A new community hub launched today in the Peel Children’s Aid Society (Peel CAS) building at 25 Capston Dr., Mississauga. The building, renamed “The Circle: Peel Centre for Child, Youth and Family Well-Being,” will house multiple service providers, including the newly expanded Safe Centre of Peel’s Mississauga location.
“The opening of The Circle builds on years of advocacy, partnership, and awareness to strengthen Peel’s response to intimate partner and gender-based violence, recognized by Peel as an epidemic. It reflects the dedication of many who have worked tirelessly to create a more coordinated, survivor-centred system. Families in crisis should never have to navigate multiple services or wait for urgent help. By bringing together police, social services, legal supports, and community partners under one roof, we are breaking down barriers and creating a model that saves lives. But this is only the beginning. Sustained provincial investment and long-term partnerships are essential to ensure that every survivor—child, youth, or adult—can access safety, healing, and justice when they need it most. We must continue building on this progress to end violence against women.”
– Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5, City of Brampton
The Safe Centre of Peel’s expansion is made possible by the Ontario government’s $98 million commitment to launch up to 85 initiatives province-wide, advancing its four-year action plan to combat gender-based violence. The opening marks a significant step forward in improving access to critical supports for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and families across Peel Region.
Mississauga Malton MPP Deepak Anand provided remarks to honour the receipt of an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant to develop Safe Centre’s charter, partnership agreements, policies and procedures. Other community partners moving into The Circle include Peel Regional Police, Aboriginal Legal Services, Our Place Peel, and nCourage. All of these agencies share a commitment to supporting the safety and well-being of children, youth and families in Peel Region.
- Peel Regional Police is a key partner of Peel CAS and the Safe Centre of Peel, and a top source of referrals for survivors of IPV and families in crisis. This model strengthens Peel’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan by supporting real-time collaboration, faster referrals, and more unified service delivery.
- The Safe Centre of Peel is a collective of 29 partner agencies who work collaboratively to support survivors of intimate partner violence. By bringing all these services under one roof, The Circle marks a new chapter of partnership, prevention, and collaboration.
The central purpose of co-locating services at The Circle is to make it easier for children, youth, and families to access supports quickly and seamlessly. Having key organizations together in one building removes barriers and allows families to receive coordinated help without navigating multiple systems on their own.
The renaming of the building was co-developed with youth receiving Peel CAS service and reviewed together with Indigenous leaders. The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation provided the Ojibwe translation for The Circle, “Waawiyebii’igan,” symbolizing unity, harmony, and interconnectedness. The name also reflects the organization’s holistic wraparound service models and ongoing commitment to collaboration, equity, inclusion, and Truth and Reconciliation.
Quick Facts
- Over 60% of female homicides in Canada are due to family violence (StatsCan 2022).
- In 2021, Peel Regional Police launched a centralized unit to strengthen supports for victims and survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Today, the IPV Unit has 79 officers, making it the largest in Canada and a model for other jurisdictions.
- Intimate partner violence (IPV) was declared endemic in Ontario in 2025. Safe Centre of Peel is at the forefront of this crisis.
- In 2024–2025, Safe Centre received 1,807 referrals into the model.
- In 2024–2025, Peel CAS received 12,650 referrals, with 31% related to intimate partner violence.
- In 2024–2025, Peel CAS identified 166 cases where a child or youth is suspected of being involved in trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
Additional Resources
- Funding Announcement for Safe Centre of Peel Expansion
- Safe Centre of Peel Announces New Mississauga Location
- Ontario’s action plan to end gender-based violence: Investing in communities
Additional Quotes
“We’re not just treating symptoms, we’re reshaping systems. Our goal is simple, to make it easier for families to find the help they need, when and where they need it. We are continuing to shift from a focus on protection alone to one rooted in prevention, cultural competency, and wraparound community-led support.”
– Mary Beth Moellenkamp, CEO, Peel CAS
“Expanding our services into Mississauga has been urgently needed. Co-locating at The Circle allows us to offer survivors of intimate partner violence a safe, welcoming, and accessible place to receive coordinated supports close to home.”
– Sharon Mayne, CEO, Catholic Family Services of Peel Dufferin and lead agency for Safe Centre of Peel