Support Resources

SASC supports survivors of sexual violence through an intersectional-feminist approach, and strive to challenge and change systems that enable gender-based violence. Their mission explains their goals as being to “listen, facilitate healing, and celebrate resiliency.” This centre offers counselling, community workshops, and support for survivors in accessing post-violence medical care.

SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE OF BRANT

A feminist, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, equity seeking and intersectional centre that offers support to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. SAC Brant can support survivors via counselling and advocacy. SAC can help survivors through the processes of reporting, seeking medical care/post-violence care, and with their ongoing healing needs.

Ganǫhkwásra

"The implementation of all services is based on the philosophy behind the name of the organization. “Ganǫhkwásra`” is a phrase in the Cayuga language meaning “Love Among Us.” It was the name chosen for the Family Violence Program at Six Nations early in planning to express our purpose and philosophy in creating a community-based program for victims of family violence. It conveys an attitude of community support and hope for families wrought with violence and it implies a sense of community responsibility for peace among all our members. Ganǫhkwásra` is the goal we seek for every member of our community, and it is the methodology through which we work to attain that goal."

SACHA

SACHA’s mission statement explains: “SACHA is a feminist, non-profit, community-based organization that provides supports to people who have experienced sexualized violence at any point in their lives. We work to end violence and oppression through education, advocacy, outreach, coalition building, community partnerships, and activism.” In addition to providing counselling and support to survivors, SACHA organizes community training, events (like the Hamilton Feminist Zine Fair), and SACHA’s website offers many helpful, accessible resources for both survivors and people supporting survivors.

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TAYLOR BERZINS

Taylor (she/her) is a Sexual Violence Counsellor and Advocate at the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant working on the Laurier-Brantford campus.

Taylor’s a queer white settler who’s spent most of her life learning, playing, and growing in Brantford.

Taylor understands her role as co-creating safer, gentle dynamics where survivors can lead the exploration of their feelings, experiences, and needs.

Drawing from an intersectional lens, Taylor considers cultivating spaces of radical care for survivors to be the most important piece of her work. Through a queer-feminist practice, Taylor is motivated by commitments to change on individual and systemic levels. Our experiences can never be disconnected from the contexts and systems in which we live.

Taylor’s academic work has focused on consent and sexual health education, and she comes to the SAC-Brant team with a decade of feminist community organizing experience.

Taylor is a bookworm with deep nostalgia for mid-2000s pop songs. In her spare time, you might find her baking banana bread, crafting zines, or showering fungi with compliments in the woods.

Contact Taylor at taylorb@sacbrant.ca

SARAH SCANLON

Sarah Scanlon is a gender queer feminist organizer based in Guelph, who has spent close to fifteen years involved in gender based violence struggles within Ontario.

As the Sexual Violence Response Coordinator at Wilfrid Laurier University, Sarah is the touch point on both campuses for all students who have been impacted by gendered and sexual violence. They provide support, advocacy, systems navigation, trauma informed referrals and resources, and safety planning to students and their supporters who have experienced harm.

Having worked across 9 organizations and campaigns focused on ending gendered based violence, they have extensive experience working with individuals who have experienced interpersonal, institutional or state violence. Their personal activism has been focused on challenging rape culture, fostering queer community and resistance, supporting land defense, and encouraging opportunities to skill share, deepen our analysis, and challenge each other to grow in order to fuel broader change. Sarah also really likes chips and rivers. You can reach Sarah at sscanlon@wlu.ca or 519.884.0710 x4847.

TORONTO RAPE

CRISIS CENTRE// MULTICULTURAL WOMEN AGAINST RAPE

"TRCC/MWAR is a grassroots, women and non-binary run collective working towards a violence-free world by providing anti-oppressive, feminist peer support to survivors of sexual violence through support, education and activism."

MALE ALLIES (SASC)

The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region runs a public education program called Male Allies. Male Allies runs workshops, programming and trainings to engage boys and men in ending systemic and everyday forms of gender-based violence.

SHORE CENTRE

SHORE's mission statement is: "To promote choice through accurate sexual health education and confidential pregnancy options support." In addition to providing sex-positive, pro-choice, accessible, and inclusive sexual and reproductive health education and resourcing to the KW, Cambridge, (and sometimes Brant) communities, SHORE Centre also provide referrals for in-clinic abortions and provides access to the abortion pill.

Another community resource that provides safe(r) and inclusive sexual, gender, and reproductive health education/resources, as well as facilitates access to abortion is Planned Parenthood Toronto.