To stop violence and harm in our communities, we need to encourage more men and boys to embrace their role as allies.
An ally is someone who has a genuine commitment to looking at their own attitudes, beliefs and behaviours and is committed to change. Allies take action to promote gender equality and prevent violence in our communities by learning how to demonstrate and promote healthy expressions of masculinity.
An ally speaks up when they believe someone needs support, whether they are sharing words of encouragement to help someone who is having a hard time or speaking out against violence in their community by calling their neighbours, friends and families into a safe space to address harmful behaviours and share positive alternatives. Allies check in with the survivors in their lives to see how they can best provide support and follow up on their commitments.
An ally breaks their silence.
An ally speaks up when they believe someone needs support, whether they are sharing words of encouragement to help someone who is having a hard time or speaking out against violence in their community by calling their neighbours, friends and families into a safe space to address harmful behaviours and share positive alternatives. Allies check in with the survivors in their lives to see how they can best provide support and follow up on their commitments.
An ally breaks their silence.
If you believe someone is living in an abusive environment, do not ignore your gut feeling. Here's what you can do. |
Believe
Believe her when she says she has experienced harm. And thank her for trusting you and telling you.
Educate
Educate yourself on the needs of survivors. There may be challenges you do not know about that could be preventing her from seeking the support she needs, for example:
Understand her situation so you can give her the information, services and support she needs to make the right decision for her.
- She may not feel comfortable accessing support in French or English, and that’s okay. There are organizations that offer support in many other languages, including Arabic.
- She may not know these services exist or believe she can access support because she may not know her legal status or her rights.
- She may be feeling isolated and alone because of the harm and abuse she might have experienced. These feelings get worse without counselling or the support of family and friends who may be far away. There are support services she can access and activities she can participate in to meet new people so she feels less alone.
Understand her situation so you can give her the information, services and support she needs to make the right decision for her.
Support
Find the right supports for her and her children, if she has any. She will need to make a safety plan and she will need somewhere safe to stay. There are services that can help.
Tell
Tell her you support her choices and decisions no matter what she decides to do. She will need your support, so make sure you communicate your support often and ongoing.
We have a list of services that you can share with her based on her needs. If you do not know what she needs, ask her.
Does she need:
Employment or Legal Assistance?
Job opportunities and information about recognition of foreign credentials is crucial for her economic empowerment and financial stability, especially in cases where she may be at risk of domestic violence.
Interval House can provide assistance with job searching, résumé writing and interview skills.
Locations in Toronto, Hamilton and Muskoka.
Interval House can provide assistance with job searching, résumé writing and interview skills.
Locations in Toronto, Hamilton and Muskoka.
To learn about services she can access, including health care, counselling and safety support, or to learn about Canadian laws, the Afghan Women’s organization is a good place to start.
Afghan Women’s Organization
Locations in North York, Mississauga and Scarborough.
Afghan Women’s Organization
Locations in North York, Mississauga and Scarborough.
The Arab Community Centre of Toronto serves newcomers and assists individuals and families in building their lives in Canada.
Arab Community Centre of Toronto
Scarborough: 1855 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough, ON M1R 2Y3 Phone: 647-341-2722 or
Etobicoke: Lithuanian Canadian Community, 1st Resurrection Road, Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 Phone: 416-533-3292
Arab Community Centre of Toronto
Scarborough: 1855 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough, ON M1R 2Y3 Phone: 647-341-2722 or
Etobicoke: Lithuanian Canadian Community, 1st Resurrection Road, Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 Phone: 416-533-3292
Support for Canadians helping refugees find the best work possible.
Helping Newcomers Work
Helping Newcomers Work
The Immigrants Working Centre provides many services, including one-on-one orientation training, English language training, employment services and community connections.
Immigrants Working Centre
Multiple locations in the Greater Hamilton Area.
Immigrants Working Centre
Multiple locations in the Greater Hamilton Area.
Learn about Toronto and explore resources available in the Greater Toronto Area.
UReachToronto
UReachToronto
If you are looking for employment, Oasis Centre des Femmes provides access to computers, the Internet, photocopying, scanning, faxing, job postings and employment counselors.
Oasis Centre des Femmes (French)
Phone: 416-591-6565 or Fem'aide 1-877-336-2433
Oasis Centre des Femmes (French)
Phone: 416-591-6565 or Fem'aide 1-877-336-2433
Housing?
To get housing or housing support for a woman with or without children, she can contact Ernestine's Women's Shelter.
Ernestine's Women's Shelter
If she is in a crisis and in need of support, she can contact 416-746-3701 ext. 0
Ernestine's Women's Shelter
If she is in a crisis and in need of support, she can contact 416-746-3701 ext. 0
La Maison offers free programs and confidential services in French to women and their children who are fleeing domestic violence.
La Maison
Phone: 647-777-6433
La Maison
Phone: 647-777-6433
Christie Refugee Welcome Centre provides emergency shelter and a warm welcome for refugee families from all ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds.
Christie Refugee Welcome Centre
43 Christie Street, Toronto, ON M6G 3B1 Phone: 416-588-9277
Christie Refugee Welcome Centre
43 Christie Street, Toronto, ON M6G 3B1 Phone: 416-588-9277
If she is in need of services and support for her and her children because she and/or her children have experienced violence, poverty and/or homelessness, she can contact Nellie's.
Nellie's Shelter
Phone: 416-461-8903
Nellie's Shelter
Phone: 416-461-8903
COUNSELLING AND Support?
For counselling and support to deal with the trauma or violence she has experienced from her partner, during her upbringing or due to another lived experience she can contact the Assaulted Women's Helpline.
Assaulted Women's Helpline
1-866-863-0511
Assaulted Women's Helpline
1-866-863-0511
The South Asian Women's Centre offers interpretation and translation, information and referral, family counselling, advocacy, support and crisis intervention delivered in English, Bengali, Hindi, Kanada, Marathi, Malay, Nepalese, Oriya, Punjabi, Sinhalese, Tamil, Telegu, Tibetian, Sindhi, Asamese and Urdu, as well as other languages as needed by clients.
South Asian Women's Centre
800 Lansdowne Avenue, Unit 1, Toronto, ON M6H 4K3 Phone: 416-537-2276
South Asian Women's Centre
800 Lansdowne Avenue, Unit 1, Toronto, ON M6H 4K3 Phone: 416-537-2276
This organization is committed to fighting violence against women and children.
Multicultural Women Against Rape
24-Hour Crisis Line: 416-597-8808
Multicultural Women Against Rape
24-Hour Crisis Line: 416-597-8808
The Canadian Mental Health Association specializes in mental health because mental health is health.
Canadian Mental Health Association
Crisis Line: 1-866-531-2600
Canadian Mental Health Association
Crisis Line: 1-866-531-2600
The Arab Community Centre of Toronto (ACCT) serves newcomers.
Arab Community Centre of Toronto
Scarborough: 1855 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough, ON M1R 2Y3 Phone: 647-341-2722 or
Etobicoke: Lithuanian Canadian Community, 1st Resurrection Road, Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 Phone: 416-533-3292
Arab Community Centre of Toronto
Scarborough: 1855 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough, ON M1R 2Y3 Phone: 647-341-2722 or
Etobicoke: Lithuanian Canadian Community, 1st Resurrection Road, Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 Phone: 416-533-3292
Visit eMentalHealth.ca for mental health services, help and support in your community.
eMentalHealth.ca
eMentalHealth.ca
THRIVE Child and Youth Trauma Services specializes in childhood trauma and helping children deal with violence.
THRIVE Child and Youth Trauma Services
460 Main Street East, Suite 201, Hamilton, ON
THRIVE Child and Youth Trauma Services
460 Main Street East, Suite 201, Hamilton, ON
Everyone deserves a life of peace and safety and Interval House seeks to break the cycle of violence, for good.
Interval House
Phone: 416-924-1491 or 1-888-293-5516
Interval House
Phone: 416-924-1491 or 1-888-293-5516
Social and Recreational Activities?
Sistering offers support to all women in need and creates safe spaces where they do not have to be alone.
Sistering
962 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1L6 Phone: 416-926-9762
Sistering
962 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1L6 Phone: 416-926-9762
Central Neighbourhood House offers a wide range of excellent programs for children and youth, new Canadians, families, women and seniors.
Central Neighbourhood House
349 Ontario Street, Toronto, ON Phone: 416-925-4363
Central Neighbourhood House
349 Ontario Street, Toronto, ON Phone: 416-925-4363
Newcomer Kitchen is a new project that invites groups of Syrian refugee women to use their kitchen
Arab Community Centre of Toronto (ACCT) offers community engagement programs and youth programs.
Arab Community Centre of Toronto
Scarborough: 1855 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough, ON M1R 2Y3 Phone: 647-341-2722 or
Etobicoke: Lithuanian Canadian Community, 1st Resurrection Road, Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 Phone: 416-533-3292
Arab Community Centre of Toronto
Scarborough: 1855 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough, ON M1R 2Y3 Phone: 647-341-2722 or
Etobicoke: Lithuanian Canadian Community, 1st Resurrection Road, Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 Phone: 416-533-3292
Afghan Women's Organization has supervised field trips and recreational activities.
Afghan Women's Organization
Locations in North York, Mississauga and Scarborough.
Afghan Women's Organization
Locations in North York, Mississauga and Scarborough.
Health and Wellness?
Women's Health In Women's Hands (WHIWH) Community Health Centre provides primary health and wellness to women from the African, Caribbean, Latin American, and South Asian communities.
WHIWH Community Health Centre
2 Carlton Street, Suite 500, Toronto, ON M5B 1J3 Phone: 416-593-7655
WHIWH Community Health Centre
2 Carlton Street, Suite 500, Toronto, ON M5B 1J3 Phone: 416-593-7655
Sherbourne Health provides counselling for stress management, conflict resolution and mental health matters. She will also be able to have regular visits with a family practitioner.
Sherbourne Health
333 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, ON M5A 2S5
Sherbourne Health
333 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, ON M5A 2S5
Other Resources?
The Government of Ontario website has many other services and supports for newcomers and refugees.
