Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada

What Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada does

Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada (VON) is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1897 and headquartered in Ottawa, providing home and community-based healthcare and social support services across Ontario and Nova Scotia. The organization operates more than 50 programs and services through a network of over 35 regional offices, deploying nurses, personal support workers, therapists, and volunteers to deliver care in client homes, community nursing clinics, and group settings. Its service portfolio spans clinical care (nursing at home, community nursing clinics, nurse practitioner clinics), personal support (home support, home help, bathing, foot care), safety programs (Cool-Aid, Safety at Home, Senior Safety), meals and nutrition (Meals on Wheels hot and frozen), social connection (volunteer visiting, telephone assurance), caregiver respite (in-home, overnight/weekend, DETOUR), and specialized programs for Francophone, immigrant, and refugee populations. Sub-branded proprietary programs include SMART (a registered trademark exercise program for seniors), SMILE (a multi-service care coordination program for frail seniors with an online portal), and DETOUR (emergency respite for seniors at risk of hospital admission).

VON's business model is predominantly government-funded, with primary revenue from provincial healthcare system contracts in Ontario and Nova Scotia, supplemented by charitable donations (charitable registration number 129 482 493 RR0001) and nominal client fees for select programs such as Meals on Wheels and Home Help (with sliding-scale pricing based on financial assessment). Many services, including the SMART exercise program and palliative care consultation, are provided free of charge to participants or providers. The organization is accredited by Accreditation Canada and designated as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, and it integrates with Ontario Health Teams and regional health system initiatives. VON also operates ancillary programs including the Ontario Student Nutrition Program-Southwest (administering funding for 480+ schools) and a Student Placement Program partnering with educational institutions to build clinical workforce pipelines.

The organization is led by President and CEO Jo-Anne Poirier and governed by a Board of Directors, with no disclosed parent company, private equity ownership, or M&A activity in the source data. Technology deployment is operational rather than transformational, consisting of care management systems and the SMILE client portal; no AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or proprietary technology platforms are disclosed. With 5,001-10,000 employees and a 125+ year operating history, VON's competitive position is anchored in brand recognition, multi-province distribution density, regulatory accreditation, and an integrated service ecosystem that is difficult for new entrants to replicate.

Name

Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada

Legal name

Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada

Website

https://von.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1897 that provides home and community-based nursing, personal support, caregiver, end-of-life, and social care services across Ontario and Nova Scotia through 50+ programs and 35+ regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Home and Community Healthcare Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Skilled Home Health (Medicare-Certified) Agencies (HLAFAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Home and community care
• Nursing services
• Personal support services
• Seniors care
• Palliative care consultation

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices36 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Healthcare Funding: Primary revenue from government healthcare system funding for home and community care services across Ontario and Nova Scotia.
2. Charitable Donations: VON is a registered charity (Charitable Number: 129 482 493 RR0001) that relies on donations to deliver vital services.
3. Client Service Fees: Some programs charge nominal fees based on financial assessment (Home Help: per-hour fee; Meals on Wheels Frozen: small fee per meal). Many services are free or subsidized.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

VON Canada is a registered charity that delivers home and community-based clinical, personal, and social support services through nurses, personal support workers, therapists, and volunteers. It operates more than 50 programs across Ontario and Nova Scotia, including in-home nursing, community nursing clinics, personal support, meals delivery, transportation, respite, palliative care consultation, and the SMART group exercise program. Services are primarily government-funded with additional support from charitable donations and small client fees.

Product overview

VON Canada is a registered charity providing an integrated portfolio of home and community care services across Ontario and Nova Scotia. The organization operates more than 50 programs and services through a distributed network of regional offices. The service ecosystem encompasses clinical care (Nursing at Home, Community Nursing Clinics, Nurse Practitioner Clinics), personal support (Home Support, Home Help, Bathing, Foot Care), health education and screening (Blood Pressure Clinics, Diabetes Education), meals and nutrition (Meals on Wheels Hot and Frozen), safety and independence (Safety at Home, Cool-Aid, Senior Safety Program, Home Maintenance), social connection (Volunteer Visiting, Telephone Assurance), caregiver respite (In-home Adult Respite, Overnight/Weekend Respite, DETOUR), specialized populations (Clinique francophone, Immigrant and Refugee Health Clinic), senior support (SMILE, Senior Supportive Living, Assisted Living/Supports for Daily Living), palliative care (Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultation), and exercise/fall prevention (SMART program). A dedicated SMILE online portal enables clients and service providers to view care plans digitally. The organization also supports workforce development through a Student Placement Program and engages community volunteers across all service lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SMART: Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together - Group exercise program for seniors aged 55+
• DETOUR
• SMILE

Products and services

• Nursing at Home Professional in-home nursing care including physical assessments, symptom control, medical treatments, rehabilitation therapy, education, counselling, and specialty services such as enterostomal therapy, wound care, peritoneal dialysis, and palliative care.
• Community Nursing Clinics Community-based ambulatory care nursing clinics offering wound care, medication administration, dressing changes, pain and symptom management, and intravenous therapy in convenient community locations across Ontario and Nova Scotia.
• Nurse Practitioner Clinics Primary health care services provided by nurse practitioners who diagnose and treat acute and chronic illnesses, order tests, prescribe medications, perform procedures, and promote physical, psychological, and social wellness.
• Clinique francophone French-language nurse practitioner clinic offering a wide range of clinical services to Francophone community members, including illness diagnosis, physical examinations, treatments, referrals, vaccinations, chronic disease management, and mental health assessments.
• Immigrant and Refugee Health Clinic One-stop Windsor-based clinic providing newcomers with immediate primary health care, medical screening, and connections to long-term primary care providers, with care available in multiple languages.
• Home Support Home support workers providing personal and hygienic care, homemaking tasks, mobility assistance, meal and exercise support, medication supervision, catheter and colostomy care, and environmental safety assessments.
• Home Help Essential housekeeping services for seniors and people with physical disabilities, including light cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, and grocery assistance to help clients remain in their own homes longer; nominal per-hour fee based on financial assessment.
• Bathing Accessible tub and professional staff assistance for individuals with mobility challenges who have difficulty bathing at home; pre-booking required.
• Foot Care Foot care clinics and in-home foot care for seniors and clients at risk for foot problems, including health assessments, hands-on treatment, education, preventative care, and referrals to podiatrists or doctors.
• Home Maintenance Outdoor home maintenance services including snow removal and lawn mowing for seniors unable to handle such chores independently.
• Assisted Living / Supports for Daily Living Intensive non-medical support for high-risk seniors with complex needs who do not require long-term care, providing personal hygiene, daily living assistance, homemaking, and safety checks multiple times daily.
• Senior Supportive Living Short-term support program for at-risk seniors and adults with physical disabilities, providing personal care assistance and connecting clients with long-term community supports.
• Meals on Wheels (Hot) Delivery of affordable, nutritious hot meals to seniors, adults with disabilities, and those recovering from illness or surgery, via caring volunteers.
• Meals on Wheels (Frozen) Affordable frozen, home-style meals delivered or available for pickup, with options for special dietary needs and microwave or oven reheating.
• Transportation Services Transportation services for seniors and adults with disabilities who cannot use public transit, providing rides to medical appointments, grocery shopping, adult day programs, and social outings via volunteer or paid drivers, including an accessible Health Van in the Greater Kingston and Hastings Northumberland Prince Edward areas.
• In-home Adult Respite Regular in-home support workers providing temporary relief to caregivers of adults with disabilities, dementia, or chronic illness, including homemaking, recreation, and stimulation activities.
• Overnight / Weekend Respite Overnight respite care in home-like centres for seniors, people with intellectual or cognitive challenges, or those with chronic conditions, providing meals, daily living assistance, and therapeutic recreational activities.
• DETOUR (Deterring Emergency Time Offering Urgent Respite) Emergency care program detouring seniors 65+ to designated beds in local retirement homes for up to 14 days, with nurse coordinator assessment, care planning, meals, social activities, and therapeutic supports, avoiding unnecessary hospital admission.
• Home at Last Day-of-discharge support providing transportation from hospital, prescription and grocery pickup, and a complimentary meal for aging, frail, or disabled adults returning home after hospitalization, with follow-up support.
• Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultation Nurses with advanced palliative care expertise who educate, mentor, and consult service providers in long-term care homes, hospices, and community agencies on best practices in palliative care, pain management, and symptom control; free for providers.
• SMILE (Seniors Managing Independent Living Easily) Program connecting seniors at risk of losing independence with local services such as meals, transportation, housekeeping, foot care, and respite, with clients choosing service providers; includes an online client and service provider portal (SMILE Portal).
• SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together) Group exercise program for adults 55+ or those with disabilities, offering low-impact exercises led by trained instructors or volunteers to improve strength, balance, and mobility, with seated and standing options; free to participants.
• Safety at Home Free home assessments and recommendations including hazard identification, grab bar installation, home repair and modification suggestions, and falls prevention education delivered during home visits.
• Cool-Aid Home Safety Emergency medical information program placing a magnetized pouch on the fridge containing medical conditions, medications, allergies, and emergency contacts for first responders.
• Senior Safety Program Individualized support for seniors regarding home safety, crime prevention, senior abuse awareness, and referrals to community services, delivered via home visit or telephone.
• Volunteer Visiting Friendly, trained volunteers visit isolated community members to provide companionship, support, personal assistance, and errand-running on a weekly or biweekly basis.
• Telephone Assurance Regular scheduled telephone contact by volunteers with seniors or adults with disabilities living alone to check on safety, with escalation to a contact person if the client does not answer.
• Intervention and Assistance Crisis intervention and support for vulnerable clients and caregivers at risk due to cognitive, physical, or other challenges combined with isolation or lack of support, including safety planning and advocacy.
• Blood Pressure Clinics Free, drop-in blood pressure measurement clinics where staff teach clients how to measure their own blood pressure and provide heart health educational materials.
• Student Placement Program Clinical placements for students in nursing and personal support programs including Nurse Practitioner, BSN, RPN, LPN, PSW, and CCA programs, with e-learning, preceptors, and PPE provided.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,000 Nova Scotians received Meals on Wheels deliveries in 2021
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Équipe Santé Ontario Sudbury Espanola Manitoulin Elliot Lake Ontario Health Team (OHT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVON Sudbury proudly partners with the Ontario Health Team for Sudbury, Espanola, Manitoulin, and Elliot Lake regions. This partnership integrates VON's home and community care services with the broader Ontario Health Team initiative to coordinate local healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes.
• Ontario Student Nutrition Program-Southwest Region (OSNP-SW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVON Oxford is the lead agency for OSNP-SW, which administers funding for meal and snack programs and provides program support to 480+ schools across Southwestern Ontario including Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Grey-Bruce, Huron-Perth, London Middlesex, Oxford, Sarnia-Lambton, and Windsor-Essex.
• Ontario Health TeamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVON collaborates with Ontario Health Teams across Ontario to integrate home and community care services with the provincial healthcare system, participating in regional health coordination initiatives.
• Educational Institutions (Student Placement Partners)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVON partners with schools to offer student placements for Nurse Practitioners, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Registered Practical Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Personal Support Workers, and Continuing Care Assistants. The organization provides e-learning, trained preceptors, and PPE for students.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• We Care Home Health Services: We Care Home Health Services is a Canadian provider of home support, nursing, and personal care services across multiple provinces. Direct peer with overlapping home care service portfolio and similar customer segments.
• SE Health (Saint Elizabeth Health Care): SE Health is one of Canada's largest social enterprises delivering home health care, personal support, and community care services across multiple provinces. Directly comparable as a national home care provider with comparable scale and integrated clinical/personal/social offerings.
• Closing the Gap Healthcare: Closing the Gap Healthcare is an Ontario-based provider of home and community health services including nursing, therapy, and personal support. Directly comparable in geography and service mix.
• ParaMed Home Health Care: ParaMed provides home health care, personal support, and community health services across Canada. Direct competitor in home nursing and personal support with overlapping Ontario service territory.
• Bayshore HealthCare: Bayshore HealthCare is a Canadian-owned home and community health services provider offering nursing, personal care, and home support across provinces. Direct peer offering very similar home health and personal support services in overlapping Canadian markets.
• CarePartners: CarePartners is a Canadian home health care provider delivering nursing, therapy, and personal support services across Ontario and other provinces. Direct peer competing for the same government-funded home care contracts with similar service mix.
• Home Instead (Canada): Home Instead is a major franchised provider of in-home personal care, companionship, and support services for seniors across Canada. Direct peer in the personal support and companionship segment with overlapping Ontario presence.

Broad incumbents

• CBI Health: CBI Health is one of Canada's largest healthcare networks offering community-based rehabilitation, home health, and clinic-based services across the country. Broader incumbent operating well beyond VON's two provinces with diversified clinical services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/von_canada?lang=en
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpDHNcA9nz9vT1bvUEwUwPw
• Facebookfacebook.com/VONCanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/von-canada
• Instagraminstagram.com/voncanada/?hl=en

Compliance2 records

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 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada