THE CENTRE FOR WOMEN AND TRANS PEOPLE

What THE CENTRE FOR WOMEN AND TRANS PEOPLE does

The Centre for Women and Trans People is a nonprofit, student-funded, volunteer-driven campus community organization located at the University of Toronto (563 Spadina Avenue, North Borden Building). Founded in 1986 by undergraduate women who occupied Simcoe Hall to demand a safe campus space, it now provides a free drop-in centre, peer support, advocacy, food security resources, sexual health supplies, and programming for women and trans people on campus. Its core suite of services includes the Drop-In Centre, the Peer Support Program, the Community Cupboard (food justice), The Spice (community cooking), the Dr. Chun Resource Library (jointly with OPIRG-Toronto), Child Space and Nursing Corner (family support), Sexual Health Resources, and a volunteer training program grounded in anti-oppression and anti-transphobia frameworks.

Governance is exercised through a feminist Collective using consensus decision-making; the organization is renamed from The Women's Centre in 2006 and adopted its first Trans Inclusion Policy in 2008. All services are free; there are no membership fees or commercial charges. Revenue is entirely derived from University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU) student fees — a single, recurring funding source — and all full-time staff are represented by CUPE Local 1281 under the Collective's first agreement (2006). Distribution is exclusively direct, in-person, at the single Toronto location (Tue–Thu, 12–6pm), supplemented by organic social (Facebook, Twitter/X), a monthly newsletter, and campus partnerships (OPIRG-Toronto, SGDO, Hart House, Multifaith Centre, SBA, GSU Women and Trans Caucus, Philippines Women Centre of Ontario, Field to Table, U of T Food Bank, U of T Sky Garden). The Centre has historically spawned broader campus initiatives, including the U of T Food Bank and accessibility/curriculum reform reports.

Name

THE CENTRE FOR WOMEN AND TRANS PEOPLE

Legal name

The Centre for Women and Trans People @ University of Toronto

Website

https://womenscentre.sa.utoronto.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Centre for Women and Trans People is a nonprofit, student-funded and volunteer-driven community organization at the University of Toronto that provides a free drop-in space, peer support, food resources, and programming for women and trans people on campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Commuter Student Life & Non-Residential Engagement (EDALAHAK)

Keywords

• Community drop-in space
• Peer support services
• Student community center
• Social justice programming
• Food security programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

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. Student Funding: The Centre is entirely student-funded through the University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU). As a non-profit campus community organization, it relies on student fees and does not generate commercial revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Centre for Women and Trans People provides a free, safe, harassment-free drop-in space for women and trans people at the University of Toronto, along with peer support, social justice programming, food security resources, a community library, and family-friendly amenities. All programs are free of charge and delivered primarily at its physical drop-in centre on the St. George campus.

Product overview

The Centre for Women and Trans People is a drop-in community center at the University of Toronto offering a coordinated suite of support services and programs for women and trans people. The core offerings include the Drop-In Centre (a safe physical space), Peer Support Program (peer-led support groups), the Dr. Chun Resource Library (social justice literature), The Spice (community cooking), Community Cupboard (food security), Child Space and Nursing Corner (family support), and Sexual Health Resources. The organization operates entirely student-funded and is governed by a feminist Collective through consensus decision-making.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Spice: A social, participatory community cooking program organized through The Centre, inviting women and trans people to contribute culinary ideas and skills in a fun event.
• Dr. Chun Resource Library
• Community Cupboard
• Peer Support Program
• Good Food Box Program

Products and services

• Drop-In Centre
• Peer Support Program
• Child Space
• Nursing Corner
• Community Cupboard
• The Spice - Community Cooking
• Sexual Health Resources
• Volunteer Program and Training
• Dr. Chun Resource Library
• Good Food Box Program

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OPIRG-Toronto (Ontario Public Interest Research Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly runs the Dr. Chun Resource Library with The Centre. The library provides critical and alternative materials on social justice issues. Both organizations share commitment to social, environmental, economic, human rights and anti-oppression issues.
• U of T Food Bank (UTSU Food Bank)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Community Cupboard is stocked partly through partnership with the U of T Food Bank. Friday distributions at Koffler House/Multi-faith Centre from 12 to 3pm.
• Field to Table's GOOD FOOD BOX ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre is a delivery hub for Field to Table's Good Food Box Program, providing affordable fruits and vegetables to community members. Currently temporarily on hold.
• U of T Sky GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFresh spring/summer vegetable donations from the U of T Sky Garden (rooftop vegetable garden) supply organic produce for the Community Cupboard.
• Sexual and Gender Diversity Office (SGDO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized events including GenderPoo workshop as part of Queer Orientation Week at U of T.
• Students for Barrier-free Access (SBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized QT2SBIPOC Discussion Nights and cookie exchange/social events. SBA provides advocacy coordination support.
• Multifaith Centre for Spiritual Study & PracticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative on ROARS (Resisting Oppression and Reclaiming Spirituality) - a peer support group for discussing issues related to religion, spirituality, and social justice.
• Philippines Women Centre of OntariominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for events including screening of 'Status Quo: The Unfinished Business of Feminism in Canada' in celebration of International Women's Day.
• Hart HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized GenderPoo workshop as part of Get Crafty! program.
• Graduate Students' Union (GSU) Women and Trans People CaucusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSU Women and Trans People Caucus is represented at The Centre. Provides space for graduate students who are self-identified women, trans, gender non-binary and 2 Spirit people to discuss and take action on issues of oppression.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Broad incumbents

• CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers: National umbrella network for LGBTQ+ community centers across North America. The Centre is functionally a campus-based analogue of the community centers CenterLink represents, sharing mission and programming approach at a different scale.
• Whitman-Walker Health: Washington DC-based community health organization historically serving LGBTQ+ and marginalized populations with peer support, advocacy, and community programming. Comparable mission focus on safe spaces and wraparound support for trans and queer community members, at a larger scale.
• CampusPride: National nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ campus communities across the U.S. through policy advocacy, resource hubs, and programming toolkits. Comparable to The Centre in its focus on building safer, more inclusive campus environments for LGBTQ+ students.

Regional players

• Status of Women Office, University of Toronto: U of T administrative office addressing gender equity on the same campus. While institutionally funded rather than student-funded, it pursues overlapping objectives around sexism, gender-based violence, and equity policy on the same student population.
• Hart House, University of Toronto: U of T student social and cultural hub that co-organizes programs (e.g., GenderPoo workshop under Get Crafty!) with The Centre. Provides broader student programming infrastructure on the same campus under a different governance model.

Direct peers

• OPIRG-Toronto: Ontario Public Interest Research Group at U of T; the Centre's Core strategic partner that jointly runs the Dr. Chun Resource Library. Operates as a student-funded activist organization on similar anti-oppression issues with a closely overlapping volunteer base.
• UBC Women's Centre: Student-funded drop-in centre at the University of British Columbia offering feminist programming, peer support, and safe space for women and trans students. Operates under the same student society funding model and addresses a near-identical mandate on a different Canadian campus.
• Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, University of Toronto: U of T office that co-organizes events (e.g., GenderPoo workshop for Queer Orientation Week) with The Centre and shares the trans inclusion mission. Represents a parallel institutional pathway addressing similar community needs on the same campus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thecentreUT
• Facebookfacebook.com/group.php?gid=2239792526

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about THE CENTRE FOR WOMEN AND TRANS PEOPLE