Grants and Contributions

The National Judicial Institute will develop a national, bilingual online course for Canadian judges on hate crimes and the unique dynamics of hate crimes. The project will contribute to increased knowledge and awareness within the judiciary of the legislation, jurisprudence and sentencing pertaining to hate crimes, social context information on the individuals or communities that have been the target of hate crime and the impact of victimization on both individuals and communities.

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; 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 British Columbia.

The organization will offer the first trauma-informed digital outreach and prevention model in Alberta, designed to identify and support individuals trafficked online or through deceptive labour recruitment. Offering a safe, non-judgmental digital pathways to help, the organization will reach victims who are otherwise invisible to traditional systems, enabling early intervention, emotional support, and connection to comprehensive services that promote healing and long-term stability. Through this project, the organization will create a sustainable, trauma-informed digital model that will strengthen Alberta’s and Canada’s overall response to human trafficking through bridging the gap between online exploitation and real-world safety and recovery.

The Northwest Territories (NWT) will undertake several activities over five fiscal years to advance victim services and access to justice for victims and their families. Activities will include enhancing the existing Victim Services Outreach Programs; building capacity and leadership of the NWT Victim Services staff and frontline Victim Services Workers through various training initiatives; and undertaking various activities to support the implementation of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights.

Nunavut will undertake several activities over five fiscal years to advance victim services and access to justice for victims and their families. Activities will include providing supports and services for victims of crime and Canadian Victims Bill of Rights components of the victims’ rights to information, participation, protection and right to seek restitution are implemented with culturally appropriate measures. In addition, Nunavut will also provide financial assistance programs for victims and their families to attend court proceedings, especially when hearings are held in Iqaluit or other regional hubs. This directly supports the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights principle of participation, ensuring victims can be present and heard during proceedings such as preliminary hearings, trials and sentencing. By grounding the program in these Inuit values, we ensure that services are culturally safe, trauma-informed, and responsive to the diverse needs of victims in Nunavut, while reflecting the federal principles for victims of crime.

The program will offer guidance, assistance, and support to women in the Montreal area who wish to leave the sex industry or who are victims of sexual exploitation, in order to regain good psychological and financial health, and acquire the skills necessary to take control of their lives. The program is based on a direct and comprehensive intervention model with a motivational approach. The program will aim for a step-by-step method. The first step focuses on early intervention directly on the victims and survivor’s environment. The second step aims for support directed toward social reintegration. The third step focuses on consolidating gains and maintaining a stable life.

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.