Avalon Sexual Assault Centre

07/10/2026

Sarah Rodimon, Avalon's Executive Director, spoke with CBC on October 1 following the dismissal of Mike Smith's sexual assault case to speak about the way survivors of gender based violence and sexualized violence are often failed by the legal system.

07/10/2026

Sarah Rodimon, Avalon's Executive Director, spoke with CBC on October 1 following the dismissal of Mike Smith's sexual assault case to speak about the way survivors of gender based violence and sexualized violence are often failed by the legal system. See the full interview here: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7365844

05/10/2026

It's been a difficult week.

Please take care of yourselves and know that Avalon is here if you need support.

30/09/2026

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. As an organization working within the gender-based violence sector, we see firsthand the connections between sexualized violence, colonialism, and the legacy of the residential school system.

In our work to prevent and respond to sexualized violence, we stand in solidarity with survivors of residential schools, missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, land and water protectors, and Indigenous communities across Turtle Island who continue to fight for their rights.

When we think about the land we are on, we think about consent.

29/09/2026

23/09/2026

Avalon is hiring a part time Legal Support Navigator for a 1-year term. We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting community members and is interested in providing short term support for survivors navigating the legal system.

Find the full job post on Indeed and via the link in our bio.

Apply by October 13, 2026.

14/09/2026

Last week, we sent a letter to the Premier and Minister of Opportunities and Social Development regarding the Nova Scotia government’s regulatory changes to the Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA) Regulations following the Court of Appeal’s decision in the Lowe Estate case.

We are dismayed by the government’s response to the court’s decision. Rather than supporting people experiencing homelessness in accessing the enhanced assistance and disability supplement they are entitled to, the government has changed the ESIA regulations in a way that prevents unhoused people from accessing these supports.

We call on the provincial government to reconsider these changes and ensure that Nova Scotia’s policies uphold the dignity, equality, and human rights of every Nova Scotian.

Please help us amplify our collective voice by sharing this post.

07/09/2026

Supporting Gender-based violence (GBV) workers requires more than wellness initiatives. It requires structural change.

We need sustainable funding models, accessible mental health supports, meaningful research, and long-term investment in the people and organizations doing this work.

The Labour Force Strategy outlines actions that can strengthen supports for GBV workers, improve services for survivors, and build lasting sustainability across the sector – for as long as GBV continues to exist.

Stable, long-term funding can help build a sustainable framework for community-based sexual violence services across Nova Scotia. That means investing not only in clinical care, but also in prevention and the wraparound supports survivors need to access safety, justice, and healing.

For organizations like Avalon, sustainable funding means being able to retain skilled staff, build long-term capacity, and provide consistent, high-quality care.

A sustainable GBV sector starts with sustained investment in the people doing this essential work.

To learn more, read the Labour Force Strategy at endingviolencecanada.org/stronger-workers-stronger-survivors/

05/09/2026

Gender-based violence (GBV) workers are exposed to trauma in their work every day. Alongside demanding working conditions, this can take a significant toll on workers’ mental and emotional wellbeing.

Doing this work well requires more than individual resilience. GBV workers need access to high-quality mental health and therapeutic care, as well as strong benefits and organizational supports.

Across the sexual violence sector, workers are navigating the ongoing tension between increasing demand for services and the need for sustainable workloads and working conditions. At Avalon, we are committed to creating working conditions that support staff wellbeing, including sustainable caseloads, adequate staffing, and the time and space needed to do this work well.
Collective care is an important part of responding to the pressures of GBV work. But it cannot replace adequate staffing, sustainable workloads, fair compensation, or long-term investment in the workforce.

Supporting the people who provide this care is essential to sustaining services for survivors.

To learn more, read the Labour Force Strategy at endingviolencecanada.org/stronger-workers-stronger-survivors/

04/09/2026

Gender-based violence workers develop their knowledge and skills over years of training, experience, and learning alongside survivors and communities. Their work draws on expertise across areas such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence, exploitation, technology-facilitated violence, workplace harassment, human trafficking, and many others.

This expertise deserves to be valued, recognized, and supported.

At Avalon, our team brings together knowledge and experience across trauma therapy, forensic nursing (SANE), navigation, outreach, administration, education, and systemic advocacy. Staff receive extensive training and ongoing professional development in sexualized violence and trauma-informed practice. Together, this expertise supports Avalon’s ability to respond to the distinct impacts of sexualized violence and to work alongside survivors as they navigate the systems and circumstances affecting their lives.

To learn more, read the Labour Force Strategy at endingviolencecanada.org/stronger-workers-stronger-survivors/