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Provincial survey on sexual violence taking place at Laurier

Feb. 12, 2018
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At the end of February, university and college students across Ontario will receive an invitation to participate in a survey called "Student Voices on Sexual Violence." This survey is part of the Government of Ontario's action plan called "It's Never Okay: An Action Plan to Stop Sexual Violence and Harassment," launched March 2015.

Approximately 650,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students aged 18 years and older across the province will be invited to participate. For more information about the survey, FAQs and support resources, visit the Student Voices on Sexual Violence website. This survey is being administered by CCI Research Inc. and has university approval.

The purpose of this survey is to help provide information about how students perceive, understand, experience and respond to sexual violence, how institutions address sexual violence, and what opportunities exist to increase the safety and security of students.

We hope that the information from the survey will lead to better understanding, supports, policies and awareness related to sexual violence at universities and colleges across Ontario. Recognizing that this is a sensitive topic, we want to share the following important details about the survey:

  • This survey is optional.
  • Design features include a quick exit button and a support button throughout the survey.
  • The survey landing page includes contact information and support resources should students have questions or need support.
  • Prior to beginning the survey, approval details are outlined for review and agreement.
  • The survey will take students an average of 20 minutes to complete.

For more information regarding this survey, or to discuss an alternative method for students to provide feedback, contact the Dean of Students at your respective campus:

On-campus Supports for Students

As a reminder, Laurier has a number of resources and supports related to gendered and sexual violence prevention and support.

Students inquiring about available support options while the survey is running can be referred to the following resources:

Sexual Violence Response Coordinator

Support is available to students who have been impacted by gendered or sexual violence, regardless of when or where the violence took place. Laurier's Sexual Violence Response Coordinator's role is to help students understand what options are available on and off campus. All services are available in person, over the phone, or through email. Contact Sarah Scanlon at sscanlon@wlu.ca or 519.884.0710 x4847.

Sexual Assault Counselling

Through partnerships with the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant and the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, sexual violence counselling is available on-campus at both Waterloo and Brantford. To access services at the Waterloo campus, call 519.571.0121 or email intake@sascwr.org. To access services at the Brantford campus, contact the Sexual Violence Counsellor and Advocate Hayley Moody at hayley@sacbrant.ca or 519.751.1164 x209.

LGBTQ+ Counselling

Counsellors with specific expertise and experience supporting members of the LGTBQ+ community have been contracted by Laurier and are available on both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses, as well as via telephone or virtual connection (e.g. skype). Students are encouraged to contact the counsellors directly to make appointment arrangements: Blair Wilson at bwilsonsocialwork@gmail.com or Allisa Scott at inclusive.cct@gmail.com. There is no cost to students.

Student Wellness Centres

The Student Wellness Centre (Waterloo) has a limited number of same-day urgent/crisis appointments are available every day. Typically, non-crisis counselling appointments are booking two to three weeks out at this time of term. Wherever possible, efforts have been made to provide additional appointment times during the survey from Feb. 26 through March 2, 2018.

The Student Wellness Centre (Brantford) has a limited number of same-day urgent/crisis appointments are available every day. Typically, counselling appointments are booking one to two weeks out at this time of term. When possible, student walk-ins will be directed to the Mental Health Nurse for immediate support.

Office for Dispute Resolution and Support

The Office for Dispute Resolution and Support (ODRS) provides support regarding matters including harassment, discrimination, and interpersonal disputes through the provision of confidential support. The ODSR was created in an effort to advance Laurier's commitment to fostering an environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and sexual and gender-based violence. Contact Dawn McDermott at dmcdermott@wlu.ca, 519.884.0710 x4541.

Off-campus Resources for Students

Delton Glebe Counselling Centre

The Delton Glebe Counselling Centre is adjacent to the Waterloo campus on Albert St. and is another option for Waterloo campus students seeking personal support. Support options are available almost immediately, and include options for frequency of appointment, duration of support and a team of diverse counsellors. Counselling costs are eligible for coverage by most individual health and dental plans, including the Student Health and Dental Plan. If students do not have coverage, the cost is $20 per session. Contact glebecentre@wlu.ca or 519.884.3305 to book an appointment.

Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region

The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region has a 24-hour support line at 519.741.8633 and provides support in over 200 languages through an interpreter service.

Sexual Assault Centre of Brant

The Sexual Assault Centre of Brant 24-hour crisis and support line can be reached at 519.751.3471. To access on-campus sexual assault centre counselling and advocacy please contact the Sexual Violence Counsellor and Advocate Hayley Moody at hayley@sacbrant.ca or 519.751.1164 x209.

Here24/7

For 24 hour local support, call Here 24/7 at 1.884.HERE247 (1.844.437.3247).

Good to Talk

24-hour helpline for postsecondary students, call Good2Talk at 1.866.925.5454.