Appendix G – Victim Services and Resources
The information given here comes from the consultations conducted with various federal departments as well as publications created by the Department of Justice. It also includes information gathered in consultation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), with expertise in the area of abuse in immigrant communities. These details aim to provide Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) staff with the appropriate tools for referring victims of abuse or neglect to available victim services in their community.
The website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) provides an interactive map. This helps people in searching for immigrant services according to area for:
- Health services
- Women services and,
- Community services
The Department of Justice has many web-based products and publications. These aim to help Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) staff with the appropriate tools for referring victims of abuse or neglect to available victim services in their community. For instance, the Victim Services Directory provides search victim services in the local community once the user inputs the postal code on the top right-hand side of the page.
The Department of Justice also has a useful publication titled ‘Abuse is Wrong in any Language’. This publication provides information about abuse and resources that the victim could be unaware of. The authorities have published it in various languages such as English, Arabic, Chinese (traditional), Dari, French, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tamil and Urdu as well.
The Community Resource List
Readers should consider the merits of creating a personal community resource list in advance. These lists typically contain details of various organisations and agencies (including the police) that offer support or helpful information. The white, yellow or blue pages of the telephone book carry the contact numbers for the local or provincial agencies listed below. It is worth keeping these numbers up to date, as they could change from time to time.
The Organisation or Agency | The Services Offered |
The Police | They can help you assess your safety. In addition, they can also take action against someone committing a crime.
Dial 911 in an emergency. |
The Local Police | They could help in non-emergency situations. Consider checking the first few pages of the telephone book for their telephone number. |
Public Legal Education Associations | These offer general information about the law, the legal system and the victim’s rights as a person experiencing abuse |
Victim Services | They could refer the victim to counselling and provide information about programs and services available for victims of crime |
Crisis Lines | These could offer assistance with crisis intervention and refer the individual to the relevant helpful services |
Shelters or Transition Houses | These could offer shelter, information and referrals for women or men who experience spousal abuse |
Mental Health Offices | These could offer information or counselling on depression, stress and mental health issues |
Multicultural and Immigrant-serving Organisations | These might be able to offer information and refer the victim to various helpful services |
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) | They can answer questions concerning immigration status and processes. In addition, they could provide information on the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
Telephone: 1-800-242-2100 |
People I Trust | These could offer emotional and practical support such as family, friends, doctors, religious advisors and so on |
Others | These could comprise local womens’ centres, community care centres or social agencies |
Child Abuse
Situations could arise where you might know a child who requires help – especially if you suspect abuse. In this scenario, consider calling the local Helpline for Children at the numbers given below. In case the matter is urgent and you cannot reach the appropriate child protection authorities, consider calling the local police.
Alberta 1-800-387-KIDS (1-800-387-5437) To contact the ministry: Telephone: 780-422-3004 (Monday to Friday 0815 – 1630 hrs) Fax: 780-422-3071 For toll-free access in Alberta, dial 310-0000 | British Columbia Call the local child welfare services from Monday to Friday from 0830 – 1630 hrs or after-hours, call the Helpline for Children at 310-1234 or call the police To contact the ministry: In Victoria: 250-387-6121 In Vancouver: 604-660-2421 Elsewhere in British Columbia call 800-663-7867 Outside British Columbia call 604-660-2421 E-mail: EnquiryBC@gems3.gov.bc.ca To find local child welfare services: Check the blue pages in the telephone book or call the Helpline for Children at 310-1234 (you do not need to add an area code). A ministry social worker would answer the call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. |
Manitoba In Winnipeg: Telephone: 204-944-4200 Toll-free: 888-834-9767 Emergency Calls only (after hours): 204-944-4050 To contact the ministry: Call 204-945-3744 or toll-free 866-626-4862 (TDD 204-945-4796) E-mail: mgi@gov.mb.ca To find local child welfare services: Telephone number for province-wide intake and emergency after hours child and family services: 866-345-9241 | New Brunswick To report suspected child maltreatment: Telephone: 800-992-2873 or for emergency after hours 800-442-9799
To contact the ministry and find local child welfare services during business hours: Telephone: 866-444-8838 |
Newfoundland and Labrador To report suspected child maltreatment: Child Protection Services (Child Abuse): (709) 570-7819 After hours, call (709) 570-7819 | Nova Scotia To report suspected child maltreatment: Telephone: 877-424-1177 or after hours 866-922-2434 |
Northwest Territories To report suspected child maltreatment: Contact local services. In Yellowknife, call 867-873-7276 or 867-873-1929 after hours. HELP line: 867-920-2121 To contact the Department of Health and Social Services: Telephone: 867-873-7046 Fax: 867-873-7706 Crisis Telephone Line Call 867-872-4133 collect from anywhere in the Northwest Territories for help with personal problems. Toll-free 877-872-5925 | Nunavut To report suspected child maltreatment: In Iqaluit: Call Iqaluit Dispatch at 867-979-5650 and ask to have the on-call social worker contact the caller In all other Nunavut communities: Contact the local social work office, health centre or the local community RCMP In areas outside of Nunavut jurisdictions, contact the local CAS or police agency for making a report To contact the Nunavut Department of Health and Social Services: Telephone: 867-975-5700 Fax: 867-975-5799 |
Ontario To report suspected child maltreatment: Call the local children’s aid society listed in the emergency pages of the telephone book. Or, call the local police. There are 53 local Children’s Aid Societies in Ontario. To contact the Ministry of Children and Youth Services: Telephone Toll-free: 866-821-7770 TTY: 800-387-5559 To find local child welfare services: Call the Ontario Association of children’s Aid Societies at 416-987-7725 | Prince Edward Island To report suspected child maltreatment: Telephone: 800-341-6868 or call the local police or child and family services |
Quebec To report suspected child maltreatment: Telephone: 866-532-2822 or 800-263-2266 (French only) After hours or emergencies: Telephone: 811
For services in English on the island of Montreal, call Batshaw Youth and Family Centres at 514-935-6196
To contact the ministry: Monday to Friday from 0830 – 1630 hrs Quebec City area: 418-644-4545 Montreal area: 514-644-4545 Elsewhere in Quebec: 877-644-4545 (toll-free)
To find local child welfare services: Contact the local Centre jeunesse (Child Protection Centre) | Saskatchewan To report suspected child maltreatment: Saskatoon – City: 306-933-6077 Saskatoon – Rural: 306-933-5069 or 800-274-8297 Regina: 306-787-3760 Kids Help Line: 888-668-6868 Police Emergency: 911
To contact the Child and Family Services Division of Social Services: Telephone: 306-787-7010 Fax: 306-787-0925
First Nations and Mėtis Services Telephone: 306-787-3949
Children’s Services Telephone: 306-787-2245
Family Support and Child Protection Telephone: 306-787-0008 |
Yukon To report suspected child maltreatment: Telephone: 867-667-3002 or 800-661-0408, local 3002 (24 hours) To contact the Department of Health and Social Services, Family and Children’s Services: Telephone: 867-667-3002 | |
