Frequently Asked Questions

Who can access support at Envisage?

Envisage provides support to anyone facing an unexpected pregnancy or pregnancy related challenges, including those seeking a pregnancy test, pregnant individuals and their partners or support people. We also provide support to anyone who might be struggling in the postpartum stage or after abortion. Envisage is a safe, inclusive space. We serve individuals of all ages, abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, nationalities, cultures and ethnicities. There is no financial criterion to access services. We know that pregnancy can bring challenges, regardless of your age, life-stage or circumstance. We are here for you!

How do I access your services?

Simply contact us for an initial intake appointment. You can also visit our Barrie or Collingwood office during our open hours. We look forward to hearing from you.

What is the cost for your services?

There is no charge for any of our services! Everything is completely free. We are here for you

What can I expect during my first appointment?

When you visit Envisage, you will be welcomed by one of our team members in our reception area. You will be provided with our welcome sheet which describes our services and limitations of service. You will be introduced to one of our support workers who will meet with you and gather some basic information (there is no pressure for you to share any information that you prefer not to).

The focus of our intake session is listening to you. We care about your concerns and provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to sort through your feelings and plans. Our intake appointments are usually about an hour long, but we do our best to accommodate those that may have less time available, or need more time to talk. Please let us know if you can only visit for a short time (ie: you are on a lunch break) or if you need to schedule an appointment outside of our usual hours.

I need prenatal care. Can you help me?

We are not a medical clinic and we do not provide any medical services. We do have information about how to access midwives, prenatal and well-baby clinics and walk-in clinics in our community.

Do you provide information about all pregnancy options?

Envisage uses a client-lead, permission-based approach to sharing information. We have information about each option (abortion, adoption and parenting) available to clients. Adoption and parenting information is from reliable and research-based sources. Any information we share about abortion is from Pregnancy Care Canada’s medically accurate and evidence-informed booklet “Pregnancy Options Guide”. This resource has been reviewed by 45 specialized practitioners, including perinatal nurses, family physicians, obstetricians, gynecologists, medical ethicists, psychologists, and social workers from across Canada.

Can I book an abortion there?

Envisage is not a medical clinic. We do not provide abortions or make arrangements for abortion.

Can you tell me where I can get an abortion?

Although we provide a safe place to explore all pregnancy options including abortion, we do not keep a list of abortion providers.

If you would like more information about this limitation of services, please see the question “Why don’t you refer for abortion” near the bottom of this page.

Can I get diapers, formula or clothing at Envisage?

How can I access your childbirth education classes?

Our childbirth education classes (commonly known as prenatal classes) are available to clients who are enrolled in our Preparing for Baby Program. This holistic program provides pregnant individuals and their partners or support people with ongoing peer-based support along with the classes, and helps with meeting practical needs such as maternity and baby clothing, diapers and other needs you might have.

Who can take your parenting program?

Adjusting to life with a new baby can be challenging! Our parenting program is available for anyone in the early stages of parenting who would like support. This program includes peer-based support, access to our clothing and practical items and a 12-week group program (Strengthening Families Program) which runs twice per year, in the spring and fall. Individuals who have accessed support at Envisage throughout their pregnancy will have first access to the program, but we also welcome new parents to contact us if you are interested in the program.

I’m considering placing my baby for adoption. What support is available for me?

For anyone considering adoption, we tailor our services to meet your unique needs and care for you.

How long can I be a client?

There is not a set time limit for how long a person can be a client. People contact Envisage at various stages of their journey; some people might only visit once and others continue to receive support for years, for more than one pregnancy situation. Those who place a baby for adoption are provided with ongoing support during the first year or more, until they feel more settled into the next part of their journey. Support after abortion might include a one-time visit or our more structured, eight-week program. Our parenting support is designed to help parents during the first year of parenting, when there are often many changes and adjustments to make.

You’re a Christian organization. What does that mean?

At Envisage we desire to be transparent about the faith that motivates us; we believe there is a God … and that each person matters immensely to God. However, we serve people of all faith backgrounds and no faith background. We recognize that some people have been hurt by certain religious practices and we grieve deeply with them. Our love and care for people makes it easy for us to honor each person’s journey and perspective. Please know that although we are happy to talk about spiritual matters, there is no pressure or expectation to do so. Our focus is caring for you.

If you would like to know more about what we believe, you can watch this short video.

Are you Pro-Life or Pro-Choice?

We believe that every person has intrinsic value. In this sense, we are pro-life. Unfortunately, the term pro-life has been equated with only being interested in caring for unborn babies. At Envisage, our belief about the value of each person does not limit our focus; instead, it broadens our care.

We believe that individuals facing unexpected or challenging pregnancy situations are incredibly important and valuable. We know that the demands and stresses they face are very real, and often overwhelming. Our care for each person motivates us to help meet their needs and alleviate some of their struggle. We know we can’t take away anyone’s burden completely, but we long to provide support so that no-one faces pregnancy challenges alone.

We provide a safe, confidential space for individuals to talk about their pregnancy situation and feelings, without fear of being judged or told what to do. And regardless of her pregnancy decision, we provide ongoing practical help and emotional support.

Why don’t you refer for abortion?

Some people may find it confusing that we provide information about abortion and support after abortion, but not referral for abortion. There are two main reasons for this. We think it is important for people’s actions to reflect their beliefs. One of our deeply held beliefs at Envisage is that every person, at every life stage, is valuable and loved by God, so it would be in conflict with this belief to assist in arranging for abortion. We also recognize that some women seek support after abortion and we want to be a safe place for them to work through any negative emotions they might experience after abortion. If we are part of the abortion process, we might not be viewed as a safe place for a healing and recovery journey.

Although we make every effort to be clear about this limitation of services, and our desire is to be transparent about our beliefs, we also recognize that oversharing about our beliefs and limitations could be perceived as judgmental. For this reason, we have limited our explanation in our main promotional materials to only say “Envisage does not provide or make arrangements for abortion”.

I don’t have a way to visit one of your offices, can I still get support?

Please let us know if you are not able to get to one of our offices or visit during our open hours and we will do our best to find a plan that will work for you. Simply contact us in the way that is easiest for you!

Envisage also offers Virtual Services (by phone or video meeting).