UBC Women's Centre

What UBC Women's Centre does

The UBC Women's Centre is a student-run non-profit resource organization operating under the Alma Mater Society (AMS) at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia. It provides a physical safe space in Room 2114 of the AMS Nest, alongside free and discounted resource distribution (menstrual products, safer sex products, pregnancy tests), a feminist literature library, and a program of Consciousness Raising small-group sessions and community events for UBC students, faculty, and staff — with explicit extension of resources to the broader community beyond UBC. The primary served audience is UBC students experiencing gender-based oppression, with a secondary audience of UBC faculty and staff who have experienced, will experience, or are experiencing womanhood.

Technology-wise, the Centre runs a static website built with a static site generator using semantic HTML, accompanied by .txt file descriptions of each page for screen-reader and accessibility users (font resizing, contrast, resizing support). There is no SaaS product, no API, no proprietary software platform, and no integrations — digital presence is informational and accessibility-first rather than productized. Two named Period Products Coordinators (Sofia and Cassandra) plus volunteers run operations; the source data suggests a paid/staff headcount in the low single digits.

The business model is non-commercial: the Centre is funded through the AMS as an institutional Resource Group, not through product sales, subscriptions, advertising, or outside investment. Distribution is freemium/free via the physical storefront (now COVID-19-capped at 2 people with mandatory masks), self-serve online resources, virtual events on Zoom, CampusBase event listings, Imagine Day and Clubs Day presence, and an email newsletter. Go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth, social media (Facebook, Instagram), and event participation. The dominant commercial signal — discounted Diva Cups and Luna Pads — is described only as 'discounted' with no public price list, and is incidental to the mission rather than a revenue engine.

Name

UBC Women's Centre

Legal name

UBC Women's Centre

Website

https://womenscentre.ams.ubc.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The UBC Women's Centre is an AMS-funded, student-run non-profit at the University of British Columbia that provides a free physical safe space, menstrual and safer sex product distribution, a feminist literature library, and Consciousness Raising sessions to UBC students, faculty, and staff experiencing gender-based oppression.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Campus Community Support Services

NAICS

Family Planning Centers (62141)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternity & Nursing Intimates (CRAAAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Lactation, Postpartum & Perinatal Support Services (HLAFAJAN)

Keywords

• Student resource center
• Menstrual product distribution
• Feminist community support
• Consciousness raising sessions
• Campus safe space

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Resource Distribution (Free): The Centre provides free menstrual products, safer sex products, pregnancy tests, feminist literature, and other resources to the UBC community. Revenue model is not commercial; this is a student-funded resource group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The UBC Women's Centre provides a physical safe space in the AMS Nest at the University of British Columbia along with free and discounted menstrual and safer sex products, a feminist literature library, pregnancy tests, and facilitated consciousness raising discussion groups. It serves UBC students, faculty, and staff, particularly those who have experienced or are experiencing womanhood or gender-based oppression, and complements these in-person services with online resources, virtual events, and curated referral pathways to UBC, AMS, and external community support organizations.

Product overview

UBC Women's Centre is a student community resource organization at the University of British Columbia that provides a physical safe space and digital resources for individuals who have experienced, will experience, or are experiencing womanhood. The organization offers free and discounted menstrual products (Period Products), facilitated Consciousness Raising sessions for collective discussion on gender-based oppression, community events, and an accessible website with text file descriptions for screen readers. The product portfolio centers on community support rather than technology products, with no SaaS offerings, APIs, or integrations. The physical space in the AMS Nest serves as the primary service delivery point supplemented by virtual events via Zoom and CampusBase.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Period Products Distribution Free and discounted distribution of menstrual products (including Diva Cups and Luna Pads) to the UBC community. Two student coordinators (Sofia and Cassandra) handle inquiries and distribution by phone and email. Intended for UBC students, faculty, staff, and broader community members experiencing period poverty.
• Consciousness Raising Sessions Small group discussions exploring sociopolitical structures that create discrimination and disadvantage. Sessions cover topics including Mothers, Sexuality/Gender, Race, Class, and Relationships, providing a safe and confidential space for collective consciousness-raising on gender-based oppression. Intended for UBC community members seeking facilitated peer dialogue.
• Community Events Community-building events that support engagement with the Women's Centre community, including Housewarming events, consciousness raising sessions, and participation in UBC's Imagine Day and Clubs Day orientation events. Intended for UBC students and broader community members.
• UBC Women's Centre Physical Safe Space A physical safe space on the UBC Vancouver campus providing couches, brochures and resource information, menstrual and safer sex products, pregnancy tests, a library of feminist literature, a microwave, food, and a kettle. Supports community-building, discussion, sharing, and resistance among UBC community members, particularly those who have experienced, will experience, or are experiencing womanhood or gender-based oppression.
• Online Resources Portal Curated digital resource hub linking to AMS, UBC, community-based support centers, and health resources relevant to UBC community members navigating gender-based experiences, sexual assault support, mental health, food insecurity, legal advice, accessibility, and other support needs.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AMS (Alma Mater Society)coreOthersThe Women's Centre operates as an official AMS Resource Group at UBC. AMS provides institutional support, funding, and recognition. The Centre is located in the AMS Nest building.
• AMS Sexual Assault Support CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinked as an AMS resource, providing referral pathway for sexual assault support services to women and gender-oppressed individuals accessing the Women's Centre.
• AMS Speakeasy (Mental Health)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health resource linked as part of the AMS resource network, providing referral pathway for Centre visitors needing mental health support.
• AMS Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinked as an AMS resource partner, providing referral pathway for Centre visitors experiencing food insecurity.
• AMS Pride CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ resource partner within the AMS ecosystem, providing referral pathway for queer women and non-binary individuals.
• UBC Counselling ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial UBC health service linked as a resource, providing referral pathway for students seeking professional counselling.
• UBC Equity and Inclusion OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial UBC equity office linked as a resource for students experiencing discrimination or seeking equity-related support.
• UBC Centre for AccessibilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUBC accessibility resource linked for students with disabilities, providing referral pathway for Centre visitors.
• WAVAW (Women Against Violence Against Women)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal community-based support organization specializing in violence against women, linked as a resource for Centre visitors needing specialized support.
• Battered Women's Support Services (BWSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal community-based support organization specializing in violence against women, linked as a resource for Centre visitors needing specialized support services.
• The Talon (UBC Student Newspaper)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced UBC's Alternative Orientation Booklet with The Talon and UBC Social Justice Centre.
• UBC Social Justice CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced UBC's Alternative Orientation Booklet with The Talon and the Women's Centre.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• UBC AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre: Another AMS Resource Group at UBC providing specialized support services. Operates under identical institutional structure and serves a substantially overlapping user base, making it the closest operational peer within the same ecosystem.
• UBC AMS Pride Collective: Sibling AMS Resource Group at UBC serving a closely overlapping student community (queer women and non-binary individuals). Operates under the same institutional umbrella with similar resource distribution, advocacy, and safe space model.
• University of Toronto Women's Centre: Canadian university women's resource center operating with similar programming model (safe space, resource distribution, advocacy) under a comparable student union structure. Direct functional peer in a different geographic market.
• Simon Fraser University Women's Centre: SFU's Women's Centre is the most directly comparable peer — another Greater Vancouver university student resource center offering similar programming (menstrual equity, consciousness raising, safe space) to a comparable student population. Operating model, mission, and AMS-equivalent structure closely mirror UBC's Centre.

Emerging players

• PERIOD. (period.org): US-based national menstrual equity nonprofit focused on period poverty through product distribution and advocacy. Shares the Centre's period poverty mission and product distribution model but operates at national scale with chapters across university campuses.
• I Support the Girls: Nonprofit distributing menstrual products and bras to people in need, including via university and community partnerships. Direct activity overlap with the Centre's period product distribution, though at broader community scale.
• The Cup Foundation: Nonprofit focused specifically on menstrual cup education and access, closely aligned with the Centre's distribution of discounted Diva Cups. Comparable product focus though operating at broader community scale.
• Days for Girls International: Global nonprofit providing reusable menstrual products and period education, including to university-aged populations in underserved communities. Shares the menstrual equity mission and educational programming model with the Centre.

Others

• The Alliance for Period Supplies: US national distributor and advocacy organization for period supplies serving partner agencies. Functions as an upstream supplier and funder for organizations doing the kind of product distribution the UBC Women's Centre performs.

Regional players

• McGill Women's Union / Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity: Quebec-based university resource center serving a similar student community with parallel programming around gender equity and community-building. Comparable scope and mission in a different province.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ubcwomenscentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/ubcwomenscentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ubc-women-s-centre

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 UBC Women's Centre