The Northern Women's Centre was founded in the spring of 1973, following an event called the Northern Women's Conference, which was organized by local women's groups.  Over the years, countless projects, initiatives and organizations have been born through the organizing and lobbying efforts of feminists at the Northern Women's Centre.  As we complete our 29th year of existence, our daily focus remains on three critical issues for women: violence, poverty and access to decision makers (power).  In addition, we continue to be committed to address issues of racism, homophobia, and all forms of economic and gender discrimination.

Our role in supporting individual women mainly involves procuring or ensuring access to various existing services, systems or decision makers.  While providing this support, we endeavour to place an individual woman's concern in a larger context, to increase her awareness that other women are experiencing the same difficulties.

1. Information and Referral: Staff and volunteers provide referrals to crisis centres, counselling agencies, legal or health related services and a variety of community organizations.  We also provide contact information for politicians and other decision makers, and for many out of town organizations.  As well, information on general women's issues and current legislation is available.
2. Individual Support and Advocacy: Individual women regularly request support, information and advice to deal with personal issues such as a violent spouse, custody or access problems, sexual harassment or assault, conflict with Social Services, Human Rights complaints, and various other social, economic and systemic difficulties.  We listen to their concerns, provide information about the issues, agencies and systems involved and help them develop some strategy.
3. Public Education and Community Development: The Centre houses a large resource library dedicated to women's issues and accessible to the public.  Our regular newsletter, Hotflash, acts as an education and outreach tool to our membership.  Staff is available to speak at schools or other organizations, and we often bring in speakers on various topics of interest to women when funding is available.  We respond to the media on current issues that affect women, and sometimes organize workshops and conferences.  We hold an annual evening of celebration in March, in honour of International Women's Day.
4. Community Involvement: NWC works cooperatively with many other local organizations on a broad range of social justice issues.  A representative from the centre participates on a number of inter agency committees and coalition including the Coordinating Committee Against Family Violence, Women's Economic Development Coalition, the Anti-Workfare Coalition etc.  we are also active members of the Ontario Association of Women's Centres.
5. Facilities: Our office space includes a comfortable and informal setting for women and their children who drop in to chat or use our resources, and we also make our meetings space and office equipment available to individuals or women's groups. We also have a VCR, TV and a comfortable couch available to view our videos.

* The Centre understands feminism to mean: Women working together, changing the structures, the processes and the people who oppress them while empowering all women in their personal life, in the community and society as a whole to exemplify mutual respect and the capabilities and rights of all women.