First Place Options has served the Ottawa Region since 1989. In 1993, we were granted charitable status.

From our beginning, our aim was, “to offer emotional and practical support to every woman facing difficulties during pregnancy, irrespective of whether they choose to go through with the pregnancy or not.”

Over the years, we have updated our name, logos, and specific client care but the core sentiment has remained consistent. In other words, the ‘how’ we do things might have grown over the past 30+ years, but the ‘why’ has remained constant.

Our roots are as a Christian, non-political service organization called to provide compassionate care to any women and families facing a past or present unplanned pregnancy. Our desire is to offer love, compassion, and grace as modeled by Jesus without imposing our beliefs on anyone. We remain committed to our mission to give people hope. At every opportunity, we choose to simply: Love people. Period.

Our faith background motivates us to listen, inform, and love people as if their life depends on it. It doesn’t matter where you are in terms of age, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, culture, or ethnicity. Compassionate support in a safe space, free from judgement, or outside pressure, a place to reflect, and if necessary, to heal.

So how do we counsel and serve our clients, and our community?

Here are the facts:

• We listen to women
• We encourage women to take control and make their own decisions
• We provide women with life-giving options
• We welcome partners and families by extending support to them
• We offer education and resources free of charge
• We educate our community about healthy relationships
• We provide ongoing support during pregnancy and after the child is born
• We provide after-abortion support to anyone who wants it

We love people. Period.^tm