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Sexual Assault Support Centre
of Waterloo Region
ANNUAL REPORT
2010-2011

2SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT CENTRE OF WATERLOO REGION
Board of Directors’ Report
We are pleased to present to you our 2010-2011
Annual Report!
This past year has been a busy one for our Centre,
seeing many changes, high profile events, community
recognition for our work, a national campaign and, as
always an everlasting commitment to supporting
survivors of sexual violence, and working toward
systemic change.
We have had a very eventful year! Just to name a few
of our initiatives, we were involved in the consultation
portion of the province’s new Sexual Violence Action
Plan, sending both staff and survivors to share their
thoughts which, when released this past spring,
helped to focus attention on the prevalence of sexual
violence. Although it was a rainy evening we had a
fantastic turnout for the annual Take Back the Night
march which SASC is instrumental in organizing. The
Astley Family Foundation’s generous funding enabled
the expansion of our MAASV program. Our annual
December 6th Vigil and seasonal celebration rounded
out 2010. We began 2011 with our Open Closet in
recognition of International Women’s Day; the event
saw several hundred women “shop” for free, gentlyused
clothing.
In April the Ministry of the Attorney General
announced funding for male survivors of sexual abuse;
our Centre in partnership with Community Justice
Initiatives was successful in this funding application
and will soon begin to provide counselling services for
male survivors.
May 2011 was one of the most amazing Sexual Assault
Awareness Months our Centre has ever seen! Not only
did we have Dr. Jean Kilbourne, internationally
recognized for her groundbreaking work on the image
of women in advertising, speak at Wilfred Laurier
University, we also presented her movie Killing Us
Softly 4 at the Princess Cinemas. We also began the
May 6th Wear Purple Day campaign which started as a
local effort, broke barriers, and become a national and
even international event.
Our MAASV program was a finalist in the Volunteer
Impact Awards for Innovative Involvement through
the Volunteer Action Centre and our very own Sara
Casselman was recognized as one of Waterloo
Region’s Leading Women with her Building Communities
Award from Ontario’s Minister Responsible for
Women’s Issues.
Although we have much to celebrate with respect to
the Centre’s accomplishments, we must never forget
that sexual violence remains pervasive locally and
throughout the world. Needless to say, there is still
plenty of work to be done. We need the help and
support of many groups and individuals to meet the
needs of sexual violence survivors in the region and to
continue public education strategies.
We are fortunate to have a group of devoted and talented
individuals dedicated to the many aspects of our Centre.
From our staff and students, our volunteer members and
MAASV volunteers, each and every one of their actions,
whether it is working in their offices, answering a crisis call,
fundraising, or speaking at a public education event,
speaks to their commitment to SASC and to survivors of
sexual violence, and it is with heartfelt thanks we acknowledge
this hard work today.
We have worked diligently to nurture partnerships and
build relationships with other community agencies. These
partnerships are the cornerstone to developing a stronger
community, and we continue to participate in numerous
community committees related to sexual violence
response and prevention.
We have explored new avenues of funding, and it is with
this funding we have been able to expand our programs
to further reach survivors and new areas in public education.
We are very excited about the upcoming year and what
opportunities it will bring. Earlier this year we sat down as
a membership to determine SASC’s Strategic Plan – to look
to the future and envision where we see ourselves in the
next several years. We are eager to see what the future will
bring and how SASC will look in five years time.
As always, we would like to thank our staff, students,
volunteer members, MAASV volunteers, our funders, our
donors, and our community partners for their unwavering
commitment to supporting survivors, and for helping us to
address the issues of sexual violence throughout our
community.
Sincerely,
Alana Freiburger
Chair, Board of Directors
Current Board of Directors
Alana Freiburger, Chair
Shirley Lichti, Second Chair
Heidi Holmes, Secretary-Treasurer
Leona Bruijns
Beth Cotter
Sheena Kapoor
Tebogo Phala
Joyce Young

Mission Statement
The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region is a feminist non-profit organization. We work to end sexual
violence against women and children and to support those who have experienced sexual violence, their families and
friends in Waterloo Region.
Sexual violence is one of many forms of systemic violence. We recognize the links between sexual violence and all
forms of oppression including sexism, racism, anti- Semitism, heterosexism, classism, ableism, and ageism. We are
committed to equality and the elimination of all discriminatory practices in society and in our organization.
We affirm and celebrate women's power to create social change by challenging and transforming institutions and
relationships which victimize women and children. Our vision is that all women and children will live free from
violence and oppression.
Highlight of Core Services
Crisis and Support Line
The core of our crisis support is our 24 Hour Crisis and Support Line available to anyone who has experienced
sexual violence. This telephone line is supplemented by accompaniments for women to the hospital, police
station and court-house.
Counselling, Advocacy & Support Groups
Our counselling program includes the following primary types of support in both Kitchener and Cambridge:
* Individual and group counselling for women, sixteen and older, who have been sexually assaulted in their
lifetime as well as support for their friends and family
* Practical assistance to women who have been sexually assaulted based on individual need
Public Education
Our public education program has a broad role of educating for social change. We provide presentations to
schools, at conferences, and to the community at large. We offer training to professionals and develop and
distribute resource material. This program also houses our Male Allies Against Sexual Violence initiative that
encourages men to be allies in the work to end sexual violence.
Current Staff
Jennifer Andrews
Office Manager
Andrea Arthur-Brown
Senior Counsellor/Advocate
Sara Casselman
Public Relations & Operations Manager
Sara Jane Friesen
Counsellor/Advocate
Ashling Ligate
Public Educator
Joan Tuchlinsky
Public Education Manager
Juliana Villabona
Counsellor/Advocate
Heidi Wheeler
Crisis Line/Volunteer Manager
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Board of Directors’ Report
Mission & Core Services
Staff Listing
Volunteers at SASC
MAASV Listing
Public Education Report
Counselling Report
Crisis Line / Volunteer Report
Staffing Updates
Public Relations Highlights
Supporters of SASC
page 2
page 3
page 3
page 4
page 4
page 6
page 5
page 5
page 6
page 7
page 8
Audited Financial Statements Separate
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4SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT CENTRE OF WATERLOO REGION
Volunteers in 2010-2011
Alana Freiburger
Alix Collins
Amy Wasylenki
Amber Adams
Amy Power
Barbara Irwin
Beth Cotter
Beth Murch
Chantel Willis
Cherie Cameron
Colleen Martin
Danielle Purves
Dagny Soo-Hon
Dara Melanson
Denise Lennon
Di-Anne Martin
Erin Skinner
Eveline Gaede
Eryn Leclair
Gitta Arvola
Heidi Holmes
Irani Seecharan
Irina Boboc
Jane Lothario
Jasmine Gassi
Jennifer Sparks
Jessica Kellerman
Jessie Qi
Jenna Jutzi
Jennifer Outridge
Jennifer Schwartzentruber
Jennifer Taun
Jolayne Guguen
Jona Gnananehru
Joyce Young
Justine Dogbe
Karen Lara
Kaitlyn Mcquaid
Kelly Hartman
Khatera Hamdamyar
Kristin Laurin
Laura Black
Leona Bruijns
Marlene Haywood
Marlene Hodgkins
Maureen Peterson
Mary Peplow
Michelle Scott
Nadia Hutton
Neenah Navasero
Nora McQuaid
Patricia Aldred
Paula Schultz
Peggy Law
Sara Jane Friesen
Rosa Nozari
Sakana Gnanasegaram
Sarah Chen
Shawna Paleshi
Sheena Kapoor
Shermeen Khan
Shirley Lichti
Stacy McLellan
Tara Owen
Tebogo Phala
Tina Wallace
Winnie Small
Yannee Wang
Valerie Pollard
Veronica Wilkolaski
Veronica Fredericks
Male Allies Against Sexual Violence in 2010-2011
Male Allies Against
Sexual Violence
Adam Lawrence
Andrew Cann
Andrew Posen
Asnake Dabala
Barry D'Costa
Bryn Ossington
Derek Lindman
Edgardo Perez
Emile Firesmith
Gail Pool
Jesse Micks
Josh Dills
Judah Oudshoorn
Kevin Fields
Mike Greaves
Nadeem Lawji
Patrick Germann
Peter Bartlett
Terry Jantzi
Warren Kurt
Testimonial of MAASV Volunteer Barry D’Costa (February 2011)
I believe the work the MAASV program undertakes is especially important in promoting healthy relationships.
I value the success MAASV has with training males as public speakers. I greatly appreciated the
training I participated in. Through the training, I am more aware of the harm that masculinity inflicts on
young males and women.
As well, MAASV brings together men from all walks of life and transforms their common concern about
sexual violence against women into real action by raising awareness and educating the public. I know
this personally.
I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting dozens of young male high school students during a lunch
time health-fair early this year at a local high school. The cafeteria that day was abuzz with interest and
engaged students (mostly males) informally discussing sexual assault and sexual consent with me and
among their peers. Their teachers commented they’d never seen Grade 9 males as interested in a social
issue during non-class hours until that day in the cafeteria. These young men are another big reason I am
involved with MAASV. I was once where they are now – they need a society that holds males accountable
for our behaviours and gives us the encouragement and support to resist the harm of media and
culturally influenced masculinity. We all desire to be caring human beings. The MAASV program is close
to my heart for a big reason – humanity.

Program Reports
Counselling/Advocacy Program
The counselling team had an incredibly busy year
providing counselling, advocacy, groups, and support
in Waterloo Region. This year we had a dramatic
increase in counselling requests and currently our
waiting list is at an all time high of approximately 35
women. The counselling program has also been
receiving a number of requests for counselling from
men; we have created a separate waiting list for male
survivors.
During the 2010-11 fiscal year, we provided 1715
hours of individual counselling sessions, provided 23
accompaniments, and spent 129 hours doing advocacy
work. Juliana Villabona provided 111 of these
counselling sessions in Spanish. We continue to
appreciate our relationship with the Family Counselling
Centre of Cambridge and North Dumfries; they
generously provide us with free office space in
Cambridge two days per week in which Andrea
Arthur-Brown provides individual counselling.
In 2010-11 we facilitated 6 support groups, 3 in
Kitchener and 3 in Cambridge. We hosted groups in
the Cambridge Self Help Food Bank and recently were
we blessed to be given free group space from the
Cambridge YWCA. In total 389 women were able to
participate in group sessions and 833 hours were
spent in group sessions.
In additional to individual and group counselling, over
the fiscal year we have met 898 practical assistance
needs.
We were very pleased with our partnerships with
George Brown College, the University of Manitoba,
and Wilfrid Laurier University; we had amazing
placement students that were essential supports to
our counselling program.
Testimonial of a woman using our services (December 2010)
Crisis Line and Volunteer Program
Each year our 24 Hour Crisis and Support Line
provides essential service to survivors of sexual
violence. This service would not be possible
without the 29 volunteers who are available night
and day, seven days a week to take these calls and
support survivors in need. Volunteers are the
driving force behind the availability of this service,
and we want to acknowledge the more than 900
crisis calls taken this past year at our Centre.
Advertising our Crisis and Support Line was one of
our priorities this past year and we are now
advertising on a fleet of 54 buses within the Grand
River Transit System.
Again this year, our volunteers have been essential
to the many services and programs that SASC
provides in this community. We are so fortunate to
have so many wonderful individuals volunteering
their time to the work of SASC.
Both the spring and fall volunteer trainings were
filled with enthusiastic women from all walks of life
with the common desire to share their time,
energy, and talents. We look forward to learning
with and from these new members of SASC.
Volunteers are an integral part of so many areas
including our 24 Hour Crisis and Support Line,
Office Administration, Public Education and Special
Events, Board of Directors, and Internal Committees.
We are always humbled by the sheer amount
of time given by SASC volunteers; this year our
volunteers gave more than 12,700 hours of service.
Year after year we are astounded by the amount of
interest in the community regarding volunteer
opportunities at SASC, and this past year was no
exception.
I can't say it's ever been easy, but I have begun the journey to discover who I am and how I
can move forward from this point in my life. Thanks to the tremendous support I have found
in my counsellors at SASC, I have been shown what care really feels like, how to cry, and
how to trudge forth. The staff members at SASC are truly wonderful people who come to
work each day with a sense of honesty, truth, and love... The strength I have been shown will
carry me far beyond the front doors of SASC, and I cannot help but be impacted by this
organization. Yes, I may have a traumatic past, filled with shame, anger, and confusion, but
this doesn't define who I am. I am brave, strong, and a survivor, thanks in no small part to
SASC.
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Program Reports
Public Education Program
The 2010-11 year started out with a rush and never
slowed down! We first heard that we would receive a
one-time donation of $4,500 from the Barb Elliott
Trust Fund for our Male Allies Against Sexual Violence
(MAASV) program. Shortly after that, the Astley Family
Foundation informed us that they would donate
$30,000 for one year of funding for MAASV with the
expectation that they would also fund a second year!
Spring was also a time for training our public education
volunteers and male allies. Of course, being
June/July, there were lots of displays for volunteers to
cover at community events.
Ashling Ligate joined us in September for a one year
contract as our part-time Public Educator, coordinating
various public education commitments in the
community. This allowed Joan Tuchlinsky to spend
more time on the MAASV program. Ashling immediately
became involved with Take Back the Night which
happened in September and she has been giving
leadership for the 2011 event throughout the year.
MAASV hosted the first Boys Rock! Conference for 140
Grade 7 and 8 boys in October, provided one-day
workshops for men in our community in the fall and
winter, and in January another group of male allies
completed training which included 2 sessions with our
new public education volunteers. By the end of March
there were 18 male allies in the program providing
facilitation of presentations/workshops, supporting
SASC events, and promoting MAASV, among many
other commitments.
A lot of Joan’s time outside of MAASV was spent
planning the Let There Be Light faith conference on
domestic violence with other community partners;
SASC provided three workshops for that event. Joan
also worked on the Sexual Health Youth Strategy with
the Region of Waterloo Public Health and other
community partners.
Along with our regular presentations and training
workshops, we were part of the University of Waterloo
panel discussion addressing the misogynist posters
and emails that had been circulating on the campus,
two male allies were invited to speak to 240 people at
a Women’s Crisis Services event, and male allies also
spoke to young men at a Skateboard Park in rural
Waterloo Region. Ashling created an amazing Sex
Esteem game for adults with developmental disabilities
and facilitated its use at workshops in our community.
Thanks to all our amazing public education volunteers
and male allies for raising awareness in our community
about SASC and addressing the issue of sexual
violence in our community. What a great team!
Staffing Updates
We continue to be fortunate to have a gifted, stable
staffing complement! The following is a list of the
staffing changes since our last AGM.
Senior Counsellor / Advocate: In January 2011, Andrea
Arthur-Brown returned from her maternity/parental
leave after having Brenna, a perfect little bundle of joy
in January 2010. Karyn Stafford filled this position on
contract in her absence.
Senior Counsellor / Advocate: In June 2011, our
long-time staff member Juliana Villabona transitioned
from a permanent, full-time Senior
Counsellor/Advocate to a part-time, Contract
Counsellor/Advocate position. Sara Jane Friesen, a
former MSW student and volunteer with SASC, was
hired to fill the vacated full-time, permanent
Counsellor/Advocate position.
Office Manager: In March 2011, Jennifer Andrews was
hired permanently after completely a one-year
contract in this position. (Jennifer held this same
position with our Centre historically and found she
missed the work too much to stay away!)
Public Educator: In September 2011, Ashling Ligate
was hired on a part-time contract to support the Public
Education Program through the grant provided to us
by the Astley Family Foundation. This allowed Joan
Tuchlinsky, our Public Education Manager, to devote
half her time to the development of our MAASV
program.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month Event - Jean Kilbourne

Public Relations Highlights
In recent years, SASC has done tremendous work
nurturing community partnerships and taking a
leadership role in the area of sexual violence and
violence against women. We are active members
of numerous regional and provincial groups
working towards this goal. Throughout the fiscal
year these included the:
• Domestic Assault Review Team of
Waterloo Region
• Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres
• Public Educators Network of Waterloo Region
• Sexual Assault Response Team of Waterloo
Region
• Sex Worker’s Action Network of Waterloo
Region
• Social Service Program Advisory Committee
(Conestoga College)
• Take Back the Night Committee of Waterloo
Region
• Waterloo Region December 6th Coalition
• Waterloo Regional Peace Movement
• Woolwich Family Violence Prevention Network
Of particular note, we have made significant
contributions to the Sexual Assault Response Team
of Waterloo Region and have taken leadership in
the development of a Sexual Assault Response
Protocol. When completed, this protocol will
promote consistent, caring, and effective service
provision to those that have experienced sexual
violence throughout our region.
At the provincial level, we remain active with the
Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres; in March
of this year we were excited when Ontario
launched the Sexual Violence Action Plan. This plan
was developed in close consultation with the Coalition
and has a strong focus on public education and
addressing the root causes of sexual violence.
We were blessed in 2011 with unprecedented
community support during Sexual Assault Awareness
Month. We were fortunate to have keynote speaker,
Dr. Jean Kilbourne, internationally recognized for her
work addressing women’s image in advertising and its
link to violence against women. May 2011 events were
made possible by the generosity of the following
community sponsors: CTV, Kiwanis Club of Kitchener-
Waterloo, Kiwanis Club of Twin Cities, Marketing
Magic, Rotary Club of Kitchener-Waterloo, Walper
Terrace Hotel, Waterloo Region Record, Words Worth
Books, and the Zonta Club of Kitchener-Waterloo.
This year, we paid special attention to the growing
phenomenon of social media and other forms of
online electronic publishing as unprecedented
opportunities for outreach and consciousness-raising.
We developed a social media policy, stepped up our
facebook presence, and began using Twitter. In March,
we launched a social media campaign called “No one
asks for it! Wear purple on Friday, May 6th, 2011! More
than 17,000 Canadians participated in what we now
intend to be an annual, nation-wide campaign on the
first Friday of May! As a result of these efforts, our
Centre’s facebook page is one of the most thriving
non-profit facebook pages in the community.
Our members, MAASV volunteers, and indeed all
those that we serve, are ambassadors of our Centre.
Through our shared efforts, we continue to impact our
community in incredible ways!
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8SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT CENTRE OF WATERLOO REGION
Supporters of SASC in 2010-2011
SASC would also like to extend special gratitude to:
* The Ontario Government’s Ministry of the Attorney General, our primary funder, for their continued and
critical support of our Centre
* The Astley Family Foundation, for their multi-year grant to support our Male Allies Against Sexual
Violence program.
Alana Freiburger
Amanda Chaffey
Dr. Helen-May Eaton Ramirez
Barry D'Costa
Canada Revenue Agency
CAW Local 1106
City of Kitchener
Conrad Grebel University College
Conestoga Rovers Social Committee
Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario
Gary & Florence Carbray
Gore Mutual Insurance Company Foundation
Hugh E. Cameron
Linda Snyder
Lisa Buitenhuis
Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and VI
Kitchener Conestoga Rotary Club
The Kiwanis Club of Kitchener-Waterloo
Kiwanis Club of Twin Cities
Shirley Lichti
The United Church of Canada - Barb Elliot Trust Fund
United Way
W. John Hayes
Waterloo Region Health Care Associates
Statistical Highlights
Crisis Calls
Individual Counselling Sessions
Group Counselling Sessions
Advocacy & Accompaniment
Information & Referral
Practical Assistance
Public Education Events
Community Liason Meetings
Hours Worked by Volunteers
Numbers
908
1570
389
175
742
898
67
133
Hours Spent
276
1715
833
73
13826