Canada: Information for victims of rape and sexual assault
Published 20 December 2022
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If you have been sexually assaulted it is important to remember that it was not your fault. Rape and sexual assault is always wrong – no matter who commits it or where it happens. It is traumatic and it can affect you both physically and emotionally. Do not be afraid to get help.
For information on support available in the UK, see our guide on Rape and Sexual Assault: Returning to the UK.
1. First steps
It is your choice about what you do next, but this information may help you in coming to a decision. The most important thing is for you to make sure you are as safe as you can be.
- contact the local emergency number on 911
- contact a local Sexual Assault Crisis Centre
- contact your travel agency, if they have a tour operator near where you are staying.
- contact your nearest British embassy, High Commission or Consulate
British High Commission Ottawa
+1 (613) 237 1530
Covers: District of Ottawa and Quebec
British Consulate-General Toronto
+1 (416) 593 1290
Covers: District of Ontario, New Foundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut and Manitoba
British Consulate-General Vancouver
+1 (604) 683 4421
Covers: District of British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan
High Commission and Consulate staff will be polite, patient, sensitive and non-judgmental. They can provide information on local police and medical procedures. They can contact your family or friends for you if you wish. Anything you tell them will be treated in the strictest confidence.
2. If you want to report the incident to the police in Canada:
You can speak to a trained consular staff member for support on the telephone 24/7, by calling any of the High Commission/Consulate numbers above. If you are in an area where there is a British High Commission or Consulate, they will try to send a consular officer to support you, where timing and location allow.
If you approach the police directly, you can ask them to inform the nearest British High Commission or Consulate for consular support. Many Police Forces in Canada have specially trained officers who work with cases involving sexual violence. You should ask if you can speak to one of their trained officers when you call.
Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence. If you change your clothes, think about taking those you were wearing to the police. You may wish to avoid brushing your hair and preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes, or texts. If you can, write down, record, or tell someone you trust all the details of the assault you can remember.
- tell the police if you think you have been drugged
- make sure you get a police report
You can request to speak to a female officer, but may have to speak to a male one if no female officer is available.
3. If you do not want to report the incident to the police in Canada
The British High Commission or consulate will be able to help you. This includes helping you to contact your insurance company, your family and finding local medical facilities. They can also help you to make arrangements to travel back to the UK and/or provide you with information on local support and support in the UK. The High Commission or Consulate can also help you to find medical assistance and, depending on locations and timing, a member of consular staff may be able to accompany you. We can also provide a list of English speaking local lawyers and/or information on the local bar association, if you chose to appoint legal representation.
If you are travelling from the UK with a tour operator, who has local agents near where you are, you can ask them for assistance. Where possible and if you wish, one of the local agents may accompany you to the local hospital.
It is your choice on whether to report the crime. If you do not report it, your case may not be investigated.
If you choose not to report the crime, you will still be able to get medical attention.
4. If you want to report the incident to the police in the UK
It is possible to report the crime to police in the UK. However, UK police forces cannot investigate crimes committed overseas. If you do not report the crime in the country where it happened there is no guarantee that an investigation will take place as the police force in that country have full jurisdiction.
Foreign police forces can decide to request assistance from the UK police, however, this can be a very lengthy process and requires cooperation from both countries. Read Rape and Sexual Assault: Returning to the UK for more information.
5. Reporting the crime in Canada - what happens next?
To report the incident you should call 911, especially if you are concerned for your safety and/or need medical attention.
Follow police advice, as they are responsible for your safety while in Canada.
You can also report the incident in person at the nearest police station to your location. If you feel more comfortable, you can have someone you know and trust go with you to report the incident. Most police officers are prepared to have a support person in the room while they take down your statement, as long as that person does not interfere in the process.
Many police forces in Canada have specially trained officers who work with cases involving sexual violence. You should ask if you can speak to one of their trained officers when you call. They can be either individual officers or part of a Sexual Assault Unit.
The police will make a note of what you say to them and may ask you if they can video tape your conversation, this is normal practice in Canada. The report you make will be your official statement and you will be asked to sign it. Your statement will be used during any legal proceedings. You can chose to stop participating at any point.
Remember there is no time limit for reporting sexual assault, but the sooner you report it, the easier it will be for the police to gather evidence.
6. Medical treatment
It is possible that you may have been exposed to the HIV virus. You should seek medical attention at the nearest hospital or Crisis Support Centre in Canada. Request the “Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)”, a treatment that may stop HIV replicating in the body and so prevent the virus from attacking the immune system. More information on risks is available on the NHS website
You can prevent an unwanted pregnancy with oral emergency contraception, available at any pharmacy.
You will have to pay for the cost of hospital treatment and tests.
If you are a minor under the age of 16, the person performing the exam may be obligated to report it to a children’s aid society, with or without your consent.
6.1 The medical examination – what to expect
Medical professionals may use a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit to collect and save biological evidence. These kits may not be available in rural medical facilities and you may be referred to a hospital in the nearest metropolitan area.
Please remember that evidence can still be collected even if you showered, brushed your hair or washed your clothes.
7. Police investigations in Canada– what to expect
The police will be in charge of carrying out an investigation. If your attacker is arrested and they are not someone you know, you may be asked to try and identify them. The suspect can be held for 24 hours after which time they will either be charged or released. The police will remain your key point of contact and will explain the process and any outcomes of the investigation with you.
You will be allowed to leave the country at any point, even if your case is not closed. If you have pressed charges please notify the Police or the Crown Prosecution that you are leaving. If there is a trial you may be asked to return to Canada if you are required.
8. Court procedures – what to expect
If the investigation leads to criminal charges the case will pass to the Crown Counsel’s (prosecutors) Office. The Crown then presents the case in a court setting, in front of a provincial/territorial court judge. There will be a bail hearing to decide whether the accused should be imprisoned or released on bail pending trial.
After a bail hearing, there will be a number of court appearances and meetings between the accused’s lawyer and the Crown. After these meetings the accused will enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. If the accused person pleads guilty, they will be sentenced. If the accused pleads not guilty then the matter will proceed to trial.
You do not need to attend court for all of these preliminary events. The Victim Services Office can keep you up to date with what happens at each of these court dates.
If you need a translator at any point, please ask the authorities who should provide you with one.
Court proceedings in Canada can be a lengthy process and may take up to 18 months to conclude.
8.1 Hiring a Lawyer
If you would like to hire a lawyer, you may find our list of lawyers helpful. In Canada a criminal attorney or sexual abuse lawyer specialise in cases involving sexual assault, rape and/or sexual harassment. You can find more information on the Canadian legal system here.
8.2 Legal aid
Legal Aid is a government program that helps people with a low income receive legal representation and advice.
For information on Legal Aid and how you can apply please visit their website.
8.3 Compensation
Victims and survivors of violent crime such rape and sexual assault, may be eligible for financial compensation/benefits in all Canadian provinces/territories, with the exception of Newfoundland and Nunavut. For more information, please visit The Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime.
You will need to apply for compensation in the province where the incident took place, with the amounts and what you are eligible for varying from province to province.
9. When you return home to the UK
If you believe you may be at risk of having contracted a sexually-transmitted infection (STI), you should ask your local health provider or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), see table below, to test you, even if you have been tested in Canada.
| Country | Organisation |
|---|---|
| England | NHS Choices, or search the internet for ‘NHS SARC’ |
| Scotland | Archway SARC: phone 0141 211 8175 |
| Wales | New Pathways SARC Phone 01685 379 310 Ynys Saff Sexual Assault Referral Centre - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Ynys Saff Sexual Assault Referral Centre |
| Northern Ireland | Rowan SARC Northern Ireland Phone 0800 389 4424 |
10. Support organisations in Canada
As a survivor of sexual assault, you can choose which services are best for you and when to engage them.
You can contact victim services in your area to receive support. Victim services can also connect you with other support groups and community resources such as:
- sexual assault crisis centres
- psychological services
- other service providers
11. Local sexual assault centres
11.1 Ontario:
Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres
Women’s College Hospital Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre
Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres (ONSADVTC) Navigation Line 24/7 Navigation Line: 1-855-NAV-SADV (628-7238)
Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
Assaulted Women’s Help Line 1-866-863-0511 / TTY 1-866-863-7868
Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres
DAWN – DisAbled Women’s Network
Community Legal Education Ontario
Toronto Police Services - Project Guide: A Guide for Sexual Assault Survivors
Victim Support Line (Ontario Victim Services) 1-888-579-2888
Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Provincial Crisis and Support Line (Ontario Victim Services) 1-866-887-0015
Seniors Safety Line 1-866-299-1011
Ottawa:
Montreal:
Centre pour les victimes d’agression sexuelle de Montréal
11.2 British Columbia
Women Against Violence Against Women
24-Hour Crisis and Information Line: 604-255-6344
National Toll-Free: 1-877-392-7583
Crisis Lines - Vancouver Island Crisis Society
Surrey Women’s Centre - 24 hour mobile crisis response
Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre
Prince George Sexual Assault Centre
Victoria Sexual Assault Centre
B.C. police forces - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
11.3 Alberta
Family Violence Prevention supports and services – numbers are available on the website
Family Violence Info Line – 310‑1818
Alberta Association of Sexual Assault Services
Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence. Call or text: 1-866-403-8000
Calgary Communities Against Sexual Assault – 403‑237‑5888 or 1‑888‑237‑5888 (toll‑free)
Calgary Sexual Assault Response Team information line – 403‑955‑6030
Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE)
Find a detachment - Alberta (rcmp-grc.gc.ca)
11.4 Saskatchewan
Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan (SASS)
Saskatoon Sexual Assault and Information Centre
Lloydminster Sexual Assault Centre
Find a detachment - Saskatchewan (rcmp-grc.gc.ca)
11.5 Northwest Territories
Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres - Northwest Territories
RCMP Detachments (Stations) in Northwest Territories
11.6 Yukon
Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres - Yukon
RCMP Detachments (Stations) in Yukon
11.7 Disclaimer:
This information has been prepared by UK Government officials who are not legally or medically trained. It should therefore never be used as a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. It is intended to help British nationals overseas make their own informed decisions. Neither the UK Government nor any official of the Consulate accept liability for any loss or damage which you might suffer as a result of relying on the information supplied.
Medical information has been provided by The Havens Sexual Assault Referral Centres of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and was accurate at the time of production (02/02/2022).