Sexual Violence in Ontario

Ending sexual violence will need planning, resources and increased equity. Read our take on provincial politics and policy that affect sexual violence survivors, sexual assault centres, and violence prevention in Ontario.

  • Vast Majority Of Ontarians Oppose Cuts To Legal Aid

    Three-quarters of Ontarians are opposed to the province’s cuts to Legal Aid Ontario, a new poll has found. Legal Aid Ontario provides legal support and representation for residents with little to [...]

    Published On: May 23, 2019

  • Sexual Violence: Rural realities

    While all survivors of violence face barriers to getting the support they need, rural survivors of sexual violence face concerns that urban survivors do not. Sexual violence is easily hidden in [...]

    Published On: May 16, 2019

  • One-time Funding Resources for Ontario Sexual Assault Centres: Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) Responds

    A year ago, on March 1, 2018, the Province of Ontario launched a strategy which would see a significant increase in funding for Ontario sexual assault centres.  At that time, [...]

    Published On: February 27, 2019

  • Government spending cuts impact Indigenous programming in Ontario: OCRCC Responds

    The Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) responds with concern to recent government spending cuts impacting Indigenous programming in Ontario. In arts, a fund for Indigenous culture that was set [...]

    Published On: December 17, 2018

  • Remember December 6

    On this date in 1989, a gunman killed 14 women at Montreal’s École Polytechnique, before killing himself. In the suicide note he left on his body, he described his rage against women and [...]

    Published On: December 6, 2018

  • $11.5 million increase to shelters and counselling, but no news on Sexual Violence Support services

    Last week, Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues Lisa McLeod announced a $11.5 million increase to shelters and counselling services. While we laud this investment as positive for our shelter sisters and [...]

    Published On: November 28, 2018

  • Ontario’s Resolution R4 (on gender identity): OCRCC Responds

    Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) denounces resolution R4, the PC government's recent draft   resolution to not recognize gender identity. If confirmed, this resolution would guide the Ontario’s PC party’s [...]

    Published On: November 19, 2018

  • #SurvivorsCan’tWait: Ontario rape crisis centres still awaiting funding promised

    Included in the Ontario gender-based violence strategy was up to $14.8-million over three years to increase the capacity of current Sexual Assault Centres -- as well as open new ones in [...]

    Published On: October 26, 2018

  • Sexual Assault Survivors know Dr. Blasey Ford’s impossible burden

    Testimony in a sexual assault case - which relies on a survivor’s willingness to provide it - has the power to make an unknown and often serious incident visible. Without the [...]

    Published On: October 1, 2018

  • Online Sexual Violence

    What is Online Sexual Violence? Online sexual violence can include... Spreading lies online about someone’s sexual reputation Spreading truths online about someone’s sexual reputation Forwarding a sexy, nude or hookup picture [...]

    Published On: August 22, 2018

  • Poverty, Sexual Violence and Ontario Income Supports

    Sexual violence can impact anyone. But Canadian and global statistics tell us that the prevalence of sexual and relationship is gendered – that is, it is experienced at higher rates by [...]

    Published On: August 10, 2018

  • Get the Facts: Healthy Relationships

    Get the facts on Healthy Relationships...and signs of a less-healthy relationship. Read more about healthy relationships and relationship abuse in our Healthy Relationships Fact Sheet (English).  Healthy Relationships Fact Sheet (Arabic) [...]

    Published On: July 15, 2018