Grants and Contributions

The Journey to Justice Program will support survivors of sex trafficking as they navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system. The program will provide trauma-informed, survivor-centered advocacy and support to survivors through every stage of the legal process—from initial contact with police services to court proceedings and post-court support. The program can be accessed by survivors through self or community partner referral, at any time throughout their justice journey. In addition to support with the criminal justice system, the program will provide individualized case management to support survivors in creating and implementing their journey to justice plan which survivors have indicated must include life stabilization support and/or alternatives to justice outside of the criminal justice system. Through individualized case management, including justice system navigation, life stabilization support and internal referrals to London Abused Women’s Centre’s Anti-Human Trafficking Phoenix Program for counselling and advocacy services, the program will help women and girls with lived and living experience of sex trafficking understand their rights, connect with legal resources, and make informed decisions. The goal of the program is to reduce retraumatization and promote healing by ensuring survivors are heard and supported.

The organization will offer a program for victims and survivors of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, abuse and addictions that offers immediate safe and supported housing, a four-month life-skills program and individualized case planning and client support. The goals of the program are to encourage growth, build resilience and empower participants to become independent and safe individuals.

The Province of Nova Scotia will undertake several activities over five fiscal years to advance victim services and access to justice for victims, while giving victims a more effective voice in the criminal justice system in Nova Scotia. Planned activities include support services of an Indigenous Victim Case Worker; Victim Services Navigator Supports; and implementation of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights through a designated Restitution Coordinator.

The organization will provide their Sex Trafficking Response Training to build a formalized network of service providers and responders to better support those affected by sex trafficking. The organization will collaborate with various sectors to provide this trauma-informed training to prosecutors, police, medical personnel and the Gender Based Violence (GBV) sector to improve the identification, investigation, prosecution and supports available to victims and survivors of sex trafficking. The goals of this network will be to build interagency collaboration as well as build survivor-centered and consistent response protocols throughout New Brunswick to ultimately support the well-being of victims and survivors of sex trafficking and improve their access to justice and services.

The organization will provide a comprehensive victim support program to deliver programs and individualized support plans for victims and survivors of human trafficking that focus on personal and professional development and support positive long-term outcomes. The organization will also implement organizational capacity building, both internally and externally, through low-to-no-cost training programs like Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, Mandt non-violent crisis intervention training, Mental Health First Aid and their Sex Work 101 capacity training. Additionally, their extended staff team will receive necessary training, so their program delivery is trauma-informed and tailored to the needs of the individual. The organization will engage in knowledge sharing and dissemination, to communicate best practices and continue to develop their community of care for program users and residents.

The project will publish the 4th French edition and the first English translation of Language Rights in Canada. This edition will provide a vital bilingual resource for practitioners and students of official language law.

The project will provide coordinated, trauma-informed support before, during, and after court, enabling survivors to maintain stability while equipping justice partners to respond with compassion and competence. The project will be embedded within the organization’s enhanced Next Step Network, making it a ‘day one’ ready program that will provide integrated, wraparound support for survivors in long-term stabilization. By situating the Court Support stream within this established program, the project will benefit from existing trauma-informed staffing, clinical oversight through the Nurse Practitioner-led clinic, and EMHware-based reporting and evaluation systems. This structure enables immediate implementation, simplified triage, and seamless continuity of care, ensuring survivors have consistent access to mental health, housing, and peer supports from crisis through recovery and justice engagement.

Over the next five fiscal years, British Columbia will advance victim services and enhance access to justice for victims and their families by providing training and wellness supports for Community Safety and Victim Services staff; enhancing training for frontline service providers through updates to training courses and materials related to victim services and gender-based violence; strengthening the work of Child Advocacy Centres and promoting ongoing coordination among the multi-disciplinary partners; supporting and developing the Restitution Program and broader restitution processes; delivering Trauma Informed Practice training to police, Crown counsel, victim service and anti-violence programs, corrections, and lawyers; enhancing and expanding access to independent legal advice and representation for victims of sexual assault navigating disclosure processes; and exploring, piloting, and evaluating a centralized Information Gatherer service to provide court-related information to community-based victim and sexual assault support programs across BC. The project will also support the continued response to the mass casualty event that occurred in Tumbler Ridge.

Yukon will undertake several activities over five fiscal years to advance victim services and access to justice for victims and their families. Planned activities include: strengthening risk assessment and safety supports for victims of violent crime; Continuing to implement Yukon's Child Advocacy Centre Initiative with a multi-disciplinary team; supporting the continuation of the Yukon Victims of Crime Emergency Fund, which provides emergency assistance and support for immediate practical needs of victims of crime; ensuring that victims of intimate partner and sexualized violence have access to independent legal advice and representation through trained counsel, coordinated partnerships, and trauma informed, multidisciplinary services across Yukon; and supporting the promotion and implementation of victims’ rights across Yukon through outreach, training, and strengthened partnerships.

The “Scarborough Youth ReStart Initiative (SYRI)” is a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, rehabilitation and restorative justice program that aims to support Black and racialized youth aged 12–17 in Scarborough who are involved with the criminal justice system, gang-involved and/or currently being dealt with under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). Over three years, the program will directly engage 180 youth (60 per year) through structured restorative justice activities that provide meaningful alternatives to detention, foster accountability, and support long-term reintegration into the community. Additionally, it utilizes evidence-informed alternatives to detention and incarceration, focusing on personal responsibility, addressing systemic issues and community integration for youth violent offenders.

The program focuses on rehabilitation, reintegration, and accountability. It seeks to address the underlying social and systemic factors faced by racialized youth, such as poverty, racism, trauma, and community violence, that contribute to youth offending, while helping participants develop the skills, confidence, and support necessary to build positive, crime-free futures. Participants will be empowered to take responsibility for their actions, repair harm, and develop pro-social attitudes and life skills that promote lasting change.