Abuse Hurts (Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness)

What Abuse Hurts (Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness) does

Abuse Hurts (operating as the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness) is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1993 by Ellen Campbell in Newmarket, Ontario, with a staff of approximately 15 people. The organization provides tangible, hands-on support to survivors of abuse — primarily women and children fleeing domestic violence, as well as male survivors and human trafficking survivors — by distributing essential items (clothing, toiletries, bedding, housewares, furniture, personal care products) at no cost, and by delivering educational and prevention programming. Distribution is referral-based: survivors access services through case workers at more than 130 registered partner agencies across Ontario rather than direct consumer purchase.

The product portfolio spans survivor support (Delivering Hope, Makeover Day, Huggum's Hope Memorial, Human Trafficking Support in collaboration with York Regional Police), digital learning (EmpowerWeb, a free TalentLMS-powered online learning platform launched in 2024 with Google Translate integration for 20+ languages, and the Nobody Stands Alone anti-bullying resource), content production (Hope Conference Series, Noojimowin Biinj Debwewin documentary series in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada for First Nations audiences, and curated resource book lists for practitioners, adults, teens, and children), and fundraising campaigns (Handbags of Hope, Adopt a Bear, Teen Holiday Gift Drive, Kits for a Cause). The organization also operates a retail arm — Delivering Hope Boutique at its Newmarket headquarters and a Poshmark online storefront — where donated clothing and home goods are sold to the public.

The revenue model is multi-stream and donation-driven: individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government grants (notably from Women and Gender Equality Canada), boutique and Poshmark sales, and community fundraising events (euchre tournaments, fashion shows). All services to survivors are provided free of charge. The organization is governed by a board and led by CEO/Founder Ellen Campbell and President Helena Kameka, with no parent company, equity investors, or institutional ownership. Geographic reach is national in scope but operationally concentrated in Ontario.

Name

Abuse Hurts (Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness)

Legal name

Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness

Website

https://abusehurts.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Canadian registered charity founded in 1993 that provides essential items, survivor support programs, and prevention education to abuse survivors through a referral network of 130+ Ontario partner agencies, funded by donations, government grants, and a retail boutique.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Survivor Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAD

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGAAAG

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief

SECONDARYBPADAGAL

Transitional Justice, Accountability & Reparations

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

Keywords

• Abuse survivor support
• Domestic violence services
• Intimate partner violence prevention
• Community nonprofit services
• Human trafficking support

Headquarters

HQ city

Newmarket

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to reduce impact of abuse through education, awareness, and direct support.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Financial contributions and product donations from corporate sponsors supporting specific events or initiatives, with recognition benefits at events and online.
3. Boutique Sales: Revenue from Delivering Hope Boutique sales of donated clothing, accessories, and home goods. Proceeds fund programs for survivors.
4. Fundraising Events: Revenue from events such as euchre tournaments, fashion shows, and other community fundraising initiatives.
5. Government Grants: Funding from government sources such as Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) for specific prevention and awareness projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Abuse Hurts is a registered Canadian charity that delivers tangible, hands-on assistance to abuse survivors by distributing essential items such as clothing, toiletries, bedding, and housewares through a referral-based network of partner agencies across Ontario. The organization also runs awareness, education, and prevention initiatives—including free online learning, documentary series, and peer support groups—and operates a retail boutique whose proceeds fund its programs for women, children, men, and human trafficking survivors.

Product overview

Abuse Hurts (Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness) is a national charitable organization founded in 1993, dedicated to reducing the impact and incidence of abuse through awareness, education, and direct support. The organization operates a portfolio of distinct programs including: Delivering Hope (core essential items program providing clothing, toiletries, bedding, and housewares to survivors); Makeover Day (confidence-building experiences for women survivors); Huggum's Hope Memorial (memorial for abandoned infants); Human Trafficking Support (in partnership with York Regional Police); EmpowerWeb (free online learning platform for intimate partner violence); and Nobody Stands Alone (anti-bullying education resource). The organization also operates Delivering Hope Boutique (retail store and Poshmark) and produces the Hope Conference Series and Noojimowin Biinj Debwewin documentary series for First Nations education. Fundraising campaigns include Handbags of Hope, Adopt a Bear, and Teen Holiday Gift Drive.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Delivering Hope: Program providing essential items like clothing, toiletries, bedding, and housewares to survivors of abuse fleeing violence.
• Delivering Hope Boutique
• Handbags of Hope
• Adopt a Bear Program
• Teen Holiday Gift Drive
• Huggum's Hope Memorial
• Human Trafficking Support Program
• EmpowerWeb
• Kits for a Cause
• Martin Kruze Memorial Fund
• Time for Men
• Help & Hope Project

Products and services

• Delivering Hope Program Core program providing clothing, toiletries, bedding, housewares, and personal care products to abuse survivors so they can begin again with dignity. Clients are referred through case workers at registered partner agencies.
• Makeover Day Confidence-building experience in which groups of 6–8 women survivors receive professional hair and makeup services and select new or gently used clothing, creating a safe space for connection and healing.
• Huggum's Hope Memorial Memorial initiative that honors abandoned babies who die without names or proper burial by providing dignified burial services, naming, and remembrance while raising awareness about the need for early intervention and parent support.
• Human Trafficking Support Program Immediate support for women rescued from human trafficking through collaboration with York Regional Police and community agencies, providing private appointments with essential items including clothing, footwear, and personal care products.
• EmpowerWeb Free online learning resource platform for those impacted by intimate partner violence, their friends, family, and community partners; offers short, easy-to-follow information sessions available 24-7, local resource connections, and multilingual support via Google Translate.
• Nobody Stands Alone Free, accessible anti-bullying resource hub that helps individuals, families, and educators understand the impact of bullying and cyberbullying, providing guidance, tools, and interactive content for recognizing signs and taking action.
• Delivering Hope Boutique Retail boutique offering new and pre-loved women's clothing, shoes, home décor, jewelry, and kids' items at affordable prices; 100% of proceeds support people escaping abuse. Also operates a Poshmark online store with 50% off regularly marked prices.
• Hope Conference Series Three-part virtual conference series (LEARN, LEVERAGE, LEAD) that brings together national leaders in abuse prevention and survivor support, showcasing discussions and insights on addressing domestic and intimate partner violence.
• Noojimowin Biinj Debwewin (Healing In Truth) Documentary Series Three-part documentary series focused on the lived experiences and resilience of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, including We Were Children, nêepawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, and Angry Inuk, each followed by discussion panels to promote learning, reconciliation, and healing.
• Resource Books for Survivors and Practitioners Curated series of book and resource lists for practitioners, adults, young children, and teens covering understanding abuse, healing, and support; provided as part of the organization's education mission.
• Time for Men / Help & Hope Project Peer support programs offered at no cost for male survivors of childhood or adult abuse, facilitated by a qualified therapist, including the Time for Men and Help & Hope Project groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 10,000 individuals helped annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Film Board of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to produce the Noojimowin Biinj Debwewin (Healing In Truth) documentary series focused on Indigenous Peoples' lived experiences and resilience. Includes films We Were Children, nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, and Angry Inuk with discussion panels.
• Suzanne Smoke / Biindigen Healing and ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Noojimowin Biinj Debwewin documentary series, bringing expertise in healing and arts for Indigenous communities.
• Torkin ManesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for the Noojimowin Biinj Debwewin documentary series and related programming.
• York Regional PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration with York Regional Police Services to support women rescued from human trafficking. Provides essential items to survivors immediately after rescue.
• Waterloo Community Legal ServicesminorOthersExternal resource partner providing tip sheets on ending tenancy due to abuse.
• Luke's PlaceminorOthersExternal resource partner focused on supporting rural and remote survivors of intimate partner violence.
• Western University Centre for Research and Education on Violence against Women and ChildrenminorOthersExternal resource partner providing research and education resources including the It's not Right program and Neighbours, Friends and Families Program.
• EQUIP Health CareminorOthersExternal resource partner providing Trauma and Violence Informed Care Toolkit (TVIC).
• The Learning NetworkminorOthersExternal resource partner - knowledge mobilization initiative bridging gender-based violence research, practice-based knowledge, and lived experience.
• Aura FreedomminorOthersExternal resource partner focused on ending violence against women and human trafficking through advocacy and education.
• 100 Women Who Care York RegionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHelen Davis, Secretary on the Board, is a founding member of this organization that has raised nearly $400,000 for local charities since 2015.
• Market Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for Abuse Hurts Euchre Fundraiser events, providing space for community fundraising.
• Bradford West Gwillimbury (BWG)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in the Handbags of Hope campaign, serving as a drop-off location for donated items.
• Kits for a CauseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate/group volunteering program allowing organizations to assemble care kits for children or youth in need through Abuse Hurts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Women's Foundation: National public foundation funding anti-violence programs, shelters, and survivor support. Comparable as a national funder/convener in the same domestic violence space, though it operates as a grantmaker rather than direct service provider.
• YWCA Canada: National federation addressing gender-based violence, women's shelters, and survivor support across Canada. Operates at much larger scale with broader mandate; comparable on mission and survivor-services focus.
• Kids Help Phone: Canada-wide e-mental health service supporting young people, including those affected by abuse, bullying, and violence. Broader youth mental health scope but overlapping audience with Abuse Hurts' Nobody Stands Alone anti-bullying resource.

Regional players

• BC Society of Transition Houses: Provincial umbrella for shelters and transition houses serving women and children fleeing violence in British Columbia. Comparable network/agency model in a different province; demonstrates the regional-coordination pattern Abuse Hurts supports at the agency level in Ontario.

Direct peers

• Luke's Place: Ontario-based support and learning center for women leaving abusive relationships and their children. Comparable direct-service model for survivors of intimate partner violence; already an Abuse Hurts resource partner.
• Yellow Brick House: York Region-based shelter and support services for women and children experiencing violence. Comparable Ontario geographic footprint, survivor-services model, and shelter/essential-items programming.
• Interval House Toronto: Toronto-based shelter and counseling services for women and children fleeing violence. Directly comparable as an Ontario-based direct-service provider for domestic violence survivors with similar programs (shelter, counseling, essentials).
• Assaulted Women's Helpline (AWHL): Ontario-wide crisis line and counseling service for women experiencing abuse. Directly comparable as an Ontario-based survivor-support service with referral and education components.

Others

• Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH): Provincial association coordinating Ontario women's shelters and transition houses. Comparable ecosystem role as an intermediary/network hub serving the same Ontario anti-violence agency network that Abuse Hurts depends on for referrals.

Emerging players

• Aura Freedom: Canadian nonprofit addressing sexual exploitation and human trafficking through education and survivor support. Comparable anti-trafficking focus, overlapping with Abuse Hurts' human trafficking program; listed as a resource partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/abusehurtsca
• Facebookfacebook.com/abusehurtscom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-centre-for-abuse-awareness
• Instagraminstagram.com/abusehurts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Abuse Hurts (Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness)