Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW)

What Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) does

OCTEVAW is a non-profit coalition founded in 1984 in Ottawa, Ontario, following the City of Ottawa's Task Force on Wife Assault. It operates as a coordinating network rather than a direct service provider, bridging more than 50 local member agencies — 35 non-partisan, non-profit organizations plus 10+ non-voting participants including municipal departments, academics, and individual members. The coalition's mission is to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence against women and gender-diverse individuals in Ottawa through three pillars: prevention and policy, public education and movement building, and amplification of front-line voices and survivors. It serves survivors of domestic and sexual violence, frontline service workers at member organizations, and the broader Ottawa public.

The coalition does not develop proprietary technology. Its core offerings are programmatic initiatives rather than software products. These include Unsafe at Home Ottawa (a text and chat support line for survivors, operated in partnership), MANifester le changement (workshops engaging men in GBV prevention), Tech sans violence (a youth-facing cyberviolence information portal), Projet SoundCheck (festival and venue bystander training), Des campus plus sécuritaires (sexual violence prevention across four Ottawa post-secondary institutions), and Le portail médiatique (a media resource hub). More recent initiatives include a 3-Year GBV Action Plan, the End Femicide campaign, Nourishment Circles, Constellations Co-Mentorship, Fabric of Change, Black Hair Care Drive, and Our Voices 2026.

OCTEVAW is funded through community donations and fundraising activities, with all resources and services provided free of charge. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The organization employs approximately 10 staff and operates from a single office at 250 City Centre, Suite 601, Ottawa. Its go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on coalition coordination, public education campaigns, policy advocacy, and partner referrals rather than commercial sales.

Name

Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW)

Legal name

Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women

Website

https://octevaw-cocvff.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OCTEVAW is a non-profit coalition founded in 1984 that coordinates a network of 50+ Ottawa organizations to prevent gender-based violence through policy advocacy, public education, and survivor-centered programs funded by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gender-based violence prevention and survivor support services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Gender-based violence prevention
• Survivor support services
• Community coalition advocacy
• Public education campaigns
• Feminist policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: OCTEVAW relies on community donations and fundraising activities to support their operations, public education campaigns, and violence prevention efforts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

OCTEVAW is a coalition of more than 50 local member agencies in Ottawa that coordinates a community-wide response to gender-based violence. It delivers prevention programming, public education campaigns, feminist policy advocacy, and direct support resources, and operates programs such as the Unsafe at Home Ottawa text/chat line, MANifester le changement workshops, Tech sans violence, Projet SoundCheck, Des campus plus sécuritaires, and Le portail médiatique.

Product overview

OCTEVAW is a non-profit advocacy coalition, not a technology product company. The organization offers a network of programs and services focused on preventing gender-based violence. Core offerings include Unsafe at Home Ottawa (crisis text/chat line), community workshops (MANifester le changement), cyberviolence prevention (Tech sans violence), event safety training (SoundCheck), campus safety initiatives, and a media resource hub. These are programs/initiatives rather than software products with technical integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Unsafe at Home Ottawa: A text and chat line for survivors of domestic abuse. OCTEVAW is a partner of this service.
• MANifester le changement
• Tech sans violence
• Projet Soundcheck
• Des campus plus sécuritaires

Products and services

• Unsafe at Home Ottawa A text and chat line for survivors of domestic abuse, providing immediate support and resources to those experiencing gender-based violence.
• MANifester le changement (MANifesting Change) Workshops delivered in schools, colleges, and universities that teach five basic principles to engage men in preventing gender-based violence and promoting healthy masculinity.
• Tech sans violence (Tech Without Violence) An information portal for young internet users focused on preventing and eliminating cyberviolence, targeting five social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Tumblr.
• Projet SoundCheck A joint initiative with the Sexual Assault Network providing training programs for concerts and festivals, safety assessments, and documentation to prevent sexual harassment and assault by mobilizing bystander intervention.
• Des campus plus sécuritaires (Safer Campuses) A project for post-secondary students at four Ottawa institutions (University of Ottawa, Carleton University, La Cité, and Algonquin College) developed in partnership with Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre to address sexual violence on campuses.
• Le portail médiatique (Media Hub) A portal providing information for media professionals to improve coverage of sexual and gender-based violence, including interview tips with survivors and contextualization guidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ member organizations coordinated in eliminating gender-based violence
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Unsafe at Home OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCTEVAW is a partner of Unsafe at Home Ottawa, a text and chat line for survivors of domestic abuse. This partnership extends OCTEVAW's reach by providing accessible digital support options for survivors who may not be able to access traditional services directly.
• Ottawa Rape Crisis CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with OCTEVAW on the Safer Campuses project targeting sexual and gendered violence affecting students at four Ottawa post-secondary institutions: University of Ottawa, Carleton University, La Cité, and Algonquin College.
• Sexual Assault NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative partner for Project SoundCheck, which mobilizes festivals and gathering venues to end bystander apathy regarding sexual harassment and assault.
• Purple Sisters Youth Advisory CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with OCTEVAW to develop Tech Sans Violence, an information portal for young internet users about cyberviolence, targeting five social media platforms.
• Carleton UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in joint research studies including the Scoping Study on Gender-Based Violence Service and System Coordination in Ottawa (2022-2023).
• University of OttawaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in GBV research and co-development of prevention frameworks and educational resources.
• Carleton University Sexual Violence Prevention and Survivor SupportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of community healing sessions for femicide awareness at Carleton University.
• Sexual Assault Support Centre of OttawaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of community healing sessions and partner in campus safety initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sexual Assault Network (SAN) Ottawa: Ottawa-area coalition of sexual assault service providers and a confirmed OCTEVAW partner on Projet SoundCheck. Operates the same coalition/membership model within the same geography.
• Women's Shelters Canada: National umbrella for women's shelters and transition houses, providing policy advocacy, research, and capacity-building. Directly comparable to OCTEVAW's coalition role at a national level.
• Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre: Frontline Ottawa sexual violence support organization and OCTEVAW's co-lead on the Safer Campuses project. Comparable in focus area and is one of OCTEVAW's 35 voting member organizations.
• Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres: Provincial coalition of sexual assault centres in Ontario. Closely mirrors OCTEVAW's coalition governance model, feminist analysis, and survivor-centered services, with focus on sexual violence specifically.
• Ending Violence Association of Canada (EVA Canada): National umbrella organization coordinating shelters, sexual assault centres, and violence-prevention coalitions across Canada. Shares OCTEVAW's coalition/membership model and feminist public-policy orientation at a national scale.

Regional players

• BC Society of Transition Houses: British Columbia umbrella for transition houses, safe homes, and violence-against-women programs. Operates the same coalition/membership model as OCTEVAW but serves a different province.
• Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS): Saskatchewan coalition of shelters and GBV service providers offering training, advocacy, and coordination. Closely aligned with OCTEVAW's coalition model and feminist public-policy approach in a different regional market.
• METRAC (Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children): Toronto-based organization focused on preventing violence against women and youth through community development, policy, and safety audits. Comparable in mission and policy-advocacy approach but geographically distinct.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Canada: National federation of YWCAs delivering GBV services, housing, and advocacy. Operates a wider service portfolio (housing, employment, child care) but overlaps directly with OCTEVAW on GBV prevention and shelter coordination.
• Canadian Women's Foundation: National nonprofit funding and advancing gender-based violence prevention, women's economic participation, and gender justice. Operates on a broader portfolio than OCTEVAW but funds many of the same local coalitions and member agencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/octevaw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ottawa-coalition-to-end-violence-against-women-octevaw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW)