Metro Vancouver, BC: Sexual Assault Resources
- BOLT Safety
- Feb 13
- 8 min read
CW: sexual violence, domestic abuse
If someone’s life is in danger, call 911 immediately.
Who this resource is for:
Victims / survivors of sexual violence and/or domestic abuse
Allies who either know someone who has experienced violence, or wish to learn how to help those in crisis
Kindly note: If you have experienced harm, it was not your fault, and we stand with you in whatever choice you make moving forward.
MEDICAL CARE
Life-threatening injuries: call 911, ask for an ambulance
With minor or less apparent injuries: may go to the hospital and request a sexual assault examination (also known as a ‘rape kit’) to be performed and collect evidence
Medical professionals can provide testing, options, guidance on pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
BC Women’s Hospital: Resources for violence against women
MENTAL HEALTH + CRISIS SUPPORT
Survivors may feel vulnerable, angry, confused, depressed, or another way after a sexual assault – all of which are valid. There are mental health professionals who can help with the healing process. More immediately, survivors may find comfort in their chosen ‘Safe Buddies’, which include trusted friends or family members.
For mental health related support and helplines, follow the links below:
Battered Women’s Support Services
Website: bwss.org
Phone: (604) 652-1867 or +1 (855) 687-1868
About: The BWSS provides many support services for survivors, including their 24/7 crisis line, transition houses and shelters.
CHIMO Community Services
Website: https://chimoservices.com/
Phone: +1 (604) 279-7077
About: CHIMO provides a variety of services, and aid people in crisis by providing safe housing, crisis counselling, and more.
The CHIMO team gave us a tour of their counselling offices and also talked to us in depth about their services. Watch the video below:
Crisis Services Canada
Website: crisisservicescanada.ca
Call: +1 (833) 456-4566
About: “If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, the Canada Suicide Prevention Service is available 24/7”.
Family Services of the North Shore
Website: https://www.familyservices.bc.ca/
Phone: 604-988-5281, ext. 226
About: Non-profit, community-based agency. Offers counselling, support, education.
Hope for Wellness 24/7 Help Line
Phone: 1-855-242-3310
About: Available to all Indigenous peoples across Canada who are seeking immediate crisis intervention.
Kids Help Phone
Website: kidshelpphone.ca
Call: +1 (800) 668-6868
About: “Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. We offer professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French”.
Salal Sexual Violence Support Center (formerly the WAVAW Rape Crisis Centre)
Website: https://www.salalsvsc.ca/
Phone: 604-255-6228
About: "We are a feminist, anti-oppressive, decolonizing sexual violence support centre operating on unceded Coast Salish Territories. We provide support services to survivors of sexualized violence who have shared experiences of gender marginalization: cis and trans women, Two-Spirit, trans and/or non-binary people. We advocate for social and systemic change through education, outreach and activism." This includes a 24-hour crisis and info line, hospital, police, and court accompaniment, and counselling.
We interviewed the Salal team to learn more about how they support survivors. Stay tuned for the video!
VictimLink BC
About: A toll-free, confidential, multilingual service available across B.C. and the Yukon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence, including victims of human trafficking exploited for labour or sexual services.
Coping After a Traumatic Event
Full resource from HealthLink BC:
It is normal to experience emotional, behavioural, and physical changes after experiencing a traumatic event, like:
Feeling hopelessness or numbness
Withdrawing from social connections, getting flashbacks to the incident(s)
Having trouble sleeping, eating
Experiencing fatigue, headaches, dizziness that can’t otherwise be explained
Healthy ways of coping can include:
Speaking with a counselor
Referrals can be obtained from your family physician
Can also contact the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): https://cmha.ca/find-help/find-cmha-in-your-area/
Connecting with family, friends, or a support group
Eating balanced meals and sleeping adequately
Physical exercise (going on walks, playing sports)
Being kind to yourself and giving yourself time and space to heal
Avoid relying on substances, like alcohol, to cope
CRIME REPORTING AND LEGAL OPTIONS
Survivors have the choice to decide whether they want to press charges or file a police, institutional, or otherwise systems-based report.
POLICE
Choosing to speak with the police about any incident does not generally obligate an individual to press charges or engage in legal proceedings; for instance, individuals may choose to simply consult the police about the nature of the crime, and their options going forward.
Vancouver Police Department (VPD)
The VPD team gave us permission to share this informative resource to understand the process of reporting a crime (refer to their website for the most updated information): https://vpd.ca/report-a-crime/sex-crime/
Some key points mentioned on their website: What to expect when making a police report
When you first call police, a civilian call-taker will ask you for some basic information, and a police officer on patrol will be assigned to investigate.
An officer, usually in uniform, will meet with you in person and ask you basic details of what happened to you.
With your permission, the officer will call an ambulance to transport you to a hospital.
Depending on the nature of the sexual assault, you may be asked to have a sexual assault examination at the hospital, given by a trained doctor or nurse. The exam will help preserve DNA evidence that could assist with the investigation.
To preserve DNA evidence, the officers may ask you to provide the clothing that you were wearing at the time of the assault.
You will be asked to come to the police station to provide details of what happened, which will be recorded.
You will be provided with contact information for Victim Services, or the police officer can provide a referral to Victim Services on your behalf.
With your input, a plan to ensure your safety will be put in place, whether the suspect is known or not known to you.
Your report will be reviewed by a sergeant from the Sex Crimes Unit. Depending on a number of factors, a detective from that unit may be assigned to your file and will continue to investigate it.
You will be kept updated on the progress of the investigation. If you have a support worker, they can also contact the investigator for you.
VICTIM SERVICES AND COMMUNITY POLICE CENTRES
Chinese Community Policing Centre
Website: https://www.chinesecpc.com/
About: The Chinese CPC provides a variety of services, including community-based victim services, to people who have experienced crimes like domestic abuse or violence. Their team specializes in providing culturally-sensitive services to members of the Chinese and Chinese immigrant community in Vancouver.
We interviewed the Chinese CPC to learn more about their work. Stay tuned for the video!
Strathcona Community Policing Centre
Website: https://www.strathconacpc.ca/
About: "The Strathcona Community Policing Centre involves local citizens in partnership with the police, working together to create crime prevention and safety programs and foster community engagement right here in the neighbourhood."
We interviewed the Strathcona CPC to learn more about their work. Stay tuned for the video!
LEGAL AID
Government of BC: Victim Services & Violence Against Women Program Directory
View the directory here.
Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter
In addition to having a shelter, they also provide advocacy to the police for survivors, among other services: learn more.
Prabhpreet K. Sangha at Lehal Law
Prabhpreet K. Sangha is an attorney at Lehal Law in Surrey, BC, practicing immigration law and representing a lot of vulnerable immigrants. The firm accepts Legal Aid clients that can't afford a lawyer, including victims or survivors of employer abuse or family violence. Individuals that need legal guidance can reach Ms. Sangha at pksangha@lehallaw.com
The Justice Centre at Battered Women's Support Services (BWSS)
Access information about their legal resources here
COPYWRITING SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS
itsharpo collaborations offers copywriting services for survivors hoping to craft various forms of writing material. Their service can support survivors with their victim impact statements or writing out their appeals. To learn more and get in touch, visit their website at www.itsharpo.com
UNDERSTANDING DOMESTIC ABUSE
There are many forms of abuse. Specifically, domestic abuse, or intimate partner violence, is a form of abuse used by the abuser to maintain power in a relationship through verbal, emotional, mental, sexual, reproductive, financial, or physical abuse and coercion.
Help is available. Options include:
Find a ‘Safe Buddy’ to check-in regularly (trusted friends or family) and make a safety plan
Online safety: use of ‘incognito’ web browsers and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to minimize the risk of web searches being tracked
Safe housing and shelters
We do not provide the addresses of shelters in order to protect the safety of their staff and clients. To learn more about any one, please contact them directly.
Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter
Their website: https://www.rapereliefshelter.bc.ca/
Call their 24-hour crisis line: (604) 872-8212
Vancouver, BC: Kate Booth House
Call: (604) 872-7774
Vancouver, BC: Powell House
Call: (604) 683-4933
Vancouver, BC: Bridge Shelter
Call their 24-hour Crisis Line: (604) 684-3542
Vancouver, BC: Helping Spirit Lodge
Call: (604) 872-6649
About: For Indigenous women and their children
Vancouver, BC: DTES Women’s Centre
Website: dewc.ca
Call: 604-681-8480
About: “DEWC is one of the few safe spaces within the Downtown Eastside exclusively for self-identified women and their children.”
Surrey, BC: Shimai Transition House
For women escaping violent relationships who use drugs or alcohol
Call: (604) 581-9100 or 1-877-581-9100
Surrey, BC: Ama House
For women aged 55 and above
Call: (604) 542-5992
Safe Hubs:
Intermediate safe spaces are available in your community, acting as a bridge between where you are, and professional support. We’ve partnered with organisations and businesses in your local community, and you can find them on our interactive map at boltsafety.org/safehubs
BEING AN ALLY
If you’re worried about the safety of a loved one, how can you help? Be kind, understanding, and above all else, non-judgemental.
If their life is in danger, call 911. Otherwise, you can share resources and information, like this article, to help guide and inform their decision.
For someone in an abusive relationship: Victims may be unaware they’re in an abusive relationship if they are experiencing gaslighting, or dependent on their abuser for essentials like a home, their meals, and financial resources. Gaslighting is when the abuser denies ever being abusive when confronted about their actions and behaviour, and is a form of mental and emotional abuse. For the person you are trying to help, even though they may not immediately leave their relationship, you showing belief in their experience validates it, and may give them the strength and assurance needed to leave.
For a victim / survivor of sexual violence: As an ally, you can also offer to go with them to the police, the hospital, to court, or be with them when they call a crisis line or shelter. When victims are isolated from their support networks, it, unfortunately, gives their abuser more power over them.
Believe them. Stand with them, no matter what they decide to do (or not do). Be an ally.
More BOLT Safety resources:
Let’s talk about consent: https://www.boltsafety.org/post/let-s-talk-about-consent
Making a personal safety plan: https://www.boltsafety.org/post/safety_plan
What is gaslighting? https://www.boltsafety.org/post/what-is-gaslighting
Recognizing signs of abuse: https://www.boltsafety.org/post/recognizing-signs-of-abuse
External sources for further reading:
HealthLink BC: Coping After a Traumatic Event
Kindly note: when an individual experiences violence, their choice, dignity, and autonomy is taken away from them physically, emotionally, and psychologically. This resource is not meant to be prescriptive, but rather offer options that a survivor may choose to pursue – in the aftermath of a traumatic experience, the choice should fully be in the survivor’s hands.
Terminology: We generally advocate for the use of the term ‘survivor’, however, we additionally use the term ‘victim’ in the context of being victimized by a crime. This is also to respect the varied vocabulary that individuals may choose to describe their experiences.
End victim-blaming: The victim of a crime is never to blame for what was done to them by a perpetrator. The role of an ally is to provide non-judgemental, empathetic, and heartfelt support.
If you know of a resource that should be included here, please email our team at info@boltsafety.org
In solidarity,
The team at BOLT Safety Society
Donate: ko-fi.com/boltsafety
BOLT Safety Society is a federally registered not-for-profit organization in Canada.
Disclaimer: We endeavor to verify published information with experts. You are using our information, resources, and programs at your own risk. Please contact us if you see an error so that we can investigate the matter and make corrections where necessary.