Last month, we joined survivor-support organizations across the country in raising concerns about the federal government’s proposed cuts to Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada. We warned that these reductions would have profound impacts on front-line services and would effectively dismantle the federal department responsible for advancing women’s rights and gender equality in this country.

Our Executive Director shared this message publicly in an opinion piece in the Waterloo Region Record, noting that cuts to WAGE move us closer to trends unfolding south of the border:
​
“When Canadians recoil at what we see unfolding in the U.S., where funding for survivors is being slashed, reproductive rights are being stripped away, and diversity programs are being rolled back, it’s because we know we can do better. We believe in systems rooted in care and compassion, not competition and cruelty. Yet every time we chip away at the resources that uphold those systems, we move one step closer to the very landscape we claim to reject.”

On October 29th, the federal government announced renewed funding for WAGE.
​
We are heartened to see commitments to addressing gender-based violence, advancing women’s economic security, and supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and encouraged by the multi-year funding outlined in Budget 2025. Predictable and stable funding is vital for women’s organizations to continue advancing safety, dignity, and equality, especially in a time of economic strain and rising regressive movements across North America.

However, we remain concerned that the overall funding announcement represents a decrease from current annual WAGE spending. In a context of increasing demand, reduced investment risks further burdening front-line organizations and leaving survivors without the support they need and deserve.

We know that gender-based violence does not occur in isolation. It is deeply connected to whether women and gender-diverse people have access to safe housing, income security, childcare, education, and decent work. When funding for gender equality is reduced, it weakens the systems that prevent violence and support survivors in rebuilding their lives.

We also know that austerity does not impact all communities equally. Indigenous, Black, racialized, newcomer, disabled, and 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors already face disproportionate rates of violence, systemic discrimination, and barriers to care. Cuts to equality and anti-violence funding undermine the culturally grounded, community-led organizations best positioned to provide safety, advocacy, and healing in the face of these inequities.
​
We call on the federal government to deepen its commitment to organizations serving women, survivors, and gender-diverse people - especially those serving communities most targeted by violence and systemic marginalization. Our communities thrive when care, safety, and equality are not optional, but foundational.

We are honoured to share that the Badge of Hope foundation, founded by Magnet Forensics’ co-founder Jad Saliba, has committed $450,000 over the next three years to support survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking in Waterloo Region. 

This gift of $150,000 annually is unrestricted, which means we can be flexible and respond directly to the needs we see on the ground. It will help us continue to reduce wait times for counselling and advocacy, sustain safe shelter options for survivors of trafficking, and expand prevention education in schools and communities. 

One of our biggest challenges has been the growing demand for counselling and advocacy. At the height of the pandemic, more than 350 survivors in our community were waiting for support, with some facing delays of up to a year or longer. For survivors of sexual violence, waiting can mean reliving trauma alone, struggling with mental health challenges, or being unable to fully participate in school, work, or family life. Investments like this one from the Badge of Hope foundation are critical because they allow us to add counselling capacity and bring wait times down. Today our waitlist is closer to 50, and with continued support, we are working toward our long-term goal of ensuring every survivor can access help when they need it most. 

In addition, the need for anti-human trafficking supports and prevention in our region is urgent. Waterloo Region has the third highest rate of human trafficking in Canada. In the past year alone, we supported over 145 survivors of trafficking, including 55 youth under the age of 18. At the same time, requests for prevention workshops far outweighed what we had resources to provide.  

“This gift is about more than dollars. It is about hope, safety, and the chance to heal,” said Sara Casselman, Executive Director. “Because the funds are unrestricted, we can put them to work where survivors need them most. Survivors in our community cannot afford to wait months or years for counselling, nor should they have to face systemic barriers alone. Every survivor deserves timely, compassionate support and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. A gift of this scale allows us to lead boldly, invest in the future, and continue pushing for the systemic changes needed to end sexual violence. We are deeply grateful to Jad Saliba and the Badge of Hope foundation for standing with survivors and helping us address one of the most urgent issues facing our community.”
 
Founded in 2022, the Badge of Hope foundation directs resources to organizations that provide safety, healing, and hope to people facing trauma and adversity. 

“We are proud to partner with SASC,” said Jad Saliba, Founder of Badge of Hope foundation. “When you look at the data, Waterloo Region has one of the highest rates of trafficking in Canada, and the demand for counselling and prevention education continues to grow. We cannot ignore those realities. Supporting SASC means survivors can find safety today and also access the tools to build stronger futures. We believe in the power of prevention and education, and we believe that when community members and organizations step up together, real change is possible.” 

Since 1989, SASC has supported survivors of sexual violence in Waterloo Region. We provide individual and group counselling, advocacy, accompaniments, a 24-hour support line, practical supports, prevention education, legal information, and specialized anti-human trafficking programming. 

Waterloo Region, ON – Local gender-based violence (GBV) organizations are raising urgent concerns about proposed federal cuts that would slash the budget of Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) by nearly 80% by 2027-28. 

The Leadership Table for Waterloo Region’s GBV Strategy, a coalition of local agencies and institutions working collaboratively, warns that such drastic reductions would destabilize essential services across the country and reverse decades of progress in advancing gender equity. 

“Gender-based violence is not an abstract issue in Waterloo Region. It is a crisis,” said Sara Casselman, Executive Director, Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC). “Federal leadership and investment through WAGE are essential to sustaining multi-sector responses to this epidemic.” 

The Local Context 

• In 2019, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives ranked the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo area as the least safe urban center in Canada for women. 

• In 2023, Waterloo Region declared gender-based violence an epidemic. 

• The Region has the third highest rates of sex trafficking in the country, with survivors requiring intensive, long-term supports. 

• Local agencies continue to face overwhelming demand and persistent waitlists for counselling, crisis response, and shelter services. 

National Concerns 
The Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC), YWCA Canada, and the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW-ICREF) have all spoken out against the proposed cuts, warning they would be “devastating” for front-line services and “effectively gut the entire department responsible for women’s rights and gender equality in this country.” 
 
Local Leaders Speak Out 

• “WAGE funding was the catalyst for a fundamental change in how we address women's homelessness in our region. It allowed us at the YWCA Cambridge to conduct on-the-ground research into the realities of women's homelessness, enabling us to build an irrefutable case that ultimately led to the opening of Cambridge's first-ever women’s emergency homeless shelter. Slashing the WAGE budget actively reverses progress like this, cutting off the very pipeline of innovation and research that allows frontline organizations to adapt and meet crises head-on, putting the safety and stability of the most vulnerable women in our community directly at risk." – Kim Decker, CEO, YWCA Cambridge 

• “WAGE funding has been a lifeline for local survivors of sexual violence as the demand for our services have risen dramatically. It allowed SASC to pivot online during the pandemic, expand our capacity to support survivors, and strengthen programs like human trafficking response and public education. Cuts of this scale would harm essential services for people experiencing gender-based violence in our community.” – Sara Casselman, Executive Director, SASC

•  “WAGE funding has been essential for small frontline organizations like SHORE Centre. Without it, we wouldn’t have had the capacity to plan for the future or safeguard our organization. Since 2021, these investments have strengthened services and set clear goals. The reality is this decrease reflects a broader pattern of withdrawing support from agencies serving marginalized communities. When funding is pulled, services are reduced, and survivors of gender-based violence ultimately pay the price.” – Lindsay Sweeney, Executive Director, SHORE Centre 
   

Call to Action 
The Leadership Table for Waterloo Region’s GBV Strategy is urging the federal government to: 

• Protect and sustain core funding for WAGE, particularly programs addressing gender-based violence and survivor support. 

• Provide stable, multi-year funding that allows communities to plan and deliver coordinated services. 

• Renew and expand national initiatives such as the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund. 

• Apply Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) to all fiscal decisions. 

Click here to read our letter to the Prime Minister, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, and Waterloo Region's MPs.

Click here to learn more about the Waterloo Region GBV Strategy, co-chaired by SASC and Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.

Waterloo Region’s Gender-Based Violence Leadership Table feels strongly that these cuts would jeopardize not only federal commitments to gender equality but also the safety, dignity, and futures of survivors in communities across Canada. 

Media Contacts: 

Sara Casselman, Executive Director, Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region – [email protected]  

Jennifer Hutton, Chief Executive Officer, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, Co-Chair of the Leadership Table, [email protected]​

Kim Decker, CEO, YWCA Cambridge – [email protected] 

The decision to not talk about or report sexual violence is often grounded in fear – and that fear is grounded. Although progress has been made, many barriers to reporting remain1. The process itself can be hostile to victims. Reporting does not always result in charges. When charges are laid and a case proceeds, stereotypes and myths are often present in the courtroom, perpetuating falsehoods on sexual consent and survivors’ lived experiences.  
 
These realities are ever-present as we learn the verdict in the case of five former World Junior Hockey players charged with sexual assault against a young woman, named only as "E.M." in court2. 
 
Given the limits of the criminal justice system in understanding and responding to sexual assault, the indications of police bias in this case, as well as social misconceptions of how victims “ought to” respond to sexual violence3, we have long wondered whether a guilty verdict for any of the charges connected to this case was possible. Too often, sexual assault survivors do not see the outcomes that they hope for4. Courtroom outcomes are not a judgement on what actually happened, only what can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 
 
Today, we are not in any way surprised by the verdict of not guilty in this case. Further, we do not see this verdict as an indication of “truth-finding” in what happened between the complainant and accused, and we urge others to pause on this reflection – not guilty does not mean innocent of harm.  
 
Throughout this case in the courtroom, we’ve once again seen: 
 

• The criminal justice system’s tendency to place the survivor’s experience at the center of scrutiny: E.M. was required to give nine days of testimony, which included being grilled by five different defense lawyers who relied on offensive myths about consent, promiscuity and false allegations of sexual assault. 

 

• The criminal justice system’s tendency to question the complainant’s actions before, during and after the incident. In reality, people faced with violence are not always able to make decisions to protect themselves. When faced with the threat of sexual violence, many people: 

• freeze, 

• do not report or delay reporting, 

• do not remember aspects of the event or have blanks in memory, 

• have inconsistencies in memory, 

• do not say no clearly to unwanted sexual contact, 

• exhibit no physical evidence of injury from a sexual assault, 

• are unable to identify the perpetrator to police, 

• exhibit no apparent emotional expression following a sexual assault, 

• provide what might appear to be inconsistent statements at different points in time, 

• blame themselves for the assault, 

• have a relationship with, or communicate with, the perpetrator after the assault,  

• deny or minimize the assault1. 

 
E.M. noted in her testimony that “she was ‘numb’ and ‘on autopilot’, feeling ‘outnumbered’ and ‘intimidated’ by multiple men she did not know”2 in the room where the incident took place. E.M.’s description stands out to us: being separated from others increases risk for sexual violence victimization among acquaintances. Being alone destabilises victims’ ability to express their refusal with persistent words or actions; it also enhances perpetrators’ advantages3.  
 
Compliance or capitulation to expectations for sex in the midst of fear is very different from consent. That is: where No is unsafe or impossible, Yes has no meaning. 
 
We believe that E.M. knew this, as did others in the hotel room. Her testimony on fear and the threat of violence was not given much weight throughout the court proceedings, and we believe this is a missed opportunity to better understand sexual violence and its impacts. Women, young people, racialized and Indigenous women, people with disabilities and gender diverse people (amongst others) live with an increased vulnerability to sexual violence4, for example; we also live with an awareness of this vulnerability.  
 

• The criminal justice system’s reliance on a police process that was marked by incomplete investigation, leniency toward the accused and bias towards the complainant. The now-retired sergeant tasked with investigating E.M.’s experience in 2018 said he had not thoroughly followed up on some investigative leads—for example, a text invitation from one accused to a group, and allegations that one accused slapped E.M.'s buttocks: “Maybe I overlooked it,” the sergeant testified as a witness in the case. “There was a lot going on.” He also did not appear to consider other ways that E.M. may have been vulnerable to sexual violence, other than through alcohol intoxication.  

 
For many years, we as sexual assault survivor advocates have pushed back on unacceptably high rates of reported sexual assaults that do not result in charges. There are many factors that play a role in determining sexual assault cases as ‘unfounded’, and many of these are informed by bias and rape myths. Examples include: “Detectives not correctly applying reasonable grounds, relevant witnesses not being interviewed, disproportionate weight given to the accused version of events, reliance on rape myths and predetermine outcomes prior to a full investigation (Hamilton Police Service Board, 2019)”5. The 2018 investigation of E.M.’s case reflects these patterns. 
 

• The criminal justice system’s inability to reflect the realities of sexual crimes. One commentator has wondered “why charges were laid and how this ever got to trial because ‘it just seemed like the Crown didn't have a lot of evidence’”6​. We wonder: in a hotel room that contained just E.M., the accused and a locked door, what evidence exists? Where sexual consent is a relational − yet physically invisible − agreement between people, what does evidence look like? If submission to sex in the midst of fear occurs in the place of consent, little physical proof of this will remain. ​ 

 

• The criminal justice system’s tendency to leverage dated sexual assault myths. Myths reflect the worst tropes and beliefs out there, leveraging offensive stereotypes about gender, race, ageism and more. For example, Black women are more likely to face physical or sexual objectification than white women, and Indigenous women face degrading racial stereotypes that make them vulnerable to sexualization7. In a courtroom, these stereotypes will be reflected back in the form of sexual assault myths that claim to tell a story about the survivor8.  

 
In this case, E.M., who agreed to consensual sex with one of the accused after meeting him in a bar, was cast by the defense as sexually “wild” and indiscriminate. Testimony of the accused was deployed to shore up this cliché—which is grounded in social disapproval and distrust of women who say Yes to sex.  
 

• The criminal justice system’s inability to recognize victims’ resistance to violence. Too often, a victim’s “apparent lack of resistance becomes the focus”9 in court. Outsiders are keen to suggest that if the incident really happened, a victim would react with obvious resistance (i.e. fighting back, yelling, saying No with force, bringing in others to help, telling, reporting – etc).  

 
We know that these ways of pushing back aren’t always possible during sexual violence. Overt resistance is risky and can lead to a changed relationship with the offender (which the survivor may value), conflict, or risk of greater violence: in fact, research shows that some women experience increasingly negative consequences of sexual harassment as their responses became more assertive10. More, E.M. did express resistance to her experiences with the accused. For example: 
 

• she tried to leave the hotel room; 

• she told her friend and mother about what had happened; 

• she gave testimony to police; 

• she participated in a Hockey Canada civil case; 

• she took part in two police investigations. In the second in 2022 (in which the 
  police decided to pursue charges, not the victim), E.M. was overwhelmed to hear 
  that the 2018 case was being reopened13. 

 
We recognize these actions as very meaningful in the face of violence. Often, survivors of violence will do these things because they believe what happened to them was wrong. In court, however, these acts of resistance were used to depict E.M. “as delusional, vengeful, exploitive, or an attention-seeker”11​ -- a woman with regrets, or variously, seeking to ruin the accused’s lives. We note that these common depictions of victims have been the going strategy to diffuse allegations − and relieve those accused of sexual violence of accountability − since time immemorial.​ 
 
At SASC, we often support sexual violence survivors through difficult or disappointing criminal justice cases.  
 
We anticipate that our Centre and other community services for sexual violence survivors will also feel the impacts of E.M.’s story and court case. Every time a high-profile sexual assault case is in the news – Ghomeshi, Cosby, Weinstein – Ontario sexual assault centre crisis lines and counselling see a new wave of service users, and requests for prevention education at local schools rise.   
 
More work is needed to support sexual violence survivors 
 
To better support sexual violence survivors, we need the following: 
 

• Restorative and transformative justice in response to sexual violence in Canada. Restorative and transformative justice processes address the causes of harmful behavior; the needs of both the responsible person and the survivor are taken into account. Survivors for Justice Reform​, a global coalition of survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence and human trafficking, points out that restorative justice is the only way to ensure that past harm to a person − and sometimes the broader community − is repaired. It can also prevent future harm. Restorative practices have roots in cultures around the world, from long before our current criminal justice system’s approach, and have been used successfully​12.  

 
We need to make way for restorative and transformative justice approaches to sexual violence in Ontario. Currently, Ontario’s D.4: Community Justice Programs for Adults policy names sexual offenses as ineligible, meaning that prosecutors cannot refer sexual offences to a community justice program. We urge the Attorney General to revise the policy and allow for the inclusion of sexual violence cases in community justice programs, when survivors request it. As Survivors for Justice Reform shares:  
 
“Restorative justice can play an essential role in addressing the harm caused by colonial systems, honouring Indigenous wisdom and disrupting the harm the criminal legal inflicts on 2SQT-BIPOC [2-spirit, queer and trans; Black, Indigenous and people of color] the most. Denying this option reinforces the harmful and inaccurate narratives that the colonial system is the one legitimate path to justice, while undermining the autonomy and dignity of survivors who seek alternative approaches”13.  
 

• Less reliance on the criminal justice system as the solution to gender-based violence. This approach “assumes that violence is caused by isolated individuals, [and] that individual punishment or banishment is the only and best option available”14. This way of thinking about crime forgets that the criminal justice system has many limits: for example, that charges and sentencing in sexual violence cases is not consistent, has historically been influenced by both bias and racism15, and does not work for most sexual violence survivors in Canada16. 

 

• A reallocation of resources from the criminal justice system to community supports. There’s a disconnect between what support survivors are seeking, and what is being invested in. A Ontario government-led consultation with sexual violence survivors found that “there was consensus among most survivors that the legal/court system did not only fail to meet their needs, but was re-traumatizing…Some survivors reported that their perpetrators were not held accountable by the law and that they continued to be harassed or abused, despite attempting to seek help from the police”17. While some sexual violence survivors will access criminal justice services, the bottom line is this: investment in sexual violence services that are situated in criminal justice services will only ever help a minority of survivors.  

 

• Intentional investment in community-based sexual violence supports. More and more, survivors of violence are reaching out for support18. Some rape crisis centres report a spike in calls since the start of Hockey Canada sexual assault trial. Community-based support services, such as crisis, counselling and group support provided by our Centre, can make a huge difference to sexual violence victims: as one survivor of violence said, “a key factor in her own survival was that police immediately put her in touch with community agencies that provide a safe place to stay, counselling and group therapy”19. SASC’s services are greatly under-resourced. Increased investment would help us reach more survivors and make it possible to help more survivors reaching out for help. 

 

• Further investment in community-based sexual violence prevention. We are doing this work, but we need to significantly grow our capacity to work with local athletes and sports organizations.  

 

• Prioritize the inclusion of sexual violence expert testimony in sexual assault cases in court. A sexual violence expert can provide important context on how people react to the threat of sexual violence, as well as how trauma can impact a victim’s memory and reactions20. Expert testimony can provide facts and dispel misconceptions. But a decision concerning a sexual assault case (R. v. Hoggard) in 2024 saw the Ontario Court of Appeal take a step backward in this area when it said that “that criminal trials don’t need expert evidence explaining the neurobiology of trauma”21. We and other sexual violence advocates believe this undermines educational efforts to keep judges and juries from relying on rape myths. It also leaves survivor reactions to violence misunderstood.  

 
Now in 2025, sexual violence expert testimony was not a part of E.M.’s case. As a result, effective analysis of E.M.’s actions (and inactions) before, during and after the incident in question were also not present in the case. We endorse the inclusion of sexual violence experts in similar cases in future.  
 

• If the criminal justice system sees investment or changes, prioritize Advocate Case Review programming (VACR) to address bias in the criminal justice system. VACR identifies and addresses root causes in case attrition in sexual assault reports to police. The VACR model has been endorsed by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police A Canadian Framework for Collaborative Police Response in Sexual Violence, and has been implemented in many communities across Ontario and Canada. SASC participates in VACR in Waterloo Region. 

 
We believe survivors 
 
We commend E.M., for finding the courage to continue to speak about her experience. We commend all survivors of sexual violence who choose to tell their stories, whether it be in a court of law, or to a friend, family member or other support people. Finally, we recognize and commend those who never share or report their experiences—in Canada, this is by far the vast majority of sexual violence survivors22. We wish we could say that E.M.’s experiences with systems were an isolated event; but for sexual violence survivors, we know that, unfortunately, it isn’t.  
 
If you’re a survivor of sexual violence: 
If something has happened to you, please know that there are people who believe and support you. 

• You can talk to a friend, family member or other person you trust. 

• You can contact us at SASC. All support is free and confidential. 

• If something has happened to you and you are considering reporting, we can help you think through your options. If you are not considering reporting, that’s okay too. 

• Learn more about SASC here: www.sascwr.org  

 
If you’re a friend, family member or mentor, there are things you can do too: 

• You can be an ally to sexual violence survivors. 

• You can listen to the person’s story without judgement . 

• You can listen to the person’s story without expectations that they formally report 

• You can help them to find safe places to get support, including at SASC. 

• If you work with athletes, you can provide access to prevention education about sexual violence. Contact us at SASC and speak to our Public Education Team. 

 
If you’re with a community-level sports team: 
You can connect your team with the violence prevention program OHL Onside, a program for Ontario-based hockey league teams run through local sexual assault centres. Sport organizations can set an example as leaders in preventing sexual violence, and your local sexual assault centre can help. Community-based sexual assault centres like SASC have been providing prevention education for decades. Preventing sexual violence can take many forms. It can mean: 
 

• Talking with athletes about sexual violence and about their rights and responsibilities 

• Talking with athletes about preventing sexual violence  

• Pushing back against offensive sexualized, gendered, transphobic or racist jokes 

• Making clear what is acceptable behaviour as a team member/athlete and what is not 

• Withdrawing support for organizations or initiatives that are not safe for young people or athletes. 

 
This is a call to action -- Hockey Canada and other sport bodies must act now. SASC and other community-based sexual assault centres are ready to help.  
 
We stand with E.M.  
 
Media requests should be sent to [email protected].  

Kitchener, Ont. – Rangers Reach and the Kitchener Rangers are pleased to announce the continuation of our partnership with the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region. Rangers Reach has pledged an additional $50,000 in funding to SASCWR over the next two years. 

Craig Campbell, Executive Director of Rangers Reach, stated, “The educational programming provided by SASCWR is both essential and significant. Our organizations are committed to ensuring that we equip our players with the necessary tools for success both on and off the ice.” 

“The Kitchener Rangers proudly stand with Rangers Reach and the Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) in their unwavering commitment to supporting survivors and fostering a safer community. We recognize the critical role that SASC plays in providing essential services, advocacy, and education to those affected by sexual violence,” stated Rangers Chief Operating Officer, Joe Birch. 

Birch further noted, “As a community-focused organization, the Kitchener Rangers believe in the importance of creating a supportive environment where every individual feels safe and respected. By partnering with SASC, we aim to amplify their efforts and contribute to the ongoing fight against sexual violence.” 

“We encourage our fans and the broader community to join us in supporting SASC’s mission.” 

Karley Doucette, Education & Communications Manager of SASC added, “ We are profoundly grateful to Rangers Reach for their unwavering commitment to building safer sports communities in Waterloo Region. This additional $50,000 investment over the next two years builds on their already significant contribution to our Leading by Example Sports Program and our broader Male Allies Program at SASC. Their support sends a powerful message about the importance of investing in real, prevention-based solutions to end gender-based violence in sports culture.”  

“We know that ending gender-based violence requires lasting culture change, and that change begins with education. By equipping young athletes with the knowledge and skills to build respectful relationships and challenge harmful behaviours, we are laying the foundation for safer, more respectful communities for everyone. With this continued partnership, we will reach even more young athletes across Waterloo Region, fostering consent, respect, healthy relationships, and positive leadership both on and off the ice,” Doucette further stated.  

Landon Kenney, Male Allies Educator of SASC highlighted the importance of the program, “In hockey culture, there is often pressure to be informed about relationships, and vulnerability isn’t always encouraged. We give players an opportunity to explore topics like consent, healthy relationships, and identity, without judgement. Our sessions provide young men and boys a forum to ask questions they might feel embarrassed or uncomfortable raising in other spaces. It’s also important for them to learn that these concepts are not just rules to follow or things not to do, but also for their own personal growth, autonomy, and well-being. Coaches report the lasting impact of these programs, noting continued conversations and behavioural shifts. When we engage with youth early, we see that they are eager to have these discussions and are capable of doing so with care and diligence. When people feel that they can show up authentically and be met with respect and validation, spaces become safer for everyone.”  

This announcement of the continued investment in our community and the work that SASCWR does, emphasizes the importance of the partnership between the three organizations. 

Contact Rangers Reach:
Craig Campbell
Executive Director, Rangers Reach
[email protected]

For Rangers media inquiries, contact:
Luca Lombardi 
Manager, Communications and Community Relations
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
(416) 885-4510
[email protected]

For SASC media inquiries, contact [email protected].

January 9, 2025 - [Waterloo, ON] – The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC) and Accelerator Centre (AC) are proud to announce our new groundbreaking partnership, made possible through the financial support of Women and Gender Equality Canada’s (WAGE) Women’s Program, to break down barriers for women and gender diverse individuals in STEM fields and entrepreneurship.

This partnership will leverage SASC's expansion of the #RaiseTheBar Training by launching its Disrupting Gender Bias in Startups (DGBS) program and the Accelerator Centre's new AC:Incubate+ framework to provide mentorship, education, and actionable tools for women and gender-diverse individuals in STEM and entrepreneurship. By addressing systemic workplace barriers such as ineffective policy, burnout culture, gendered distribution of labour, and workplace harassment, the partnership aims to create more equitable environments, empowering participants to advance their careers and drive systemic change in their fields.

The economic and social benefits of diversity in leadership and STEM fields are clear. Research indicates that companies with diverse leadership are 25% more likely to outperform their peers and experience enhanced innovation and profitability. Despite this, women make up just 29% of the STEM workforce globally and, in Canada, only 17% of all private sector businesses were majority-owned by women.

This unique collaboration merges SASC's expertise in fostering social change and creating equitable workplaces with the AC's award-winning programs for early-stage technology companies, amplifying the reach and impact of both organizations.

Expanding Proven Programs to Remove Systemic Barriers
Through this collaboration:

• SASC is expanding its Raise the Bar training with the launch of the Disrupting Gender Bias in Startups (DGBS) Program. This initiative will offer feminist education to tech leaders, equipping them to dismantle systemic barriers faced by women and gender-diverse individuals in the workplace. Over nine weeks, participants will critically examine how traditional work environments contribute to issues like sexual harassment and inequities. They will also receive support to develop actionable plans for fostering more equitable and inclusive workplaces, guided by the principles of Feminist Entrepreneurship.
• The AC is broadening its AC:Incubate program by launching the AC:Incubate+ program, offering tailored resources to help women and gender diverse founders scale technology companies and build the best-practices of diverse and equitable workplaces into their businesses from day-one. Over the course of six months, participants will gain access to advanced content, exclusive peer networking groups, targeted workshops, educational opportunities, and customized resources designed to empower women and gender-diverse founders.

Applications for the AC:Incubate+ and DGBS program are designed for women and gender diverse founders in tech. The AC:Incubate+ Program application will open on January 9, 2025, and the DGBS applications will open shortly after.

“We are thrilled to partner with SASC on this important collaboration. At the AC, we believe that fostering innovation starts with fostering inclusion. Women and gender-diverse individuals are key to Canada’s tech ecosystem, both as founders and employees, but systemic barriers still limit their opportunities. Thanks to funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada, this initiative will support more women and gender-diverse individuals as they launch and grow businesses while shaping inclusive workplaces for the future of Canadian tech,” Tabatha Laverty, VP of Marketing and External Relations, AC.

“True gender equity in the workplace demands more than policies. It requires dismantling ingrained biases and inequitable structures. At SASC, we want to be part of transforming workplace cultures by fostering environments where equity is embedded in leadership practices, policies, and daily interactions. This partnership is about shifting leadership culture so that women and gender-diverse individuals are genuinely valued, supported, and empowered to lead. By building workplaces where inclusion and equity are the foundation, we create spaces where everyone can thrive, and sexual harassment has no place,” Sara Casselman, Executive Director, SASC.

“Lasting change happens when we all come together—governments, schools, organizations, and industries—to make sure women and gender-diverse people also have the support they need to lead and thrive. By working with the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region and the Accelerator Centre, our government is helping break down barriers in STEM and entrepreneurship so that more people have real opportunities to succeed and contribute to the growth and strength of our economy.” Bardish Chagger, Member of Parliament for Waterloo, Ontario.
 
Join the Movement
With the generous support of WAGE, both the AC:Incubate+ Program of AC:Incubate and the Disrupting Gender Bias in Startups (DGBS) Program of Raise the Bar programs will be made available free of charge.

Applications for the AC:Incubate+ Program of AC:Incubate are open from January 9 to January 23, 2025, with programming beginning in February 2025. Apply here.

Organizations interested in participating in the Raise the Bar program can stay tuned for application details in the coming weeks.

About
Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region
For 35 years, the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC) has wrapped survivors of sexual violence in community care, offering counselling, court support, advocacy, and more. In addition to our direct services for survivors, SASC’s Public Education Program works to create social change by developing and providing curriculum, workshops, and resource materials to schools, professionals, organizations, and the community. SASC empowers individuals and workplaces to prevent and address gender-based violence. To learn more, visit www.sascwr.org.

Accelerator Centre
At the AC, we exist to help ambitious dreamers impact global change through their businesses. The AC is ranked among the World's Top 5 private business accelerators by UBI Global. We offer an extensive selection of customizable opportunities for startups across Canada—allowing founders to rapidly bring their innovation to life. We work with our global partners to bolster the innovation ecosystem in Waterloo and beyond. Learn more at acceleratorcentre.com.

Acknowledgement of Funding
This project has been funded through Women and Gender Equality Canada's Women's Program.

Pictured (left to right): Rangers Reach’s Craig Campbell and, from the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, Development Coordinator Ashley Shaw, Male Allies Educator Landon Kenney, and Communications Coordinator Esther Obaje.

We’re thrilled to announce that Rangers Reach and the Kitchener Rangers are continuing their incredible support with a $50,000 gift to expand our Leading by Example sports training program.

Since 2008, SASC has been dedicated to working with young athletes through our Public Education and Male Allyship Programs. In 2016, we partnered with the Ontario Hockey League to co-develop OHL Onside, and we've been delivering impactful training sessions to OHL teams ever since. In 2022/2023, Hockey Canada commissioned SASC to conduct over 25 training sessions for their teams' athletes, coaches, and administrators. Most recently, in 2023, the Canadian Olympic Committee invited us to collaborate on their Safe Sport visioning session.

This generous gift from Rangers Reach will enable us to expand our program within Waterloo Region and engage more youth athletes in meaningful conversations around consent, healthy relationships, positive masculinity, and leadership. These discussions help cultivate a culture of respect, equity, and accountability — both on and off the ice.

Calling all sports teams in Waterloo Region! If you’re interested in getting your athletes involved, please reach out to our Public Education Manager at [email protected].

Visit www.sascwr.org/athletics to learn more about our Leading by Example Sports Program for youth athletes. 

We’re proud to announce that SASC has been awarded $10,161 through the 2024 Libro Annual Grants Program to support our Housing Stability Project in our Anti-Human Trafficking Program. This grant from Libro Credit Union will help us provide safe, adequate, and affordable housing for survivors, addressing a critical need in the Waterloo Region.

“We’re grateful for Libro’s support and honoured to be among the recipients of the 2024 Annual Grant,” said Sara Casselman, Executive Director. “This funding supports our housing initiatives, providing survivors with a safe foundation to heal and rebuild their lives.’’

As one of the selected recipients, SASC joins other organizations across southwestern Ontario working in areas such as employment, housing, financial resilience, and local food accessibility. Other notable recipients in our community include Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region and Shelter Movers Southwestern Ontario.

This partnership with Libro Credit Union underscores a shared commitment to fostering community well-being and safety. For more information on our Anti-Human Trafficking Program, please visit www.sascwr.org/ahtp.

​On December 6th, 2024 — the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women — SASC is honoured to host the book launch of And Sometimes They Kill You by Pamela Cross, in collaboration with Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.

Pamela Cross is a renowned feminist lawyer and one of Canada’s leading voices on violence against women.

Join us for a compelling discussion and a profound opportunity to hear Pamela’s insights and stories from her book.

Secure your seat now, as space is limited. 

Scan the code above or click here to register!

Together, let’s deepen our understanding and strengthen our resolve to end violence against women.

Recently, a national discussion has been developing online and in the media regarding sexual violence within sports organizations, most notably Hockey Canada.

As a Sexual Assault Support Centre, we stand with all survivors of sexual violence, including those who have experienced harm by athletes. We know serious problems exist at the root of sports culture that too often result in sexual violence. These problems include:

• Dialogue that normalizes aggression, domination and sexism (i.e., ‘you throw/run like a girl’, ‘sissy’, ‘man up’, etc.)
• The degradation of women used as a ‘bonding tool’ for male athletes (i.e., ‘locker room talk’), which leads to the normalization of sexual violence. We refer to this as the continuum of harm (sexist jokes or behaviour leading to harassment and, ultimately, physical and sexual violence).

These problems culminate in what is termed rape culture. It is a fact that the harm caused by rape culture in sports organizations and our broader communities predominately impacts women, girls, and gender-diverse people. And because sexism, racism, and colonialism intersect, Black, Indigenous, and racialized women and girls are at even greater risk of being harmed. Sports organizations and athletes must address the issue of sexual violence in sports to build safer communities for all.

Knowing this, working with athletes has been a focus of our Male Allies Program since 2008. Our Leading by Example training supports athletes in becoming community champions in areas such as healthy masculinity and consent. In 2016, we co-created a curriculum for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) called OHL Onside, and we have been involved in training OHL players since that time.

Due to our experience educating for social change within sports organizations, Hockey Canada recently contacted our Public Education team. They requested specialized training for athletes, team staff and Hockey Canada staff in Calgary over the course of the summer. (Read more in their Action Plan.)

To support the delivery of Leading by Example workshops, SASC reached out in partnership to Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse (CCASA), the primary sexual harassment, sexual abuse and sexual assault crisis, counselling and education service provider for Calgary and the surrounding areas. Together our two organizations are in the process of delivering training to different cohorts, covering topics such as healthy masculinity, consent, the continuum of harm, and bystander intervention through interactive activities and discussions.

We believe anti-sexual violence training is a powerful tool for creating social change. That said, for meaningful change to take hold, training needs to be reinforced by an ongoing, fulsome strategy within sports organizations to address sexual violence to shift rape culture within sports. As part of these efforts, governments, sports organizations, and corporations need to recognize the expertise of community-based sexual assault centres across Canada and fund them to provide training to local athletic organizations. If you are a representative from one of these groups, and want to be part of funding this work, please reach out to our Centre

We know that men and boys, with their unique ability and responsibility, have an essential role to play as allies in the work to end sexual violence. We encourage our community to connect with us to learn how our Male Allies Program can support your group or organization.
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Finally, if you are a survivor of sexual violence in Waterloo Region, we are reaching out to you. You are not alone. Our 24-Hour Support Line is available anytime, night, or day at 519-741-8633. To learn more about our services, visit sascwr.org.

For Ontarians seeking support outside of Waterloo Region, visit sexualassaultsupport.ca