Allied against abuse.

A community without abuse.

A growing community of support

In the early 1980s, two women’s shelters opened in Welland and Niagara Falls thanks to the perseverance of community members who donated their time and resources to help women escape the horrors of family violence. Over the years, these shelters became much more than just safe spaces. They expanded to offer counselling and a growing range of services designed to support women and their families. By addressing not only the immediate danger, but also other vital needs—such as legal and housing support—the shelters helped survivors continue to create lives free from violence after leaving shelter. Initially known as “Women’s Place Welland & District” (later renamed Serenity Place) and “Nova House,” the two shelters united in 1997 to form one organization: “Women’s Place of South Niagara Inc.” As the organization grew, so did the need for domestic violence services in Niagara. To meet this demand, satellite offices were established in Fort Erie, Port Colborne, and eventually Welland, bringing support closer to women in those communities. In 2022, Women’s Place expanded its shelter on McLeod Road, increasing its bed capacity from 30 to 40, consolidating all safe beds at this location. Since the expansion, strong community support has made it possible to open five additional beds for a total of 45. In 2023, Women’s Place became Birchway Niagara. While the core mission of Birchway Niagara remains focused on protecting and empowering women and children affected by abuse, the new inclusive name reflects a broader understanding that abuse impacts everyone, and it is a problem that requires the engagement of the entire community to solve. As Birchway continues to grow, you can join us in addressing the root causes of abuse as, together, we engage people of all races, ages, genders, sexualities, and economic backgrounds to end the cycle of violence.