Our Story

In the mid-1970’s, a group of local families would take in women and children who were victims of domestic abuse and provide them with shelter within their own homes. When the abusers of these women found out where they were staying, they would often show up at these homes and demand to see the women. Often times, it would result in threats of physical harm and sometimes damage to the homes of these providers of goodwill.

As a result, the Fort McMurray Family Crisis Society was established in 1982 to provide services for individuals affected by family violence. Our staff assisted in rebuilding lives by implementing crisis intervention and a range of support services while acknowledging the multitude of issues facing survivors of abuse. In 1987, Fort McMurray Family Crisis Society first opened its doors to Unity House; a complex with nine bedrooms.

After 36 years of addressing the needs of those fleeing family violence under the FMFCS banner, we underwent an extensive rebranding to better represent our values, vision and purpose, thus Waypoints was born. In the fall of 2018, we opened a brand new Unity House with 45 individual bedrooms in addition to the region’s first Sexual Assault Centre to address the increased needs of the community. By summer of 2020, we opened the region’s first Child and Youth Advocacy Centre.

Over the years, we’ve evolved and expanded our services, always striving to stay at the forefront of innovative practices. Our history is a testament to the enduring belief that, together, we can create brighter futures and safer spaces for those who need it most.