Victim Support and Advocacy Organizations
General
CAVACs are non-profit organizations that provide front-line psycho-socio-judicial services to victims of all types of crime and their loved ones, as well as to witnesses of a crime.
The AQPV's mission is to defend and promote the collective rights and interests of victims of crime by working with them, their families, counselors and decision-makers through representation, information, training and social mobilization activities.
The OFOVC ensures that the Government of Canada fulfills its responsibilities to victims of crime. They can contact the office to learn more about their rights under federal law and the services available to them, or to file a complaint about a federal agency or legislation dealing with victims of crime.
The CCRVC provides support and information, research and education services to victims, survivors of crime and counselors.
Indigenous people
Native Friendship Centres are non-profit organizations that use a cultural approach to offer information, support and accompaniment services to urban Indigenous people, including victims of crime, in order to promote their quality of life.
Youth
Tel-jeunes is a specialized help service for young people. Trained counselors are available 7 days a week to offer listening, support and tools to help young people regain control over what is happening to them. For the telephone line: 1 (800) 263-2266. For text message service: (514) 600-1002. If you are a parent, there is also the Parent Line: 1 (800) 361-5085.
The Child Witness Program provides preparation and support to minors called to testify in court. For more information on this service provided by CAVACs, contact them at 1 (866) 532-2822.
Kids Help Phone is a bilingual intervention service available 24/7 across Canada, by phone or text. Their website also offers information on a number of topics, including family abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, human trafficking and bullying. For the telephone line: 1 (800) 668-6868. For text messaging service: Send the word TALK to the 686868. To learn more about the chat service with a professional counselor, offered from 7 p.m. to midnight, you can visit their website.
Impaired driving
MADD's mission is to end impaired driving and to assist victims/survivors of impaired driving, as well as their family and friends who are dealing with the loss of a loved one or the injury of a loved one.
Homicide and disappearance
AFPAD is a non-profit organization whose main mission is to break the isolation experienced by the families of homicide victims or missing persons in seemingly criminal circumstances, by defending their interests and offering various resources and tools in order to rebuild their lives.
Elder abuse
AAA offers a helpline, information and referral for seniors experiencing abuse, their loved ones, and any other person (public, workers and professionals) who is concerned about a situation in which a senior appears to be experiencing abuse. You can contact them at 1 (888) 498-2287. The service is free of charge and available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week.
Domestic violence
Shelters for women victims of domestic violence
Women's shelters welcome, inform, support, accompany and house women victims of domestic violence and their children. These homes can be found through the Fédération des maisons d'hébergement pour femmes and the Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale.
SOS Violence conjugale is a helpline, information and referral for victims, the population and all those concerned by domestic violence. You can contact them at 1 (800) 363-9010. The service is free of charge and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Rebâtir is a legal counselling service for domestic and sexual violence. Victims benefit from 4 hours of free consultation with a lawyer in all areas of law (family, criminal, work, etc.). You can contact them by phone at 1 (833) 732-2847 or by email at projet@rebatir.ca. The service is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the option to leave a message outside business hours.
Sexual violence
CALACS are non-profit organizations that offer assistance, support and accompaniment services to adolescent girls and women who have experienced sexual assault.
CRIPHASE is a non-profit organization that offers assistance, support and accompaniment services to men who have experienced sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence in order to reclaim healthy power over their lives.
CPIVAS is a non-profit organization that listens, supports and accompanies young people, women and men who are victims of sexual assault and their loved ones.
The Marie-Vincent Foundation is a centre of expertise that supports children and adolescents who are victims of sexual and physical violence and their families by offering them the various services they need under one roof and in collaboration with various partners.
GAIHST is a non-profit organization that aims to break the isolation of people who have experienced sexual (and/or psychological) harassment in their workplace, by providing them with psychological assistance and support in their complaint process and the steps that follow (mediation, investigation, hearing, etc.).
L’Aparté is a non-profit organization created as a result of the #MeToo movement to offer initial assistance to all people in the cultural community who are or have witnessed harassment (psychological or sexual) or violence at work (sexual assault). It welcomes, supports, directs and accompanies these people through the various stages and recourses to be undertaken.
Helpline, information and referral (1-888-933-9007) for victims of sexual assault, their loved ones and stakeholders. The service is free of charge and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a day 7.
Rebâtir is a legal counselling service for domestic and sexual violence. Victims benefit from 4 hours of free consultation with a lawyer in all areas of law (family, criminal, work, etc.). You can contact them by phone at 1 (833) 732-2847 or by email at projet@rebatir.ca. The service is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the option to leave a message outside business hours.
Suicide
Suicide Prevention Centres are not-for-profit organizations that provide professional and specialized services to promote prevention and intervention for suicidal people, their loved ones and those bereaved by suicide. It is possible to call 1 866 APPELLE (277-3553), to be referred to the resource in your area.
Restorative Justice and Mediation Organizations
The CSJR is a non-profit organization that creates spaces for expression, listening and sharing between people and/or groups who
have been affected by situations of abuse and violence (victims, perpetrators and community members, not related to each other).
Equijustice is a network of not-for-profit organizations that offer expertise in restorative justice and citizen mediation. It develops fair justice accessible to all by inviting people to engage in the management of the difficulties they experience in community and by accompanying them in the respect of their rights and their differences.
ASSOJAQ brings together 14 alternative justice organizations throughout Quebec. They offer a citizen mediation service in addition to working under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, by promoting the involvement of the perpetrator, the victim, organizations and the community.
Le Centre de justice réparatrice de Québec (CJR-Qc, OBNL) offers participatory programs dedicated to reparation and inspired by Restorative Justice. These services are conceived to meet the needs of criminal acts' victims and of anyone who feel the need to join such a program.
Compensation Programs
IVAC is a provincial government compensation plan that provides a wide range of financial compensation and services, including social and vocational rehabilitation, to assist victims, their loved ones and rescuers in the process of healing their injuries caused by criminal acts or acts of good citizenship.
The CNESST may pay compensation when the victim is injured as a result of a criminal act that occurred while at work.
The SAAQ, which is responsible for enforcing the Automobile Insurance Act, can pay compensation when the criminal act involves a traffic accident.
The federal Allowance for Parents of Young Victims of Crime program can compensate parents or legal guardians who suffer a loss of income as a result of the death or disappearance of a child as a result of a crime.
The Victims Fund can provide financial assistance to Canadians who have been victims of serious and violent crime abroad.
The Fonds d'indemnisation des services financiers of the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) can compensate individuals who have been victims of fraud by dealing with an insurance, mutual fund or scholarship plan representative, a claims adjuster, a financial planner or a mortgage broker.
Compensation for certain damages resulting from a crime may also be paid by private insurance companies and by the perpetrator themselves. To learn more about your rights and remedies for compensation, visit our Information page and make an appointment with us.