If you have experienced a recent incident of sexual violence, you may choose to access medical care. Health professionals can help you with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) tests, pregnancy concerns, and with preventative medicines. They can attend to pain or injury that may have been caused in the incident, and offer other support related to your body and your health. Please note, it is not required that you seek medical attention after an incident of sexual violence. This is entirely up to you.

Algoma University’s Wellness Team also has free pregnancy tests on campus. If you would like to grab a test please email us at [email protected] and let us know which campus you’re on. We will then direct you to where you can pick up your test.

You may also decide to have an evidence kit done through the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Team at your local hospital. This evidence is usually kept for 12 months and may be helpful if you choose to report to the police. You are not required to have an evidence kit done, and can still report your experience without one. Having an evidence kit done also does not mean that you have to report your experience. Health care professionals can collect evidence up to 12 days post assault regardless of showering, but the sooner the better as there is less and less evidence as the days pass.

Not all hospitals offer these services. Below are some hospitals near Algoma University campuses that do.

Mississauga: Trillium Health Partners Mississauga Hospital
Phone: 905-848-7580 ext. 2548
Address: 100 Queensway W, Mississauga, ON L5B 1B8

*Note: If you are located in Brampton, you may go to Brampton Civic Hospital and there you will be transported to Trillium Health Partners Mississauga Hospital. Brampton Civic Hospital does not administer evidence kits. 

Sault Ste. Marie: Sault Area Hospital
Phone: (705) 759-5143
Address: 750 Great Northern Rd, Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 0A8

Timmins: Timmins and District Hospital
Phone: (705) 267-2131 *Note: this is the main phone line for the hospital.
Address: 700 Ross Ave E, Timmins, ON P4N 8P2

Toronto: Women’s College Hospital
Phone: 416-323-6040
Address: 76 Grenville St, Toronto, ON M5S 1B2 

You can also access free, trauma informed counselling services through the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Team at your local hospital.

If you would like support for a past or recent sexual violence incident, you can make an appointment with a Sexual and Gender Based Violence Prevention Coordinator by emailing [email protected].

If you need support with your mental health please reach out to our Wellness Team. You can check out the Wellness page and/or you can email [email protected]. When you email our Wellness team they will connect back with you to explore what kinds of mental health supports may suit your needs.

 

For immediate, free counselling through Homewood Health please call one of the following numbers:

• Once you dial the number below, select the following options for urgent counselling: 1 – 1 – 1

 

1-800-663-1142 (English)         1-888-384-1152 (TTY/hearing impaired)

1-866-398-9505 (French)          1-877-301-4776 (Outside of Canada)

In an emergency situation on campus: Phone 9-1-1 and/or Campus Security:

Sault Ste. Marie Security: 705-949-2301 Ext. 4444.
Timmins Security:  705-235-6842
Brampton Security: 905-451-0100 ext. 5555
Creekbank Security: 416-802-9283

Sexual violence is a broad term that describes any violence, physical or psychological, carried out through sexual means or by targeting sexuality. This pertains to various terms, some of which are below. If you are not sure if your situation falls under Sexual Violence, please reach out to us at [email protected] so we can support you.

What is Sexual Violence?
The Ontario Government defines sexual violence as a broad term that describes any violence, physical or psychological, carried out through sexual means or by targeting sexuality. It is not a crime of lust, but rather a crime about power over another person. 

Sexual violence takes different forms and can include the following:

• sexual assault
• sexual harassment
• stalking
• indecent or sexualized exposure
• degrading sexual imagery
• voyeurism
• cyber harassment
• trafficking
• sexual exploitation
• stealthing
• + more

For more descriptive definitions, please click here.

Sexual violence is a form of Gender-based violence—defined as violence that is committed against someone based on their gender identity, gender expression or perceived gender—and encompasses a range of behaviours, not all of which meet the threshold of criminal behaviour. Sexual violence crosses all social boundaries, affects people of every age and cultural background, and has devastating impacts on the lives of survivors and their families as well as the well-being of society. While people of all genders can experience sexual violence, women and transgender people are most likely to experience sexual violence; also, while people of all genders can perpetrate sexual violence, cisgender men are most likely to perpetrate sexual violence. Statistics in Canada show that 1 in 3 women, 1 in 6 men, and 1 in 2 transgender people will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. However, sexual violence is incredibly under-reported, so we can estimate that the real numbers are much higher.

We also know that people who are queer, Black, Indigenous, disabled, newcomers, and/or sex workers are more likely to experience sexual violence. Individuals with these or other marginalized identities may also encounter barriers to accessing support and justice after an experience of violence. 

In 2018, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities in Ontario conducted the Student Voices on Sexual Violence Survey with over 160,000 postsecondary students participation. This survey showed that twenty-three percent of university students responding to the survey reported a non-consensual sexual experience. In addition, 63.2 per cent of university student respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment one or more times, while 23.7 per cent of survey respondents reported experiencing stalking one or more times.

At Algoma University, our approach to supporting those who have experienced incidents of sexual and/or gender-based violence is trauma informed and survivor led and we also consider the societal context in which you have experienced this event. We will ensure that your experience with us is respectful and inclusive, and that the support you receive is unique to you and your lived experience.

Please note that Sexual Violence is broad and complex, and you are welcome to contact us if you are not sure how to put your experience into words.

Human Trafficking Information:
Human Sex Trafficking is Sexual Violence – Please report any incidents of human sex trafficking through the sexual violence reporting form.

• About Human Trafficking – Stay Informed and Vigilant 
• Trafficking of Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada 

Canadian Legislation:

• National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking 2019-2024
• Ontario legislation for supporting students in college and university who have experienced sexual violence
• Bill 132, Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment), 2016

Support through Algoma University:
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual or gender-based violence, we are here to help. You can email us at [email protected] and our Sexual and Gender Violence Prevention Coordinator will be able to connect you to provide resources and support you along your journey. 

If you choose to report an incident of sexual or gender based violence (hyperlink the reporting form) you will be connected to one of our Sexual and Gender Based Violence Prevention Coordinators right away. Should an investigation be pursued, you will be contacted and supported through that process from beginning to end, and we will always ask how we can best support you considering your lived experience.

BIPOC Support:

• Explore a library of BIPOC resources and educational opportunities

• • • https://library.rrc.ca/c.php?g=723026&p=5173630

• Algoma University Elder in Residence

• • To make an appointment with the Elder In Residence please email Paul Sayers at [email protected]
• Directory of BIPOC therapists in Canada and other resources: https://www.healingincolour.com/
• Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre https://www.salalsvsc.ca/indigenous-support-programs/
  • Salal’s no cost Indigenous Counselling Program provides short to mid-term one-to-one counselling for Indigenous people of marginalized genders. Including trans and cis women, trans men, non-binary, and Two Spirit individuals (peoples) seeking health, safety, and wellbeing. Indigenous Survivors can access free counselling by calling Salal toll free at 1-877-392-7583.

Resources

Immediate, free counselling services through Homewood Health:

If you are looking for immediate support from a professional counsellor, have your AU student ID number handy and call Homewood Health at:

1-800-663-1142 (English)         1-888-384-1152 (TTY/hearing impaired)

1-866-398-9505 (French)          1-877-301-4776 (Outside of Canada)

 

Immediate, free community based counselling services:

Assaulted Women’s Helpline:
1-866-863-0511

Talk4Healing, for Indigenous women:
1-855-554-HEAL

Male Survivors of Sexual Violence:
1-866-887-0015

Community Sexual Assault Centres
Your local Sexual Assault Centre can provide a variety of supports and resources. Learn more about each centre and how they can help on their website. 

Peel Region & Dufferin County: Family Transition Place
24/7 Crisis Line: (800) 265-9178
Office Line: (519) 942-4122
Website: https://familytransitionplace.ca/ 

Sault Ste Marie: Women in Crisis Algoma INC.
24/7 Crisis Line: (877) 759-1230
Office Line: (705) 759-1230
Website: https://womenincrisis.ca/

Timmins: Timmins and Area Women in Crisis
24/7 Crisis Line: (877) 268-8380
Office Line: (705) 268-8381
Website: https://www.tawc.ca/

Toronto: Toronto Rape Crisis Centre
24/7 Crisis Line: (416) 597-8808
Office Line: (416) 597-1171
Website: https://trccmwar.ca/