Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region

06/21/2026

Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Colonialism is rooted in entitlement and control: over land, over bodies, and over communities. This is the opposite of consent.

In our anti-violence work, we understand that consent is not only interpersonal; it is structural and political.

It requires respect for Indigenous sovereignty, leadership, and self-determination.

Our commitment to ending gender-based violence must include decolonial action in our relationships, in our communities, and within our institutions.

06/17/2026

Waterloo Region’s Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Strategy is a collaborative initiative anchored by frontline, community-based GBV agencies, including sexual assault support services, shelters, counselling and outreach programs, legal advocacy, and culturally specific services. We work in partnership with institutional stakeholders such as education, municipal and regional governments, and police. Together, we are building a coordinated response to prevent and address gender-based violence in Waterloo Region.

Today, we join the Ontario Coalition of R**e Crisis Centres in supporting the campaign.

We do so as a community that has been profoundly affected by recent events.

Over the past year, Waterloo Region has found itself at the centre of important provincial conversations about sexual violence, accountability, transparency, and public confidence in the justice system.

The questions being raised through the campaign matter. They matter to survivors. They matter to communities. And they matter to the future of public confidence in Ontario’s justice system.

As a community that has lived these questions firsthand, we support continued dialogue, transparency, accountability, and action to strengthen survivors’ confidence in the systems intended to serve them.

Justice must not only be carried out but also inspire confidence in those it is meant to protect.

Visit gbvwr.ca/advocacy-updates to read the full letter.

06/15/2026

Category is... Authentic Consent!

Join us this Wednesday as we unpack authentic sexual consent - both what it is, and tools for best practice.

The free, virtual session is especially focused on exploring the practice of nuanced consent in contexts which are sometimes intentionally sexualized, such as drag. Come with your questions and an open-mind, and let’s learn together!

This interactive workshop runs for 90-minutes, and is open to all folks in the q***r community age 16 and over. Visit tr.ee/categoryis to register through Eventbrite!

Make Change Productions

06/12/2026

Education is the first step toward creating change and making a difference!
Reach out to us or visit edu.sascwr.org to find out more about our public education programs.

06/10/2026

SASC stands in solidarity with 2SLGBTQIA+ community members in Cambridge following the harm that occurred during last week's Pride flag raising.

Conscious misgendering, dismissing lived experiences, and silencing q***r and trans voices are forms of discrimination that cause real harm and contribute to the broader continuum of gender-based violence. When those actions come from people in positions of leadership and authority, the impact is amplified.

Pride is a celebration, but it is also a protest. Raising a flag is meaningful, but symbolic gestures must be matched by an ongoing commitment to equity. If we are not intentionally creating a community where harm can be named, addressed, and ultimately prevented, what are we working towards?

Incidents like this erode trust between equity-deserving communities and the institutions entrusted with their safety and well-being.

SASC remains committed to standing alongside trans, non-binary, Two-Spirit, and q***r community members as we work toward a future where everyone can live with safety, dignity, and belonging.

06/10/2026

Reminder! Rainbow of Healing is tomorrow, Thursday June 11th! 🌈

Facilitated by and for members of the Rainbow community, this group is open to those ages 16 and up across ALL identities under the Rainbow. Anyone who is q***r-identifying and/or questioning above the age of 16 is welcome.

Each meeting will incorporate a discussion dedicated to collective healing and affirming our Rainbow identities. After our discussion, we will have an arts-based activity in order to offer folks the opportunity to build a sense of community with one another.

GRT bus tickets are available to make transportation easier. Food packages are also offered, whether you want to eat during the group or take it with you afterwards.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend! Visit sascwr.org/support-groups.

This group is held in person at Spectrum Community Space.

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

June is National Indigenous History Month. In the work to end sexual and gender-based violence, we must name that colonialism is on-going.

Forced displacement, land theft, residential schools, child welfare systems, and systemic inequities continue to create conditions that increase vulnerability to violence and exploitation for Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people.

The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people is not historical, it is a direct result of colonial systems that continue to violate Indigenous sovereignty, bodies, and lands. Colonialism is rooted in entitlement and control: over land, over bodies, and over communities. This is the opposite of consent.

We understand that consent is not only interpersonal; it is structural and political, and it requires respect for Indigenous sovereignty, leadership, and self-determination.

06/04/2026

We will be closed tomorrow, Friday June 5th, in the morning for a staff training. We are looking forward to participating in Kitchener Women’s History walking tour with Stroll Walking Tours.

Our office will open at 12:00 PM.

Support is always available. Please call (519) 741-8633 to access our 24-Hour Support Line. You can also text (519) 741-8633 or use the chat function on sascwr.org to access support between 8:00 AM and midnight, 7-days a week.