Grants and Contributions

This project has two main components:
-psychological support for survivors and their loved ones with a reduction in the waiting time for services and information, and
-awareness and training for the Defence community on the issue of sexual misconduct. Viol-Secours provides services in the Québec City and Portneuf area, where there is a Huron-Wendat Indigenous community. Services are offered in French; however, interpreters will be used as needed.

Ask Women Anything is focused on providing education and awareness for diverse women and gender diverse people on an array of topics, including gender-based violence. The program consists of panel discussions between two and five women and gender diverse people who are experts on a topic. The topics at hand, and the inclusion of Defence Community members on panels, allows audience members to receive information on gender-based violence. Panels will be accessible both online and in person.

This project will offer women affected by sexual misconduct within the Defence community a one-day ‘Beyond Trauma’ retreat (whether or not they have participated in a Life shop) where they can connect with other survivors and acquire important techniques to implement gender-responsive, strengths-based skills they need for healing. Retreats would be offered at the Pepper Pod and near CAF bases across Canada, such as in Edmonton and Gagetown.

Victoria Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre will provide support to military families by offering increased access to crisis support and victim services during the investigation of child sexual abuse cases involving children and youth in the greater Victoria jurisdiction. The organization will assign a victim service advocate to each case, conduct safety planning and crisis support, offer community referrals, provide on-going communication and updates about the case for the families and affected persons, and provide court-process preparation and accompaniment.

Through the Rapid Access Program, Defence community members can access sexual misconduct support quickly, and receive counselling services. This program also provides virtual counselling and phone appointments to avoid disruption of services. Sexual Assault Centre Kingston is located close to Canadian Forces Base Kingston.

The Canopy Project consists of counselling sessions and an opportunity to participate in a 12-week support group to address the need for short- and long-term support. This project will include trained personnel who offer a safe, structured, and nurturing environment in which to learn new skills and to begin to resolve the trauma of sexual misconduct. Services will be available to those affected by sexual misconduct in the Defence community, and will be offered in English, French, American Sign Language, and other languages as required.

This capacity building project will allow the NL Sexual Assault Crisis Centre to increase its operating hours for its 24/7 telephone line and text/web-based chat line, both of which currently operate on a limited schedule. Callers reach a trained volunteer who can answer questions, provide emotional support, connect a person to a resource, or simply listen to the caller. Those impacted by sexual misconduct within the Defence community in all areas of Newfoundland and Labrador will be able to access the toll-free line.

This project will develop an evidence-informed, competency-based, bilingual online curriculum to educate sexual assault centres on responding to military sexual trauma (MST) in the community and will facilitate the development of standardized protocols for the provision of services for sexual assault centres across the country. These tools will better equip providers in supporting those affected by MST in their recovery. EVA Canada’s target population is community-based sexual violence organizations and service providers who provide direct services to those affected by sexual misconduct.

This project will provide counselling and public education programs. The counselling program provides trauma therapy for people who have experienced sexual misconduct in the Defence community, while the public education program offers person-centered, evidence-based education for youth and adults. SACE provides services to people of any age (3 years and up), gender, sexual orientation, or background who have been impacted by sexual misconduct in the greater Edmonton area. This includes those in Edmonton’s surrounding rural communities, and the Edmonton Garrison Base; counselling services are available for people in other parts of Alberta, and online courses can be accessed by anyone in the world.

This project will provide a provincial 24/7 telephone line to serve the Defence community by offering support, information and referrals to resources closest to their homes, throughout Québec. This line will be made better known to this community through a promotional campaign, particularly in localities throughout Québec. Based on an assessment of the context and needs of the CAF community, current and newly recruited operators will be trained to better understand the specific needs and realities of the Defence community.