Campus Sexual Violence Support & Prevention Offices, Part I/4: Prairies Edition
Written by: Rebecca Akong
Please note that the information provided in the guide is current as of December 2020.
Sexual violence is both an individual and a community-based issue. It can involve one survivor and one perpetrator, or multiples of each; it can also affect those involved in the lives of survivors, from family and friends to colleagues and professors. For this reason, we wish to compile a list of resources by region, starting with the Prairies, to help those affected by sexual violence find support when and where they need it.
We also recognize that those affected by sexual violence may not be sure if they’re ready to seek support right away. For this reason, we hope that this short resource will help you gain familiarity with each Campus Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Office’s (CSVSPO) objectives and approach, as these factors may assist those requiring support in deciding whether the consultation of a CSVSPO is right for them.
Even if you are not currently affected by issues of sexual violence, the below CSVSPOs can also provide information that promotes a greater sense of allyship to survivors and can help you be a more informed and empowered member of your post-secondary institution’s (PSI) community. We encourage you to check out the resources relevant to your region for these reasons and more!
Saskatchewan
What You Should Know: In Saskatchewan, no legal framework has been established by the provincial legislature to decrease the incidence of sexual violence at post-secondary institutions. Nevertheless, a number of PSIs have endeavoured to enact policies themselves, and to connect with one another and local organizations to address this problem and offer supports to students, staff and community members more broadly.
University of Regina (including Campion College, Luther College and The First Nations University of Canada)
Supports for sexual violence survivors and impacted community members are offered through a Sexual Violence Prevention and Response (SVPR) initiative at the University of Regina. A formal report of the incident does not need to be made, and those affected are encouraged to connect with the SVPR coordinator by email.
University of Saskatchewan (including St. Thomas More College, St. Peter’s College, Briercrest College & Seminary, College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, Horizon College & Seminary, Lutheran Theological Seminary and St. Andrew’s College)
Supports for sexual violence survivors and impacted community members are offered through the Student Affairs and Outreach department, which is a general support service that consists of a team of social workers who will tailor their services to the circumstances of the individual seeking support. This means that while the department is general in nature, instances of sexual violence will be responded to appropriately by trained professionals.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Saskatchewan Polytechnic does not appear to have a formal CSVSPO, although our research is inconclusive given some broken links and lack of access to their Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence policy online. Courage to Act nonetheless encourages survivors or allies to reach out to one of the nine crisis lines that make up the Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan for further support.
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
There is no formal CSVSPO, but survivors are encouraged to reach out to either the Vice President of Academics or the Vice President of Human Resources, depending on the nature of the sexual violence that occurred.
There is no formal CSVSPO, but survivors are encouraged to reach out to one of the nine crisis lines that make up the Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan.
Northlands College
There is no formal CSVSPO, but Courage to Act encourages survivors or allies to reach out to one of the nine crisis lines that make up the Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan for further support.
There is no formal CSVSPO, but staff and students alike “must report all [sexual intimidation or assault] to a Great Plains College staff member or CALL 1-866-296-2472”. Note that a Student Violence Threat Risk Assessment will be initiated for such reports.
There is no formal CSVSPO, but survivors are encouraged to reach out to one of the nine crisis lines that make up the Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan.
There is no formal CSVSPO, but Parkland College has pledged to engage in a Community Threat Assessment and Support Protocol where any staff or students demonstrate ‘high-risk’ behaviours, including sexual violence.
While no formal CSVSPO has been established, North West College recently implemented a “comprehensive Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence Policy”.
While no formal CSVSPO has been established, Southeast College implemented a Sexual Assault Policy in 2016.
Manitoba
What You Should Know: In Manitoba, all public universities, colleges, or other institutions authorized to grant degrees under The Degree Granting Act are required to act in accordance with The Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention Act. This means that they must enact and implement a SVP with the aim of decreasing the incidence of sexual violence at or in relation to their institution. Naturally, the actions and initiatives undertaken by CSVSPOs must be consistent with the responsibilities imposed upon their respective PSIs under The SVAPA. Some private institutions have also enacted policies to help mitigate this enduring issue.
This institution does not have a formal CSVSPO, but has partnered with REES to make online reporting of sexual violence available to their campus community.
Booth UC does not have a formal CSVSPO, but has enacted a SVP and also maintains a partnership with REES to make online reporting of sexual violence available to their campus community. Booth UC encourages those affected by sexual violence on campus to contact the Human Resources Coordinator, Dean of Students or Student Services Coordinator.
Brandon University maintains a partnership with REES to make online reporting of sexual violence available to their campus community, and has a Sexual Violence Education and Prevention Coordinator.
CDI College has adopted a SVP, although it does not have a formal CSVSPO. All complaints or requests for support are to be made to the Campus Director, who then provides survivors with community-based resources.
In 2018, CMU adopted a SVP which establishes the PSI’s Sexual Violence Prevention Committee. The SVPC’s objective is to oversee and implement awareness and training with respect to SV. CMU has also partnered with REES to make online reporting of sexual violence available to their campus community.
No formal CSVSPO exists, but those affected by SV are encouraged to contact the Herzing College Sexual Violence Designate.
Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology
MITT does not appear to have established a formal CSVSPO, but Student Services and People Services are able to offer support to community members affected by SV. MITT has also partnered with REES to make online reporting of sexual violence available to their campus community.
Manitoba Tourism Education College
MTEC has adopted a SVP which states that supports will be provided to those affected once a disclosure is made, regardless of whether a formal complaint is initiated. While no formal CSVSPO has been established, MTEC does have a Health and Safety Representative, to whom all SV-related concerns should be forwarded.
Providence’s SVP was adopted in 2017 and sets out that any person affected by SV may make a disclosure of such to a Compassionate Responder (any staff or faculty member, or a student trained in trauma-informed responses to SV disclosures), although no formal CSVSPO has been established. Providence maintains both a Sexual Violence Advisory Committee and a partnership with REES to make online reporting of sexual violence available to their campus community.
RRC does not appear to have a formal CSVSPO, but sets out in its SPV that the Human Resource Services department and Resource and Resolution Advisor with assist with training and providing support to the RRC community. RRC has also partnered with REES to make online reporting of sexual violence available to their campus.
This PSI has adopted a Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy but does not appear to have a formal CSVSPO. The SVP itself does not include a list of supports or make known how or to whom reports of SV should be made, nor does it include a list of resources for community members.
This institution adopted a SVP in 2017 and maintains a Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Committee, which assists with the effective implementation of said policy. While it does not have a formal CSVSPO, SBC is committed to training staff members to be Compassionate Responders, who are responsible for the trauma-informed intake of SV disclosures. SBC has also partnered with REES to make online reporting of sexual violence available to their campus.
Université de Saint-Boniface (including l’École Technique et Professionnelle)
USB has adopted a SVP as of 2017. All complaints or SV-related concerns are relegated to the institution’s Human Rights department (Service des ressources humaines), which then implicates the Sexual Violence Intervention Team (Équipe d’intervention en cas de violence à caractère sexuel), although only where an “urgent and high-priority (translation)” case of sexual violence has been brought to its attention. Both bodies should be well-placed to provide general support to those PSI community members affected by sexual violence. USB has also partnered with REES to make online reporting of sexual violence available to their campus.
University of Manitoba (including the International College of Manitoba)
The University of Manitoba established the Sexual Violence Resource Centre (SVRC), a resource hub, to disseminate general information about SV resources on campus. Amongst other resources, it encourages students to contact the Student Support Case Management Office for academic-related supports and accommodations, and the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management with respect to gaining further information about initiating a complaint process.
Students affected by sexual violence are encouraged to contact the Sexual Violence Response Team, while staff or faculty affected by sexual violence are encouraged to contact the Human Rights and Diversity Office. Staff are able to assist with arranging physical or academic accommodations, connecting with community organizations and initiating a formal complaint with the University of Winnipeg. The University has also partnered with REES to make online reporting of sexual violence available to their campus.
In compiling this list, it has occurred to us how different the resources relied upon by PSIs are from one province, and even one institution, to another. As a project seeking to raise awareness of gender equity, it is our hope that all survivors at PSIs have direct, on-campus support. While we recognize that this is not currently the case, we are hopeful that the review and amendment of each institution’s policy will lead to the development of more CSVSPOs in the near future. Stay tuned for our next entry in this series of Canadian PSI resources by region.
Read the others in this series:
Campus Sexual Violence Support & Prevention Offices, Part 2/4: Western Canada & Territories
Campus Sexual Violence Support & Prevention Offices, Part 3/4: Central Canada
Campus Sexual Violence Support & Prevention Offices, Part 4/4: Atlantic Canada
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Suggested Citation: Akong, Rebecca. (2020, November). Campus Sexual Violence Support & Prevention Offices, Part I/4: Prairies Edition. Courage to Act. www.couragetoact.ca/blog/csvspo-prairies