Human Rights & Equity OfficeSupport is available to students who have been impacted by gender-based violence, specifically sexual violence, regardless of where or when the violence took place. We know that support and healing looks different for everyone and Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Services will work with you to provide you support and access to the resources and referrals you want.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, Barb Lotan, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator, offers non-emergency support by helping you understand your options, assessing possible next steps and connecting you to services you wish to access. Having a conversation with Barb or another member of our service does not automatically initiate any formal reporting process. Students may bring a friend or other support person to a meeting with an advisor. Our service provides the following:
-
Information and options about on and off campus supports and services for all students who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives.
-
Referrals to support services.
-
Assistance to access accommodations/academic considerations.
-
Safety planning.
-
Information about both University and Police reporting processes, accompaniment/support in University process, if requested.
-
Support and information for housemates, classmates, teammates etc. who may also be impacted.
Email: bjl7@queensu.ca
Location: 5th floor, Mackintosh-Corry Hall, Human Rights & Equity hallway
Offers emergency and non-emergency resources and information to promote personal safety for the Queen’s community.
Emergency phone: (613) 533-6111
Non-emergency: (613) 533-6733
Location: 355 King Street West, Kingston
Website: /security/
The Human Rights Office advises individuals and groups on formal and informal routes following incidents of discrimination or harassment on the grounds of: race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability and gender identity as well as analogous ground.
Email: hrights@queensu.ca
Location: B506 Mackintosh-Corry Hall
Website: /humanrights/
Chaplains offer multifaith support and counselling on spiritual, religious, personal and financial problems, concerns or crises.​ The office also provides reflection and prayer spaces, and organizes community events.
Phone: (613) 533-2186
Email: chaplain@queensu.ca
Location: 2nd floor, Mitchell Hall
Website: /faith-and-spiritual-life/
The Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre offers academic, social and cultural support for indigenous students at Queen’s. In addition to tutoring and advising services, the Centre offers cultural programming and activities open to the broader Queen’s community.
Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Phone: (613) 533-6970​
Location: 146 Barrie Street
Website: /fourdirections/
SHRC offers confidential, non-judgmental, feminist, queer positive, pro-choice, sex positive and non-heterosexist information and referral service. SHRC sells safer sex products & sex toys at cost.
Phone: (613) 533-2959
Location: Lasalle Building
Facebook:
Volunteers offer welcoming, confidential, and empathetic peer-based advice to Queen’s students on any issue.
Hours: Opens September, 10am-8 pm, 7 days a week, online due to COVID restrictions (January 2022)
Phone: (613) 533-6000 Ext: 32737
Email: peersupport@ams.queensu.ca
Location:
Website:
SGPS student advisors are graduate and professional Queen’s students who provide peer-based advice to other graduate and professional students on personal and academic matters: from your relationship to your advisor to dealing with harassment or discrimination.
Email: advisors@sgps.ca
Website:
The University Ombudsperson offers independent impartial and confidential advice, facilitates informal conflict resolution, conducts informal inquiries, recommends policy changes, and refers inquiries to appropriate individuals or offices.
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. - noon, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., excluding statutory holidays. Other times available by appointment
Phone: (613) 533-6495
Email: ombuds@queensu.ca
Location: Mackintosh Corry Hall, 2nd floor
Website: /ombuds/
This group offers a supportive space open to all genders of students who have experienced adult sexual assault, a safe space to connect, and an opportunity to recognize strengths, build resilience and work towards self-empowerment. Weekly Group, over 8-10 weeks. Space is limited. Registration required. Offered once per term.
Contact pegasus.group@queensu.ca for information and to join.
The SA/DV program is a 24/7 confidential service providing emergency medical and nursing care, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, HIV and pregnancy, crisis counselling, forensic evidence collection, medical and social work follow up, and safety planning for victims of sexual assault or domestic violence. Attend in-person.
Location: Kingston General Hospital/Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Emergency Department, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston Ontario K7L 2V7
Website:
The centre provides free, confidential and non-judgmental counselling to 14- year old and older survivors of sexualized violence including, but not limited to, sexual assault, rape, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse, incest, stalking, online sexual violence and ritualized abuse in Kingston and area (Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington Counties).
English 24-Hour Crisis and Support Line: (613) 544-6424 or 1 (877) 544-6424
French 24-Hour line: 1 (877) 336-2433
Francophone office line: (613) 545-0762
Location: 400 Elliott Avenue Unit 1 (Rockcliffe Plaza), Kingston, Ontario K7K 6M9
Website:
Chat:
You can report incidents of theft or harassment or file complaints online and in-person.
Emergency phone: 911
Non-Emergency phone: (613) 549-4600
Location: Police Headquarters, 705 Division Street, Kingston, Ontario K7K 4C2
Website:
Good2Talk is a free, confidential helpline providing professional counselling and information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being to post-secondary students in Ontario with a focus on those aged 17-25.
Phone: 1 (866) 925-5454
Email: info@good2talk.ca
Website:
Kids Help Phone offers 24/7, bilingual (English and French), anonymous and confidential phone and web (websites and phone app) counselling, information and referrals for young people.
Phone: 1 (866) 668-6868
Website:
Assaulted Women's Helpline (24/7) AWH is a free, anonymous and confidential telephone and TTY service for women who have experience any form of abuse or violence in Ontario. The helpline provides crisis counselling, safety planning, emotional support, information and referrals.
How to contact:
GTA: (416) 863-0511
GTA TTY: (416) 364-8762
TOLL-FREE: 1 (866) 863-0511
TOLL-FREE TTY: 1 (866) 863-7868
#SAFE: (#7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus mobile phone
Website:
Offers free and confidential 24/7 information through call or web chat about counselling services and supports in your community, and provides strategies to help you meet your goals and basic education about mental illness.
Phone: 1 (866) 531-2600
Website:
The Support Services for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse program provides individual and group counselling, peer support, multilingual, toll-free phone line for immediate crisis and referral services to male survivors of sexual abuse, both recent and historical.
Phone: 1 (866) 887-0015
Website:
Talk 4 Healing is a culturally grounded, fully confidential helpline for Indigenous women available in 14 languages all across Ontario. Visit their website to access the online Live Chat.
Phone: 1 (855) 554 4325
Website:
The LGBTQ Youthline is a toll-free Ontario-wide support line offering confidential, non-judgmental, anti-oppressive and anti-racist support that affirms the experiences and aspirations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, 2-spirit, queer and questioning youth. Not 24 hours.
Phone: 1 (800) 268-9688
Website:
TALK is a crisis, distress, befriending, and information community service that provides confidential, anonymous and non-judgmental support for all members of the Kingston community. Not 24 hours.
Hours: 7 pm-3 am every day
Phone: (613) 531-8529
Facebook:
Ontario provides victims of sexual assault with free legal advice any time after the incident, regardless of how much time has passed.
How the program works
Legal advice is provided by phone or by video chat. Eligible victims will recieve a voucher and a list of lawyers to choose from. The voucher provides two hours of legal advice. If a victim requires more time, they can ask for two additional hours.
In Toronto, survivors who identify as women and people with non-binary gender identity who would benefit from a women-centred space can access the program at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic.
The lawyer will only provide legal advice, not representation (the lawyer cannot speak for a victim in court).
Advice could cover topics like reporting to the police, going through the criminal court process or deciding to start a lawsuit.
Eligibility
The program is available to all eligible women, men, trans and gender-diverse people.
Victims of sexual assault are eligible if:
- they are at least 16 years of age and live in Ontario; and
- the sexual assault happened in Ontario.
Accessing the program
Online: ontario.ca/page/independent-legal-advice-sexual-assault-victims
Toll-free: 1-855-226-3904
For the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic call: 416-323-9149
Why would I want or need independent legal advice?
Independent legal advice can inform you about different legal options, such as reporting to the police, suing in civil court or applying for compensation, to help you decide what you want to do.
This advice can also help:
- if you want to discuss your situation in confidence with a lawyer before talking to the police
- if your case is going to trial in criminal court and you have personal concerns that you wish to discuss with a lawyer not associated with your case.
Do I have to report the sexual assault to the police before I talk to a lawyer?
No. You can talk to a lawyer even if you have not made your decision about reporting the incident to police.
You may also benefit from other supports and services that can be accessed by calling the Victim Support Line, toll-free at 1-888-579-2888, or in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), 416-314-2447.
I was sexually assaulted when I was a child. Is it too late to talk to a lawyer now?
In the criminal justice system, there is no time limit to coming forward. For civil actions, the limitation period was recently changed, and you can now come forward at any time.
My case is going to trial soon. Can I still get this legal advice?
Yes you can. The only restriction is that the lawyer you choose cannot represent you in court.
I don’t meet the eligibility requirements for this program. Can I still access a lawyer if I can’t afford to pay?
The following resources can help you find a lawyer:
Legal Aid Ontario
Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258
GTA: 416-979-1446
Law Society of Ontario Referral Service
Pro Bono Ontario
JusticeNet
(Information adapted from the May 2021 Fact Sheet for the Independent Legal Advice Program)
The Sexual Harassment and Assault Resource Exchange (SHARE) is a service that supports all workers who have experienced sexual harassment or assault at work. They provide free, confidential legal information to workers about all their available options to address their experience. SHARE is a project of the Human Rights Legal Support Centre and is funded by the Department of Justice Canada.
They provide culturally safe and accessible support to all individuals. Services include:
- Indigenous services
- Language Services
- Other Service Accommodations
Tel: (416) 597-4900
Toll Free: 1-866-625-5179
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
Thursday: 2 pm to 6 pm
The Kingston Interval House is a facility for women, children and youth experiencing violence. It offers meals, accommodation, clothing, toiletries, safety and French Language, Indigenous, Children/Youth’s and Women’s counselling.
Crisis line: 1 (800) 267-9445
​T°Õ³Û: (613) 546-4461
Website:
Lily’s Place is an emergency shelter for families, equipped with a Children’s Play Room and staff who offers support, enhances awareness of resources in the community, and helps in locating permanent housing.
Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, 7 days a week, open 24 hours per day
Phone: (613) 767-6180
Location: 333 Kingston Avenue, Kingston, ON
Website:
In From the Cold is the largest shelter in Kingston operating on a 24-hour year-round basis and offering beds, breakfast and an evening meal. The shelter also a drop-in centre from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for homeless individuals.
Phone: (613) 531-3779
Location: 540 Montreal Street, Kingston, ON
Website:
Kingston Youth Shelter offers an emergency shelter, transitional housing at affordable rates for youth aged 16-24, and a Canada-wide family reunion program for youth aged 16-19. The shelter offers programming to help youth gain independence and life skills.
Phone: (613) 766-3200
Email: transitions@kingstonyouthshelter.com
Website:
The Ryandale Shelter accepts residents unable to secure overnight accommodation at the local Primary Shelters. They are admitted after 4:00 p.m. and are required to leave by 10:00 a.m. It is possible for a resident to have more than a one-night stay at the Shelter, depending upon the occupancy of the primary shelters.
Phone: (613) 548-8466
Email: ryandaleshelter@cogeco.net
Website: