West Island Women's Centre

What West Island Women's Centre does

West Island Women's Centre (WIWC) is a community-based non-profit organization founded in 1975 and headquartered at 11 Rodney Avenue in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, within the St. Columba-by-the-Lake Church facility. It serves women across the West Island of Montreal through a consolidated portfolio of in-person and virtual programs spanning Women's Courses, Senior Women's Courses, Children's Courses, Perinatal Activities, 16 support groups (covering separation/divorce, fertility, new mothers, bereavement, and seniors), and 27+ free programs. Free on-site childcare (children under 6 on weekdays, up to age 8 on weekends) is provided to remove participation barriers for mothers, supported by a Children's Program Manager and 7+ childcare educators.

The operating model is a hybrid community-mission organization with diversified revenue streams: Centraide du Grand Montréal core funding (since 1977), Government of Canada grants, ~8 foundation grants (Carmand Normand, Grace Dart, Fondation Jeanna-Esther, Tenaquip, Oldtimers, Lindsay Memorial, Partage Action), three municipal partners (Pointe-Claire, Beaconsfield, Dorval), $20 annual memberships across 1,000+ members, $14-$65 per course/workshop fees with free programs dominant, and tax-deductible donations collected via Zeffy. Technology is standard non-profit SaaS: Amilia for registration and e-commerce, Zeffy for donations, Zoom for virtual programs, and Google Calendar/iCalendar/Outlook integrations for events.

The organization is governed by a 9-member volunteer Board of Directors (President: Anne Lajoie) and operated by a 7-person office team led by Executive Director Jessica Weiss, with an additional 8+ part-time contractual childcare educators. In its 50th anniversary year (2025), WIWC served 1,500+ participants through 271 courses, workshops, and support groups, reaching a milestone of 1,000+ active members. Strategic reach is regional (West Island Montreal), with no public funding rounds, M&A activity, or geographic expansion outside the catchment, and no disclosed AI/ML capability.

Name

West Island Women's Centre

Legal name

West Island Women's Centre

Website

https://wiwc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

West Island Women's Centre is a 50-year-old Pointe-Claire, Quebec non-profit serving 1,500+ women annually across the West Island of Montreal with 270+ courses, 16 support groups, free on-site childcare, and 27 free programs, funded through Centraide, government, foundation, and municipal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Education (Family Literacy, Parenting Skills) (EDAAAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD)

Keywords

• Women's community services
• Adult education programs
• Support group services
• Nonprofit social services
• Childcare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pointe-Claire

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

Revenue model

1. Government and Foundation Grants: Primary funding from government bodies (Government of Canada), Centraide du Grand Montréal, and various foundations including Carmand Normand, Grace Dart, Fondation Jeanna-Esther, and Tenaquip. This constitutes core operational funding.
2. Annual Membership Fees: $20 annual membership fee for participants, providing access to programs, events, and resources.
3. Course and Workshop Fees: Fees ranging from free to $65 per course/activity. Workshops typically $14, multi-week classes $30-$65. Provides supplementary revenue while maintaining accessibility.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations accepted, with annual fundraising campaigns. 'Pay it Forward' program allows donors to sponsor other women's participation. Donations of $25 or more receive tax receipts.
5. Municipal and Community Support: Support from municipalities including Ville de Pointe-Claire, Beaconsfield, and Dorval for specific programs and community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

A nonprofit women's community centre in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, delivering educational courses, workshops, and support groups to residents of Montreal's West Island, with free on-site childcare provided so that mothers of young children can participate in programming.

Product overview

The West Island Women's Centre is a community-based organization offering a unified portfolio of programs and services united by a mission to provide a safe space where women can connect, learn, and grow. The core offerings include Women's Courses (recreational, wellness, support groups, language learning, and career coaching), Senior Women's Courses for women 55+, Children's Courses, and Perinatal Activities. Free on-site childcare is offered alongside most programs to reduce participation barriers. The Centre also hosts signature events (Welcome Event, International Women's Day, Annual General Meeting, Annual Fundraising Campaign), provides a Financial Assistance Program, and maintains a Resources Hub linking community members to external support services. Programs are delivered through in-person sessions at the Centre and partner locations, as well as online via Zoom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Educational courses for women Structured courses offered to women in the West Island of Montreal, delivered bilingually in English and French as part of the Centre's ongoing community programming.
• Workshops for women Short-format workshop programming offered to women in the West Island community as part of the Centre's ongoing activities.
• Support groups for women Peer-led support groups for women, delivered bilingually in English and French as part of the Centre's ongoing community programming.
• Free on-site childcare Free on-site childcare offered during the Centre's courses, workshops, and support groups so that mothers of young children can participate in programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500+ women served annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• West Island Community Resource Centre (CRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey community partner providing resource referrals, legal clinic information, seniors resources, and community directory. CRC connects West Island residents with local services.
• Nourri-Source West IslandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for breastfeeding support services. Nourri-Source provides free breastfeeding drop-ins with nurses from CLSC Lac St. Louis and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
• CLSC Lac St. LouissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal health and social service center providing nurses for breastfeeding drop-in programs at the Centre.
• West Island Women's SheltersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner and community resource for women experiencing domestic violence or seeking safe shelter. Listed in resources for crisis support.
• West Island Crisis CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for mental health crisis support services. Listed as resource for women experiencing psychosocial crisis.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chez Doris: Montreal women's day centre providing shelter, meals, and support services to women in need. Directly comparable as a Montreal-based women's community services organization.
• Native Women's Shelter of Montreal: Montreal-based organization offering culturally appropriate shelter and support services for Indigenous women. Comparable as a community-based women's support organization in Montreal.
• YWCA Montreal: Long-standing Montreal women's organization offering community programs, support services, and education for women across the region. Directly comparable to WIWC in mission, target population, and programming mix.
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Montreal: Montreal organization providing community-based support services for women involved in or at risk of involvement with the justice system. Comparable as a women's social services provider in the same city.

Broad incumbents

• Girls Inc. of Canada: National organization delivering programming to girls and young women across Canada. Comparable in mission focus on empowering women and girls through education and support programming.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Montreal: Established youth mentoring organization serving the Montreal region. Comparable as a community-based nonprofit delivering structured programs to children and families with funder and volunteer infrastructure.
• Canadian Women's Foundation: National public foundation funding programs supporting women and girls across Canada. Comparable as a funder and convener in the women's services ecosystem in which WIWC operates.

Regional players

• West Island Community Resource Centre (CRC): Adjacent community resource hub serving the same West Island geography, providing referrals, legal clinic information, and seniors' resources. Comparable as a community service hub serving the same catchment area.
• Centre communautaire de l'Ouest-de-l'Île (CCOI): Community centre serving seniors and adults in the West Island region. Comparable as a West Island community organization offering social, educational, and recreational programming to a similar demographic.

Emerging players

• Nourri-Source: Quebec-wide breastfeeding and perinatal support network. Directly comparable as a current WIWC program partner, operating similar perinatal peer-support models across the province.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/westislandwomenscentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/westislandwomenscentre
• Pinterestpinterest.com/westislandwomen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-island-women-s-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 West Island Women's Centre