“It is a hard reality that sexual violence is a very common experience, and the likelihood that someone you are working with – a student or a colleague – is struggling with an experience is very high,” SVRC Director Bre Woligroski (she/her) says. “Because of this, it can be really helpful for staff and faculty to receive sexual violence response and awareness training before they receive a disclosure of a personal story so they know how to respond, what the policies are, and can have clarity on what their roles are in the situation.” 

One of the major misconceptions that the SVRC addresses in their workshops and public education is that sexual violence only refers to sexual assault.

“We often get feedback during our workshops that attendees are surprised at the scope of sexual violence,” Woligroski says. “This term covers many behaviors, including intimate partner violence, unwelcome touching, harassment and/or discrimination based on a person’s gender, body and/or sexuality.”

Get informed

There are different options for sexual violence awareness training and support at UM. Staff and faculty can:

• Take a workshop on how to provide compassionate, supportive and consistent responses to those disclosing an incident of sexual violence.
  • Responding to a Disclosure of Sexual Violence  is a three-hour workshop that covers essential guidelines for responding to a disclosure and includes interactive exercises to practice these skills.
  • Workshops are offered several times a year. Find out about upcoming training sessions and sign up using the Learning and Organizational Development registration system.

• Request a workshop or keynote on topics related to sexual violence for your class, unit or faculty.
  • The SVRC offers custom trainings and workshops on topics like healthy relationships, consent, identity and sexual violence. Please reach out to sveducation@umanitoba.ca to learn more.

• Reach out to SVRC staff or make a one-on-one appointment for support or referrals.
  • Staff at the SVRC are available to answer your questions on how to best support someone who has disclosed to you. They can also provide support for staff, faculty and students who have experienced sexual violence themselves. Access their confidential services at svrc@umanitoba.ca or 204-474-6562, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Go through the online Sexual Violence Awareness modules.
  • Modules on UM Learn contain foundational information about sexual violence including a discussion of consent, power dynamics and conflicts of interest. They also bust common myths about sexual violence.

• Read through the information and educational materials the SVRC has compiled.
  • The SVRC’s website has information for getting support, giving support and getting informed. It also outlines your choices if you have experienced sexual violence and choose to report to the university, the police or both.

• Read the Sexual Violence and Respectful Work and Learning Environment policies.
  • These policies provide specific information about the rights and responsibilities of members of the university community. The Sexual Violence Policy has undergone a review and an updated version is coming soon.

A trauma-informed and survivor-centered place for support

Overall, the staff at the SVRC wants the UM community to know they are here as a resource for YOU.  

 “If you are unsure how to respond to a situation, how the policy applies, or just want to talk through the complexities of what’s happening because sometimes it can get pretty tough, we are available to support you in your role,” Woligroski says.

If you have been impacted by sexual violence, know that you are not alone. Sexual violence impacts individuals from many different backgrounds and identities. Find out more on the SVRC website or connect with them:

Sexual Violence Resource Centre
537 UMSU University Centre (Fort Garry campus)
svrc@umanitoba.ca
204-474-6562
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The SVRC is open to everyone, and incidents do not need to be related to experiences on campus. Through trauma-informed practices, the SVRC offers support that is survivor-centred. Those reaching out for support are free to choose how much they want to disclose and how they want to proceed. For those who may need help supporting someone in their life who has experienced sexual violence, the SVRC offers educational resources and workshops to help support loved ones, connecting survivors or close ones of survivors to experts.

Support from the SVRC extends to difficulties in relationships in general. “Sexual violence” is a broad term that covers a range of issues and experiences, including assault, harassment, exploitation, and abuse. Individuals dealing with any issues around health and safety in sex and relationships more broadly are encouraged to reach out to the SVRC.

Privacy and comfort are the core aspects of the SVRC, and all visits to the SVRC are confidential. The autonomy of individuals seeking help is respected, and the centre plays a supporting role as individuals decide their course of actions. Experts at the SVRC offer guidance, assess needs, and clarify options and possible next steps to help support individuals on whatever path they may choose to follow. Each individual needs different supports, and the SVRC strives to navigate the particularities of everyone’s unique circumstances.

Educational resources are available for everyone and cover topics ranging from healthy relationships, responding to disclosures, and can connect survivors to therapeutic and other services at UM.

The SRVC is located at 537 UMSU University Centre (Fort Garry campus) and appointments can be made by calling 204-474-6562 or via e-mail at svrc[at]umanitoba[dot]ca.

The SVRC also has Drop-in Hours at the following times:
Monday and Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Tuesdays and Friday from 9 to 11 a.m.

Check the Sexual Violence Research Centre website for more information about the SVRC and related resources. 

We invite the UM community to contribute their feedback, helping us identify areas for improvement and potential gaps in resources. Your input is essential in making the policy as effective and responsive as possible. 

Feedback will be collected through various forums to promote inclusivity and accessibility, and we encourage the entire UM community to provide feedback using this anonymous online form by December 15, 2024. 

In 2019, a comprehensive review led to significant updates to the Sexual Violence Policy, with input from the UM community. This updated policy was expanded to cover all forms of sexual violence, including sexual harassment and sexual assault. In September 2022, two additional sections, “Receiving Disclosures” and “Mandatory Referrals,” were added to enhance clarity and support. 

As with previous policy updates, the community will be informed of any changes once the updated policy is approved. 

The content of the Sexual Violence Policy, while specific to the University of Manitoba, must adhere to provincial and federal laws including the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Personal Information Protection Act. 

Sexual Violence Resource Centre  

Community input in policy review is an important part of ensuring that our policies reflect the needs of the community we serve. That said, we recognize the heavy nature of this work. The UM has a number of supports available including the Sexual Violence Resource Centre (SVRC).  

The SVRC provides a safe, confidential space for survivors and those supporting them, offering information, resources, and support with a trauma-informed and survivor-centered approach. These services are available to all UM faculty, staff, and students. 

To reach out to the SVRC: 

• Email: svrc@umanitoba.ca 

• Phone: 204-474-6562 

Additionally, UM offers a broad range of supports and resources that are available for students as well as for faculty and staff. 

• Student Supports 

• Community resources for faculty and staff 

In healthy intimate relationships where people are dating, living together and/or married, partners treat each other with care, kindness, and mutual respect. Partners can live their individual lives feeling emotionally and physically safe to be who they are and are not being controlled or manipulated.

Unfortunately, we know this feeling of safety in intimate relationships isn’t being experienced by everyone on campus. At UM’s Sexual Violence Resource Centre (SVRC), we regularly provide support to students, staff and faculty who are living in situations that do not feel safe to them, and may include aspects of emotional and physical abuse.

Unhealthy relationships

In your relationship with your intimate partner(s), you should not experience or feel afraid of  experiencing:

• Physical harm, including hitting, grabbing and non-consensual touching
• Social control, including having your whereabouts or communications monitored
• Emotional harm, including name-calling and domineering words
• Financial harm, including control of money or other resources
• Other acts in which you feel fearful of your partner, or afraid to be yourself around them

In relationships that include these aspects, the desires of one partner often dominate the desires and needs of another, creating an unbalanced and unsafe dynamic. 

Intimate partner violence

You may have heard the term “intimate partner violence.” This is a phrase that describes abusive behavior occurring within a dating, common-law or married relationship that includes verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual, physical and/or financial mistreatment. Intimate partner violence can impact anyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, race, age, and educational, socioeconomic, religious and cultural backgrounds. It is important to note that women and girls experience intimate partner violence at higher rates, as reported recently by Statistics Canada.

Support is available

If you or someone you know is in a relationship where your partner is displaying these behaviors, assistance is available to you. UM’s SVRC offers confidential support to students, staff and faculty members impacted by sexual violence; this includes experiences of intimate partner violence.

Support can be accessed via phone, email, in-person or Zoom. The SVRC is located at 537 UMSU University Centre and UM community members can access assistance by contacting the SVRC at svrc@umanitoba.ca, 204-474-6562, or in-person at the office.  Regular drop-in hours are available, or appointments can be made ahead of time. Visit the SVRC website for more information.

September is Sexual Health Month, an initiative of the World Association of Sexual Health.  This year’s theme of Positive Relationships highlights the importance of relationships – including intimate, romantic and family relationships – being based on a foundation of consent, respect and safety.

“The SVRC offers a number of programs, workshops and education opportunities throughout the year, through these interactions we have heard from male students about their struggles in creating positive campus change,” says Emily Livingston, Education and Programs Office at the SVRC. “Our goal with this pilot project is to engage men in our community, collaborating with and supporting them on doing the work they see needs to be done in creating a more healthy and equitable campus.”

In addition to engaging and supporting each other in their personal growth, group members will envision, design and carry out a number of outreach activities during the winter semester with the goal of engaging male students in sexual violence prevention initiatives. Participants will receive an honoraria for their involvement with the program.

“The group will provide the space for male students to recognize their role in creating a safer University environment while also allowing folks to explore some of their pre-conceived notions of what it means to be a man in today’s world,” says José Diaz, SVRC Trauma Specialist. ”We want to provide support to participants who have the desire to create campus change, who are committed to building a safer campus for everybody.”

Information on applying for a spot in this program is available on UMconnect or by emailing sveducation@umanitoba.ca. Deadline for applications is Tuesday, August 27 at midnight. Students who self-declare as men and/or gender non-binary are encouraged to apply.

What is the Sexual Violence Resource Centre?

Sharlaine Glowatsky: The Sexual Violence Resource Centre provides support, resources, information and referral services for any student, faculty or staff member who has been affected by sexual violence. The SVRC is a trauma-informed and survivor-centered space, where the needs and goals of the person seeking support are centralized, and where survivors are never pressured to disclose anything they don’t want to.

What brings people to the SVRC?

SG: Folks come to the SVRC after experiencing sexual violence, whether that be assault, harassment or intimate partner or family violence. They may need help making sense of what has happened to them or need to feel safe again with themselves or with others. They may want information about their options, or just need someone to hear them out and acknowledge that what they went through was harmful. We also support UM community members who are assisting someone else through an experience of sexual violence. 

What is your role at the SVRC?

SG: My role as the confidential intake & triage specialist at the SVRC means that I’m often the first point of contact for folks. I respond to inquiries, and I meet with folks both in person and virtually to explore what’s happening to them, how they have been feeling and the impacts on their life. I provide information about available resources, such as academic accommodations, medical options, reporting options both on and off campus, counselling services and cultural supports, safety planning and identifying support systems. I’m also available to consult with staff and faculty who need clarification about policies or need support with getting a student connected with the SVRC.

Why is doing this work important to you?

SG: My intention in this role is to hold space for folks needing to feel safe, to feel heard, to feel supported and hopefully leave feeling empowered in the decisions that they make for themselves. This work is important because sexual violence can impact anyone and can leave a person feeling traumatized and alone in their situation. I want to remind people of their strengths and the choices they can make in moving towards healing.

What do you want people accessing your services to know?

SG: We know that coming forward with your experience of sexual violence can feel very scary and overwhelming.  We want students, staff and faculty to know that we offer a space where your story is respected, where support is available for you, and you can reach out to us by email, phone or in person — whatever way feels safest for you.

How else does the SVRC support the UM Community?

SG: We also have a sexual trauma specialist who can meet with staff, faculty and students who want to build skills for responding to their sexual violence experience.  For sexual violence prevention, we have an education and program officer who coordinates workshops for students, staff and faculty on healthy relationships and responding to disclosures. They also coordinate the Safer Social Event Team, which is a team of students who attend campus parties and assist other students if a situation of concern arises.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month—what do you think is the most important thing people should know about sexual violence?

SG: Sexual violence can happen to anyone: you’re not alone and it’s not your fault. The SVRC can help and be there for you when you need to talk or need more information to decide about how you want to move forward.

How can students, staff and faculty access support at the SVRC?

SG: Students, staff and faculty can make an appointment by calling 204-474-6562 or emailing svrc@umanitoba.ca. Pre-arranged appointments can be held in-person on any UM campus or can be held by Zoom or phone. Appointments are also available during drop-in hours every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am-11am at 537 UMSU University Centre.

Visit the Sexual Violence Resource Centre website for more details.

“We’re excited to launch this new program as a part of Security Services ongoing commitment to the safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors on UM campuses,” said Gordon Perrier, Director of Campus Security Services.

As part of the ISO Program, Security Services are taking on the new Institutional Safety Officer role enhancing their ability to promote community safety at all campus locations.

Campus safety is a team effort at UM, and members of the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management (OHRCM), Student Engagement and Success, and the Sexual Violene Resource Centre will also be in attendance to discuss a variety of resources and services that comprehensively address safety on our campuses.

For any questions related to the open house events or the ISO program, please reach out to Gordon Perrier, Director, Security Services, at gordon.perrier@umanitoba.ca.

Incidents do not need to be university-related, as the SVRC provides support to any individuals experiencing sexual violence-related issues, whether it be at home, with a partner, or at a workplace. 

“We’re here to support all members of the campus community in whatever way makes sense for them, and however it’s safe for them,” says Bre Woligroski, coordinator for the SVRC. “Sexual violence includes any form of non-consensual touching, intimate partner violence, as well as harassment and discrimination based on a person’s gender, sexuality or body. Services are confidential, and provided in a trauma-informed and survivor-centered manner.”

The SVRC understands that experiences with sexual violence and the appropriate method of navigating these events will vary between individuals. They can help with assessing needs, clarifying options, identifying next steps, and coordinating a plan to support you. They have also provided practical assistance like helping people find alternate living arrangements,  find employment, request course accommodation and address food security.

The office at 537 UMSU University Centre (Fort Garry campus) is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please call or email the office in advance to make an appointment: 204-474-6562 or svrc@umanitoba.ca.
Drop-in appointments are now available at the SVRC from 9 – 10 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Accessing the SVRC is always completely confidential. While staff can assist with related reporting processes, individuals seeking help will not be pressured to take any specific course of action. Individuals who seek help from SVRC are in control of the process and the centre’s role is to support them through that process.

More information on the Sexual Violence Research Centre and related resources can be found on their website. 

Initially offered in 2017, the updated Responding to Disclosures workshop continues to be a valuable  opportunity to help faculty and staff members prepare for a situation in which they receive a disclosure  of sexual violence. Responding to Disclosures also provides information on recent changes that were made to the University’s Sexual Violence Policy , including the new requirement for supervisors to refer the individual disclosing to the SVRC.  

“As the university has returned to in-person activities we want to ensure members of the UM staff and faculty community have access to this important training,” says Bre Woligroski, Sexual Violence Resource Centre Coordinator.  “Whether the disclosing person experienced violence in person or online, we want all staff and faculty to feel equipped to respond in a survivor-centered and supported way.” 

Designed to give staff and faculty the knowledge and skills to respond to disclosures in a compassionate, supportive, and consistent way, the workshop walks participants through key elements and guidelines for responding to a disclosure of sexual violence and making appropriate referrals. While the workshop does include a brief overview of the university’s Sexual Violence Policy, the focus of this workshop is on a supportive and survivor-centered response to the person disclosing, focusing on their needs while providing options for support and information. The workshop is facilitated by staff from the SVRC as well as other support areas at the University. 

“Many who have these experiences first turn to someone they trust to tell their story. How that first disclosure is received can have a huge impact on the individual’s healing and how they move forward,” states Emily Livingston, Sexual Violence Education and Program Officer at the SVRC.  ”Taking this training is a proactive way for staff to feel prepared in responding in a caring and supportive way should a disclosure arise.”  

Spring registration is now open for an in-person session happening at the Bannatyne Campus as well as a virtual session open to staff from any campus. Staff and faculty interested in attending a workshop are encouraged to sign up through the Learning & Organizational Development website. For more information on the workshop please email emily [dot] livingston [at] umanitoba [dot] ca. 

A student version of Responding to Disclosures is also available. Student groups, as well as staff and faculty members who supervise student-staff or student groups on campus, are welcome to book a cost-free workshop. Please contact Emily at the email above for more information. 

Student Counselling Centre

The Student Counselling Centre (SCC) provides free counselling and mental health support to UM, English Language Centre, and International College of Manitoba (ICM) students. The SCC has resumed in-person services while still continuing to offer services remotely. You may prefer to drop by the office at 474 UMSU University Centre or connect by phone or video. Either way, you are welcome to reach out to the SCC for help.

The SCC offers a variety of services that take a multifaceted approach to all aspects of mental health care. These include:

• Workshops that help with the development of skills in stress management, relationships and conflict resolution, and mindful meditation. Workshops don’t require personal sharing and can be the quickest way to access support.
• Counselling Groups for in-depth help on various topics and involving more than one session. Each group will consist of the same people from week to week. A full list of group and workshop offerings can be found here.
• Single Session Therapy, a new service where you can attend a longer, single therapy session to address a specific event or difficulty such as presentation or exam anxiety or a break-up.
• Ongoing Individual Counselling services

Students looking to access services offered by the SCC should schedule an intake appointment to determine the best way they can help. Anyone who accesses SCC services can trust that all records are confidential and are independent of any record on and off campus. You can learn more from the SCC website or by calling the reception desk at 204-474-8592.

Sexual Violence Resource Centre

Creating a respectful work and learning environment is at the core of our values at UM. Sexual violence has no place in our campus community; it’s important that all individuals feel safe and supported.

The Sexual Violence Resource Centre

The Sexual Violence Resource Centre (SVRC) provides support, information and resources to anyone in the UM community whose lives have been affected by sexual violence. Their doors at 537 UMSU University Centre are open to survivors, or people supporting survivors, who are looking for a safe space to turn to no matter when and where someone experiences any form of sexual violence.

They take a trauma-informed and survivor-centered approach when it comes to supporting each individual. The SVRC recognizes that sexual violence affects each person differently, and no one will be pressured to move forward with any course of action they are not comfortable with. With confidentiality also at the core of their work, individuals can be confident that any information you share with the SVRC will not be shared without permission.

In addition to working with individuals, the SVRC also delivers educational programs on sexual violence prevention and on maintaining a respectful environment for survivors. These workshops include Bringing in the Bystander and Responding to a Disclosure of Sexual Violence, as well as online modules with common information about sexual violence. Visit the SVRC during their drop-in hours, or call the reception desk at 204-474-6562.