Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Policy, Prevention and Support

All members of the George Brown College’s Community have a right to study, live and work in a safe environment that is free from sexual violence.

Through the College’s Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Policy we support survivors by making information clear and accessible and engaging in a fair complaints process for all parties.

Building and maintaining a culture that promotes consent and respect is a shared responsibility and we all have a role to play in creating this future.

WHAT IS SEXUAL VIOLENCE?

“Sexual violence means any sexual act or act targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity or gender expression, whether the act is physical or psychological in nature, that is committed, threatened or attempted against a person without the person’s consent, and includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism and sexual exploitation.”

Sexual violence is never the fault of the survivor.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CONSENT

May is Sexual Violence Prevention Month

The college recognizes May as Sexual Violence Prevention Month and is committed to creating safer spaces for our community. Check out our What is Sexual Violence? educational guide to learn more about how we can help create a culture of consent at George Brown College. 

VIEW THE EDUCATIONAL GUIDE

How can we help you?

Give and Offer Support

Get Support

If you are unsure about what to do or how to get support, you can speak with the College’s Sexual Violence Response Advisor (SVRA). Regardless of whether you experienced sexual violence on or off campus, recently or a long time ago, the SVRA will:

  • Listen without judgement
  • Explain available options
  • Provide information about College and community resources
  • Facilitate safety planning
  • Help you seek academic or workplace accommodations

You will be supported in your choices and decisions without any pressure to follow a specific path.

To get support contact:

Sexual Violence Response Advisor
416-415-5000 ext. 3450
svra@georgebrown.ca

If you have experienced sexual violence:

  1. Go to a Safe Space
  2. Seek Emergency Help
    • Public Safety and Security: 416-415-5000 ext. 8000, 0 from a Cisco phone or text 416-723-4761
    • 911 or Toronto Police Services: 416-808-2222
    • Local hospital
  3. Seek support
  4. Seek Counselling

Give Support

If someone you know has experienced sexual violence:

  1. Believe the survivor; don’t make excuses for the perpetrator’s actions
  2. Listen without judgement; don’t ask for details out of curiosity
  3. Ensure they are safe and help them seek any immediate medical attention required
  4. Make them aware of resources and help them access support such as Public Safety and Security, Sexual Violence Response Advisor, Counselling Services, etc.
  5. Respect the survivor’s decision and choices
  6. Seek self-care for yourself
  7. For Employees:

Disclosing and Reporting Sexual Violence

A report is when a survivor shares information about an incident of sexual violence.

A complaint is when a survivor shares information about an incident of sexual violence with the intention of initiating a formal process.

The decision to report and the decision to make a complaint are separate decisions.

Deciding whether to report and/or make a complaint of sexual violence is the right of the survivor and is something they need to decide for themselves based on their needs, not anyone else’s. It may be helpful to talk about the options before deciding what is best. The Sexual Violence Response Advisor can provide information to help you to make this decision.

  • Sexual Violence Response Advisor (SVRA)
    • svra@georgebrown.ca
    • 416-415-5000 ext. 3450
  • Public Safety and Security
    • On-campus, dial 0 from any Cisco phone
    • Off-campus, dial 416-415-5000 ext. 8000
    • Text 416-723-4761
  • If you live in Residence
    • You are encouraged to contact your Residence Life Coordinator at 416-761-8000 or
    • Dial 0 from a residence phone and front desk staff will connect you to the right resources.
    • The Residence Life Coordinator will connect you to the Sexual Violence Response Advisor

Emergency Contacts

Help and support is available at George Brown College and in the Community:

Emergency Contacts:

  • Emergency 911
  • Public Safety and Security 416-415-5000 ext. 8000, 0 from a Cisco phone or text 416-723-4761
  • Toronto Police Services 416-808-2222
  • Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape 24-Hour Crisis Line 416-597-8808
  • Women’s College Hospital Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre (RN available 24-Hour) 416-323-6400
  • Good 2 Talk Post-Secondary Helpline 24-Hour Crisis Line 1-866-925-5454
  • Support Services for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse 24-Hour Crisis Line 1-866-887-0015

Non-Emergency Contacts:

  • Sexual Violence Response Advisor: (416) 415-5000 ext. 3450 or svra@georgebrown.ca.
  • Public Safety and Security: 416-415-5000 ext. 8000 or dial 0 from any Cisco phone.
  • If you live in residence, contact your Resident Life Coordinator: 416-761-8000 or dial 0 from a residence phone and front desk staff will connect you to the right resources
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP): 1-800-387-4765
  • Counselling located at 200 King St. E., Room 582C, phone: 416.415.5000 ext.2107

Education and Training

A fundamental part of our commitment to preventing sexual violence is to make education and training available to our community. We provide different depths of training to members of our community, depending on their roles and job functions. Through education, we seek to raise awareness of issues related to sexual violence, consent and bystander intervention in order to foster individual and collection action towards a safe and respectful environment.

Sexual Assault & Sexual Violence Response Services Annual Reports

Download report

Request a training session

Complaints Resolution Process

We are committed to maintaining an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. If you feel you have experienced discrimination or harassment, we have a complaints resolution process in place to help you. Our department is dedicated to engaging in a consistent, transparent process to resolve any complaints that we receive.

Make an Appointment

The first step in the complaints resolution process is to make an intake appointment. These appointments can be in-person or on the phone.

The purpose of an intake appointment is to give you the opportunity to:

  • File a report, which means sharing information for the purpose of receiving support or getting more information. Or
  • Make a complaint, which means providing information to initiate a formal process where a person may be held accountable.

What happens next?

Our department will review your report or complaint and determine how to proceed. We will work with you to come to a resolution and support you with the next steps.

Check this visual representation of the Complaints Resolution Process

If you would like to make an appointment or contact us, please use the form below:

SUBMIT A FORM

Clear Your Web History

Web browsers are designed to record information about the web pages you’ve accessed. If you are worried about someone knowing that you visited this web page, you can take some steps to reduce the chances that they can look through your computer to find out what websites you have been reading.

It’s important to note:

  • It’s hard to absolutely guarantee your browsing history can’t be traced. The safest way to ensure your online activity is not tracked is to access the internet at an on-campus computer, local library, internet café, at work or a using the computer of a trusted friend.
  • There can be a risk in removing web related data from your computer. For example, another person who uses your computer may notice the browsing history or a saved web password has been erased and this may raise suspicion.
  • In the future, you can use private browsing modes to view websites without your browser saving any history.

If you want to proceed with erasing web related information, you generally want to erase two things:

  1. Your Cache – this is where your computer stores copies of files you’ve recently looked at with your web browser.
  2. Your History List – this is a single file containing the web addresses of the sites you’ve recently visited.

Select the following browsers that you use for information about deleting your history and private browsing.

      Land acknowledgement

      George Brown College is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.


      Learn more about our land acknowledgment