DRAW THE LINE
Engaging Ontarians in a dialogue about sexual violence.
If you or someone you know has faced sexual violence or you're interested in just making a difference, you'll find support and information below to help.
IMMEDIATE: In an emergency, call 911 or visit your nearest hospital
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS: sexualassaultsupport.ca/support
It happened to someone you know
When someone discloses to us that they have been sexually assaulted, it can be really overwhelming. We are concerned for their wellbeing and want to support them, but often don't know how. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Believe them. Sexual violence affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men. It is real.
- Ask them how you can support them. Don't assume you know what they need.
- Respect confidentiality.
- Value their boundaries. Don't pry or ask for details.
- Offer them resources.
- Understand that everyone deals with trauma differently and that everyone's healing path is different.
- If the person disclosing to you is under the age of 16, you must report it to the Children's Aid Society and/or the police.
- If you are struggling with their disclosure, you are entitled to your own support.
It happened to me
Sexual violence affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men. It is about power and control and not about sex. Sexual violence remains taboo in our culture and so survivors are often silenced. You don't have to go through this alone. There are people who care and who can support you. And remember: It's never your fault. Ever.
- Take care of yourself. Whatever that looks like.
- Your feelings are real and you are entitled to them.
- Talk to someone you trust.
- You have the right to set boundaries for yourself.
Looking for support for yourself or someone you know? Here are some options.
Sexual Assault Centres
Sexual Assault Centres in Ontario offer confidential and free counselling to survivors of sexual violence. Sexual assault centres provide support for survivors of sexual violence, including recent sexual assault, past sexual assault, sexual harassment and childhood sexual abuse. Services include:
- 24 hour crisis counselling over the phone
- Accompaniment to the hospital, court and/or police station
- Advocacy and referrals
- Crisis intervention
- Face to face counselling
- Court support
- On-going counselling
- Information and support for partners, families and friends of survivors
- Group counselling/self-help groups
- Outreach support
- Diversity work
- Public education on sexual violence
- Presentations and workshops for the public and professionals.
There is a sexual assault centre in every region in Ontario. Find the centre closest to you:
| Region in Ontario | 24-hr Crisis Line | Office Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algoma (Sault Ste. Marie) | Women In Crisis Algoma | 1-877-759-1230 |
705-759-1230 |
| Belleville-Quinte | Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte and District | 1-877-544-6424 |
613-967-6300 |
| Brant | Sexual Assault Centre of Brant | 519-751-3471 |
519-751-1164 |
| Bruce County | Women's House Serving Bruce and Grey: Sexual Assault Services | 1-866-578-5566 |
519-372-1113 |
| Chatham-Kent | Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre | 519-354-8688 |
519-354-8908 |
| Cornwall | Sexual Assault Support Services for Women, Cornwall | English: 613-932-1603 |
613-932-1755 |
| East Algoma (Elliot Lake) | Counselling Centre of East Algoma | 1-800-721-0077 |
705-848-2585 |
| Guelph-Wellington | Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis | 519-836-5710 |
519-836-1110 |
| Halton (Oakville) | Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Services of Halton | 905-875-1555 |
905-825-3622 |
| Hamilton | Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton & Area (SACHA) | 905-525-4162 |
905-525-4573 |
| Kawartha (Peterborough & Area) | Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre | 705-741-0260 |
705-748-5901 |
| Kenora | Kenora Sexual Assault Centre | 807-468-7233 |
807-468-7958 |
| Kingston | Sexual Assault Centre Kingston | 613-544-6424 |
613-545-0762 |
| London-Middlesex | Sexual Assault Centre London | 519-438-2272 |
519-439-0844 |
| Muskoka | Huronia Transition Homes | 705-737-2008 |
705-737-2884 |
| Niagara | Niagara Region Sexual Assault Centre | 905-682-4584 |
905-682-7248 |
| Nipissing | Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre of Nipissing | 705-476-3355 |
705-840-2403 |
| Oshawa-Durham | Durham Rape Crisis Centre | 905-668-9200 |
905-444-9672 |
| Ottawa RCC | Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre | 613-562-2333 |
613-562-2334 |
| Ottawa SASC | Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa | 613-234-2266 |
613-725-2160 |
| Peel | Hope 24/7: Sexual Assault Centre of Peel | 1-800-810-0180 |
905-792-0821 |
| Renfrew | Women's Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County | 1-800-663-3060 |
613-735-5551 |
| Sarnia-Lambton | Sarnia Sexual Assault Survivors' Centre Sarnia-Lambton | 519-337-3320 |
519-337-3154 |
| Sudbury | Voices for Women Sudbury Sexual Assault Centre | 705-523-7100 |
|
| Thunder Bay | Thunder Bay Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Counselling & Crisis Centre | 807-344-4502 |
807-345-0894 |
| Timmins | Timmins and Area Women in Crisis | 1-877-268-8380 |
705-268-8381 |
| Toronto | Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape | 416-597-8808 |
416-597-1171 |
| Waterloo | Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region | 519-741-8633 |
519-571-0121 |
| Windsor-Essex | Sexual Assault Crisis Centre of Essex County | 519-253-9667 |
519-253-3100 |
| York | Women's Support Network of York Region | 1-800-263-6734 |
905-895-3646 |
Pour le support francophone aux femmes victimes d'agression sexuelle, se il vous plaît visitez (for French-language support to women victims of sexual assault, please visit): Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes.
Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre
Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres in Ontario are hospital-based centres that provide 24/7 emergency care to women, children and men who have been sexually assaulted or who are victims or survivors of domestic violence (intimate partner) abuse. Services include:
- emergency medical care
- crisis intervention
- collection of forensic evidence
- access to emergency contraception and preventative treatment for sexually-transmitted infections
- medical follow-up
- counselling
- referral to community resources
You can choose to have centre staff conduct a physical examination, offer medical care and/or collect any physical (forensic) evidence of a recent sexual assault. It is your decision whether you wish to report the assault to the police or provide the forensic evidence. If you think you were drugged and sexually assaulted, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres can also test to determine the presence of drugs in your body.
Fem'aide
Fem'aide offre aux femmes d'expression française aux prises avec la violence sexiste, du soutien, des renseignements et de l'aiguillage vers les services appropriés dans leur collectivité 24 heures par jour, sept jours par semaine. Fem'aide peut également répondre aux demandes de renseignements faites par les proches des femmes victimes de violence. Fem'aide concentre son intervention auprès des femmes ayant subi de la violence dans une relation intime ou encore de l'agression à caractère sexuel.
Fem'aide offers French-speaking women experiencing violence support, information and referral to appropriate services in the community 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Fem'aide can also respond to inquiries made by the relatives or support persons of women victims of violence. Fem'aide focuses its assistance to women who have experienced violence in an intimate relationship or of sexual assault.
- Telephone toll-free: 1-877-336-2433
- ATS: 1 866 860-7082
- Website: www.femaide.ca
Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone provides free and confidential 24/7 counselling and information service for young people in Canada.
- Telephone toll-free: 1-800-668-6868
- Website: www.kidshelpphone.ca
Talk4Healing: A Helpline for Aboriginal Women
Talk4Healing is available to all Aboriginal women living in urban, rural and remote communities, both on and off reserve, throughout Northern Ontario. They support Aboriginal women and their families who need support.
- Telephone toll-free: 1-855-554-HEAL
- Website: www.talk4healing.com
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic offers legal representation, information, counselling multilingual interpretation for women who have experienced violence.
- Telephone: 416-323-9149
- Website: www.schliferclinic.com
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