselling Professional counselling delivered by qualified social workers (MSW, RSW; Ph.D. Psychology) to support women in crisis and transition. Free for all women.
• One-to-One Mentoring Informal mentoring with trained volunteers providing guidance and support for women navigating life transitions. Free for all women.
• Webinars & Workshops Educational webinars (online, pre-registration required) and in-person workshops covering leadership, empowerment, mental wellness, and life skills for women in the Scarborough community.
• Building Strong Futures: Young Women's Outreach Outreach program assisting young women ages 15-19 with workshops, volunteer and student placement opportunities, leadership development, and safety planning to help them make positive life choices. Interactive webinars and on-site school/community workshops available.
• Micro-credential Course Online self-directed and self-paced micro-credential course delivered in partnership with Centennial College for women exploring training and employment, covering Communication Skills, Conflict Resolution, Self-care, Digital Literacy, and more. Free for participants; Centennial College provides orientation and SWC staff provide ongoing support.
• SASS (Supporting Aging Sisters in Scarborough) Programming specifically designed for senior women in Scarborough to provide support, reduce social isolation, and strengthen community connection. Delivered via dedicated SASS Project Coordinator and SASS Facilitator.
• Moving Forward Resource Guide Annual downloadable resource guide for women on their journey to training and employment, containing relevant resources and support information (2026 edition).

Quantifiable outcome

• 175,000+ women and children supported since 1982
• +2 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Centennial CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScarborough Women's Centre partners with Centennial College to deliver a micro-credential course for women exploring training and employment. This is the 9th cohort, running July 20 to September 18, 2026. The course is self-directed and self-paced, covering Communication Skills, Conflict Resolution, Self-care, Digital Literacy, and more. The course is free for participants. Centennial College provides orientation and SWC staff provide ongoing support throughout the course.
• Annual General Meeting MembersminorOthersThe Scarborough Women's Centre presents its Annual Report to its membership at the Annual General Meeting each September. The organization is a registered charity (#10795-9660-RR0001) governed by a Board of Directors elected by members at the AGM.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YWCA Toronto: Large women's services organization in the Greater Toronto Area offering counselling, shelter, employment, and newcomer programs for women. Directly comparable as a community-based women's support non-profit operating in the same region.
• Nellie's (Women's Shelter): Toronto-area women's organization providing shelter, counselling, and community programs for women and children fleeing violence. Directly comparable mission and service mix (counselling, support, community resources) to Scarborough Women's Centre.
• Interval House: Toronto women's shelter and counselling organization providing safety, support, and transitional services for women experiencing violence. Comparable mission in serving abused women and children across the GTA.
• Women's Habitat: Peel Region women's support non-profit offering counselling, shelter, and outreach services. Comparable as a regional women's support centre serving similar vulnerable populations.
• Sistering: Toronto women's drop-in and support organization serving marginalized women including newcomers, seniors, and women with mental health or addiction issues. Directly comparable target population and service model.
• North York Women's Centre: Toronto-area women's resource centre offering free counselling, information/referral, and support groups. Closely mirrors Scarborough Women's Centre's free-service, community-based women's support model in a neighbouring Toronto district.

Broad incumbents

• Fred Victor: Toronto social services non-profit offering housing, employment, and women's programming for marginalized populations including women experiencing violence and poverty. Comparable target population and free service model.
• YWCA Canada: National federation of YWCAs providing women's services across Canada. Comparable in mission and service categories (counselling, employment, newcomer support) but operates as a national umbrella rather than a single community site.
• Women's College Hospital: Toronto hospital dedicated to women's health with research and community programming focused on women. Comparable in women-centred mission and Toronto footprint, though operates at much larger institutional scale.

Regional players

• COSTI Immigrant Services: Greater Toronto Area settlement services non-profit serving newcomers, including dedicated women's programming. Comparable overlap in newcomer women support, although COSTI's mandate is broader than gender-specific services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ScarbWomensCtr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1z3tbKSgL-XpTJFz9eYzmQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/scarboroughwomenscentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scarborough-women%27s-centre?trk=biz-companies-cym
• Instagraminstagram.com/scarboroughwomenscentre/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Scarborough Women’s Centre