This year, we chose to do something bold. We chose to rename ourselves.
Not because we were lost—but because we’ve grown. And with growth comes change, reflection, and a deeper understanding of who we are and who we stand beside.
For decades, we’ve been known as Huron Women’s Shelter, Second Stage Housing & Counselling Services. It’s a name that carries weight. It speaks to a long legacy of courage, care, and community. Under that name, we’ve opened our doors to countless women and children. We’ve offered refuge, support, and hope. And we’re proud of everything that name has stood for.
But something shifted over time, not in our mission, but in the scope and strength of our work.
We’ve become more than a shelter. We are advocates, system navigators, educators, listeners, and builders of new possibilities. Our services now stretch far beyond four walls.
We walk alongside women, not just in moments of crisis, but through the long, complex journey of healing. And as that work evolved, we realized something important: Our name needed to grow with us.
Introducing: Artemis Huron
We chose a name rooted in strength. Artemis: the goddess of protection, transition, and the wild. She reflects the core of our work: strength, vigilance, care, and a deep respect for the healing journey. She also represents the moon and the cycle of healing, reminding us that it’s not linear. It comes in waves, in phases, in moments of shadow and light. Just like the women we walk beside. And with keeping Huron in our name, it helps us remain connected to our home and honours our deep roots in Huron County and the community we’ve served for decades.
With this name, we aren’t turning away from our past. We’re stepping more fully into who we are—and who we’ve always been.
We know that a new name can raise questions. Are we the same organization? Do our services still exist? Have our values changed? The answer is simple: We are still here. And we are more committed than ever. Artemis Huron makes space for all the work we do and everyone we support. It’s not just a new name, it’s a clearer doorway to safety and care.
Our mission remains the same—we advocate for women’s equality, work to prevent violence and provide services for women and their children who have experienced abuse and violence. Our programs and services—shelter, outreach, counselling, safety planning, advocacy, system navigation—are all still available. Our roots are strong. What’s new is that we now have a name that holds all of who we are. A name that gives us space to grow, and a name that honours every person we serve, now and into the future.
To our community: Thank you!
Rebranding is never done alone. It took months of listening, reflecting, planning and dreaming. And we couldn’t have done it without you—our community, our partners, our funders, our staff, and most of all, the women who trust us with their stories and their strength.
You helped make this moment possible, you helped shape Artemis Huron.
As we step into this next chapter, we carry the legacy of Huron Women’s Shelter with pride. We honour every survivor who walked through our doors. And we move forward with power, purpose, and an unshakable vision for what’s possible when healing is met with dignity, safety, and choice.
Welcome to Artemis Huron.