Ottawa Victim Services
Ottawa Victim Services is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 that provides free emotional support, practical assistance, and community referrals to victims of crime and tragic circumstances in the Ottawa region. It operates four core programs covering crisis response, financial aid, safety planning, and embedded police partnership services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ottawa Victim Services does
Ottawa Victim Services (OVS) is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1998 that provides emotional support, practical assistance, and community referrals to victims of crime and tragic circumstances in the Ottawa region of Ontario, Canada (excluding Gatineau). The organization serves individuals aged 16 and older affected by homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, hate crimes, human trafficking, robbery, motor vehicle accidents, sudden death, and suicide, with a priority focus on gender-based violence survivors. OVS operates four core programs: the Victim Crisis and Referral Service (VCARS) providing 24/7 crisis support and referrals; the Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) offering financial assistance for crime-related expenses such as counselling, funeral costs, emergency repairs, and temporary housing; the Victim Safety Coordination Program (VSCP) delivering safety planning, personal alarms, 911 cell phones, and housing transfers; and the OVS-VSU partnership with the Ottawa Police Service Victim Support Unit, in which OVS case managers are embedded within the police unit to proactively contact victims identified through police reports. Additional services include a Walk-In Counselling Program launched in August 2025 and expanded to weekly cadence in July 2026, a multilingual hate crime reporting tool available in seven languages, the Ask for Angela community safety initiative partnered with Loblaw Companies Limited, and a three-part bilingual webinar series on sibling sexual abuse delivered in partnership with Counselling Family Services Ottawa and #SiblingsToo.
OVS is built on a WordPress-based multilingual website supporting English, French, Arabic, Mandarin, Farsi, Spanish, and Somali, with no proprietary software, mobile applications, or AI-driven components. Distribution occurs through direct phone and email contact, in-person appointments at the 343 Preston Street headquarters, weekly walk-in counselling at Somerset West Community Health Centre, partner agency referrals, and the embedded police unit. All services are provided free of charge.
OVS generates revenue through a diversified mix of government funding (federal Department of Justice Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, provincial Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, and municipal City of Ottawa), foundation grants (notably the Ottawa Community Foundation), charitable gaming proceeds (Lola Charitable Gaming Association), and individual donations through a tiered monthly giving program. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Heidi Illingworth, who brings 25 years of front-line victim services experience plus prior senior roles at the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime and the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crimes.
Ottawa Victim Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ottawa Victim Services
- Legal name
- Ottawa Victim Services
- Website
- https://ovs-svo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ottawa Victim Services is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 that provides free emotional support, practical assistance, and community referrals to victims of crime and tragic circumstances in the Ottawa region. It operates four core programs covering crisis response, financial aid, safety planning, and embedded police partnership services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ottawa Victim Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Victim Support Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System) (BPAIAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD), Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Services (EDALAFAD), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)
Keywords
Where Ottawa Victim Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ottawa Victim Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Core funding from federal and provincial government sources including Department of Justice Canada and Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Additional support from Employment and Social Development Canada.
- Municipal Funding: Funding from City of Ottawa to support community-based victim services.
- Charitable Gaming: Funding from Lola Charitable Gaming Association supporting operational costs.
- Donations: Individual donations from supporters through monthly giving program (OVS Changemaker tiers: Supporter $20/month, Ambassador $50/month, Advocate $130/month, Ally custom amount). Tax receipts available for donations over $25. CRA Charity Registration #8848 23428 RR0001.
- Foundation Grants: Project-specific funding from Ottawa Community Foundation for programs like the Walk-In Counselling initiative.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Ottawa Victim Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ottawa Victim Services is a not-for-profit organization that delivers free, trauma-informed emotional support, practical assistance, safety planning, financial aid, and community referrals to individuals aged 16+ affected by crime or sudden tragedy in the Ottawa region. Its core offerings are organized around four programs: Victim Crisis and Referral Service (VCARS), Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+), Victim Safety Coordination Program (VSCP), and the OVS-VSU partnership with Ottawa Police Service, complemented by walk-in counselling, a multilingual hate crime reporting tool, the Ask for Angela initiative, and educational webinars.
Product overview
Ottawa Victim Services (OVS) is a not-for-profit community-based organization that has been providing emotional support, practical assistance, and community referrals to victims of crime and tragic circumstances since 1998. The organization operates four core service programs: Victim Crisis and Referral Service (VCARS) providing 24/7 crisis support and referrals, Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) offering financial assistance for crime-related expenses, Victim Safety Coordination Program (VSCP) for safety planning and security measures, and the OVS-VSU partnership with Ottawa Police. Additional services include walk-in counselling, a multilingual hate crime reporting tool, the Ask for Angela community safety initiative at Loblaw stores, and educational webinar series on topics like sibling sexual abuse.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Victim Crisis and Referral Service (VCARS)
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,032 people received guidance, support and resources in 2025-26
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ottawa Victim Services
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ottawa Victim Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Ottawa Victim Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Walk-In Counselling Clinic and Counselling ConnectmajorPartnership to expand access to counselling support in the community. OVS registered social worker Kody Moore provides walk-in counselling weekly at Somerset West Community Health Centre.
- Counselling Family Services Ottawa (CFSO)majorPartnership for three-part international bilingual webinar series on sibling sexual abuse (SSA). Funded by Department of Justice Canada.
- #SiblingsToomajorResearch and awareness partner for webinar series on sibling sexual abuse. Founder Nancy Morris serves as keynote speaker.
- Ottawa Police Service - Victim Support Unit (USV)coreJoint OVS-VSU project where OVS case managers work within the Victim Support Unit to consult police reports and identify individuals most in need of support, then proactively contact them to offer services.
- Services for Immigrating Women of Ottawa (SIFAO)coreInterpretation and translation services partnership ensuring non-English and non-French speaking clients can access services. SIFAO assists with language accessibility.
- Victim and Witness Assistance Program (PAVT)coreClose collaboration to support common clients who need to attend or testify at criminal court proceedings. PAVT staff at the courthouse request OVS volunteers to accompany survivors to court.
- Loblaw Companies LimitedminorAsk for Angela initiative: participating Loblaw banner stores (Loblaws, Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart, etc.) provide safe spaces where people facing gender-based violence can discreetly ask for help.
- Somerset West Community Health CentremajorLocation partner for weekly walk-in counselling clinic. Services available every Tuesday from 12:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ottawa Victim Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Victim/Witness Assistance Program (PAVT): Ontario government program providing courtroom-based support, information, and referrals to victims and witnesses of crime. Already a core OVS partner (PAVT staff request OVS volunteers for court accompaniment), operating a closely aligned mandate.
- Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime: National victim advocacy and resource organization where OVS Executive Director Heidi Illingworth previously served as ED for 11+ years. Directly comparable mandate on victim support, policy advocacy, and resource provision.
- Assaulted Women's Helpline: Ontario-wide multilingual crisis line and resource referral service for women experiencing gender-based violence. Comparable to OVS on GBV focus, multilingual access, and free crisis support model, though operates province-wide rather than municipally.
- Victim Services Toronto: Toronto-based community victim services organization offering crisis response, court support, and referrals. Most directly comparable to OVS as a municipal-scale, police-partnered, community-funded victim services agency in a major Canadian city.
- Calgary Victim Services: Municipal victim services organization in Calgary providing 24/7 crisis support, court accompaniment, and referrals in partnership with Calgary Police Service. Comparable municipal-scale, police-integrated victim services model.
Broad incumbents
- Ending Violence Association of Canada: National coordinating body for shelters, sexual assault centres, and violence prevention services. Comparable on the violence-prevention domain and federal-provincial funding relationships, though functions as an umbrella rather than direct service provider.
- Canadian Women's Foundation: National public foundation funding and convening work to end gender-based violence across Canada. Comparable on GBV mission and federal funding relationships, though operates as a funder and convener rather than direct service provider.
Emerging players
- Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre: Toronto-based child and youth advocacy centre supporting young victims of abuse and their families through forensic interviews, therapy, and court support. Comparable on trauma-informed services and police partnership, though focused on a younger cohort.
- Toronto Rape Crisis Centre: Toronto-based feminist organization providing crisis counselling and advocacy specifically for survivors of sexual violence. Comparable on trauma-informed counselling, GBV specialization, and community-based delivery, though narrower in scope.
Regional players
- Victim Services BC: Provincial victim services program in British Columbia delivering community-based crisis response and referrals through a network of offices. Comparable service model but serves a different province and operates under a different governance structure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ottawa Victim Services social profiles
Digital presenceOttawa Victim Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ottawa Victim Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ottawa Victim Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ottawa Victim Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ottawa Victim Services
What does Ottawa Victim Services do?
Ottawa Victim Services is a not-for-profit organization that delivers free, trauma-informed emotional support, practical assistance, safety planning, financial aid, and community referrals to individuals aged 16+ affected by crime or sudden tragedy in the Ottawa region. Its core offerings are organized around four programs: Victim Crisis and Referral Service (VCARS), Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+), Victim Safety Coordination Program (VSCP), and the OVS-VSU partnership with Ottawa Police Service, complemented by walk-in counselling, a multilingual hate crime reporting tool, the Ask for Angela initiative, and educational webinars.
Is Ottawa Victim Services a public or private company?
Ottawa Victim Services is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ottawa Victim Services founded?
Ottawa Victim Services was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ottawa Victim Services based?
Ottawa Victim Services is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Ottawa Victim Services make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are municipal Funding, charitable Gaming, donations and foundation Grants.
Who are Ottawa Victim Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Victim/Witness Assistance Program (PAVT), Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, Assaulted Women's Helpline, Victim Services Toronto and Calgary Victim Services. Broad incumbents are Ending Violence Association of Canada and Canadian Women's Foundation. Emerging players are Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre and Toronto Rape Crisis Centre. Victim Services BC is listed as a regional player.
Does Ottawa Victim Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ottawa Victim Services.
What industry is Ottawa Victim Services in?
Ottawa Victim Services's product category is Victim Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAFAJ, Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System), with a secondary code of BPAGAEAD, Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.