External Support Services
External Supports
CANVAS offers programming on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, sexual violence, and body image. For many, this is the first time a conversation has been facilitated on these issues.
At the request of our community, we have compiled a list of Toronto and Greater Toronto Area community services that that may offer specific additional support in continuing the conversation.
Use the quick guide on the left to jump to the specific topic you’re looking for.
NOTE: Not all of these resources and help lines provide 24/7 services.
If you need immediate assistance please refer to our EMERGENCY SUPPORT SERVICES.
Emergency Support Services
Women’s College Hospital
The Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre (SA/DVCC) is a comprehensive service that assists women, men, and trans people, over the age of 14, who are victims/survivors of sexual assault and domestic/intimate partner violence. Our team of RN's are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No appointment necessary.
Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Care Centre at The Scarborough Hospital
The Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre (SA/DVCC) is highly regarded for the exceptional care it provides to meet the sensitive needs of a vulnerable population. With care that is offered 24 hours a day to men, women, and transgendered individuals 12 years of age and older who have been sexually assaulted or experienced intimate partner violence, the centre is a vital service in the Scarborough community.
Victim Service Toronto
Victim Services Toronto provides short-term crisis response and intervention, which are responsive to the needs of individuals and families in the immediate aftermath of crime and sudden tragedy in Toronto. Victim Services Toronto works to prevent victimization by offering a variety of violence prevention programs.
Support Groups for Survivors of Sexual Violence
Jean Tweed (Trauma Service)
The Jean Tweed Centre is a leading not-for-profit community-based organization that provides treatment, support and a safe place for women looking to overcome challenges with substance use, gambling and mental health. By building life skills and healthy habits, we help our clients build a new start for a better future.
North York Women’s Centre
North York Women’s Centre (NYWC) is a community of diverse women. Founded in 1988, we are a Canadian registered charity based in Toronto working to advance equality and empower women to effect positive change. They offer a series of free women’s empowerment group programs, skills development programs, a drop-in lounge to connect with other women, one-on-one support for individual women and much more.
Scarborough Women’s Centre
Scarborough Women’s Centre empowers women to become economically and emotionally independent for future success and to strengthen their local communities, free from violence. The Centre delivers programs and services to promote positive change for women in a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.
Sheena’s Place
This space offers group-based support to people aged 17+ affected by an eating disorder or disordered eating. Our professionally-facilitated groups are completely free of charge and participants do not require an eating disorder diagnosis or referral to register. We are committed to inspiring hope, reducing stigma, raising awareness and offering meaningful help and information at all stages of recovery.
Sistering
Sistering creates a safe, welcoming and non-judgmental space for women and trans people. They are guided by principles of feminism, anti-racism and anti-oppression. They offer practical and emotional support to those who experience social isolation, homelessness or precarious housing, trauma and violence, discrimination, substance use, or need mental health support.
2SLGBTQ+ Services
YMCA Sprott House
The YMCA has been providing housing and shelter for at-risk youth for decades. Whether it's family problems, trouble with the law, or just being locked out of the house, we’ll help you stay warm and safe, and get you the help that you need.
The 519 Community Centre
The 519 is committed to the health, happiness and full participation of the LGBTQ2S communities. A City of Toronto agency with an innovative model of Service, Space and Leadership, we strive to make a real difference in people’s lives, while working to promote inclusion, understanding and respect.
David Kelley LGBTQ Counselling at Family Service Toronto
We are committed to trauma-informed, anti-oppression practices to help empower LGBTQ+ individuals, couples and families, as well as people living with, affected by or concerned about HIV/AIDS, and to enhance participation in their communities and in the broader society.
Sherbourne Health
Sherbourne offers a wide range of primary healthcare programs and services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirited, intersex, queer or questioning individuals. Our goal is to provide dignified, non-judgmental services to help clients feel better, cope better with day-to-day challenges and address specific LGBT2SQ health issues.
Youthline
Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our telephone, text and chat services. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer from Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30 PM.
Youth Services
Central Toronto Youth Services
Central Toronto Youth Services (CTYS) is a community-based, accredited Children’s Mental Health Centre that serves many of Toronto’s most vulnerable youth. We believe in building the strength and resiliency of young people in ways that are engaging, respectful and empowering.
Strides Toronto
Strides Toronto provides a wide range of exceptional programs and services to help our clients and their families achieve their personal best. Our agency supports clients from the prenatal stage to age 29 and their families. Our work helps strengthen their social and emotional well-being, move forward through adversity and develop their abilities and skills to reach their full potential.
Supporting Our Youth
Supporting Our Youth (SOY) is an innovative community development program of Sherbourne Health. SOY works to support the health and well-being of all queer and trans spectrum youth by running groups, programs and events and by providing one-on-one support for queer, trans and questioning youth who are 29 years old and under.
Queer Asian Youth (QAY)
ACAS’ Youth Program for East and Southeast Asians aged 16-29 strives to increase education, opportunities, support and resiliency skills (being able to bounce back from adversity) for Asian youth in Toronto in dealing with the various social/health challenges and questions of being LGBTQ+ and of other genders or sexualities.
Distress & Support
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape
The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre / Multicultural Women Against Rape (TRCC/MWAR) is a grassroots, women and non-binary people run collective. We work towards a violence-free world by providing anti-oppressive, feminist peer support to survivors of gender-based or sexualized violence. We engage in public education, activism, and provide direct individual and group support to survivors and their supporters.
Assaulted Women’s Helpline
For over 30 years, the Assaulted Women’s Helpline has served as a free, anonymous and confidential 24-hour telephone and TTY crisis telephone line to all women in the province of Ontario who have experienced any form of abuse. We provide crisis counselling, safety planning, emotional support, information and referrals accessible 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Gerstein Centre
Gerstein Crisis Centre was established in Toronto in 1989 to provide community-based crisis support that reflects and recognizes the needs and wishes of people experiencing a mental health crisis.
Good2Talk
Good2Talk provides free, confidential support services for post-secondary students in Ontario and Nova Scotia.
Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone has a pioneering history of creating innovative supports for critical issues young people face. We began in 1989 as a unique telephone counselling service, launched to provide free, accessible support to any young person reaching out from coast to coast to coast. Our focus was supporting young people experiencing abuse, but almost immediately, young people let us know they needed more from the service than one focus and one way to reach us.
The Redwood Crisis Line
The Redwood offers safety, healing and opportunities for growth for women and their children fleeing abuse. Families receive case management and counseling services from Resident Services Counselors, access to empowering and life-changing programs, and transitional support when they are ready to take the steps toward a new life.
Indigenous Support Services
Aboriginal Legal Services
Aboriginal individuals require equitable treatment in the justice system, access to the legal and related resources within the justice system, as well an understanding of the system and their options. Their mission is to strengthen the capacity of the Aboriginal community and its citizens to deal with justice issues and provide Aboriginal controlled and culturally based justice alternatives.
Anduhyaun
Anduhyaun Inc. is a non-profit registered charity founded by five grandmothers in 1973 to respond to the needs of Toronto's Indigenous women. It first opened as a hostel, and now provides emergency shelter and second stage transitional housing to women and their children fleeing violence. We make culturally-inclusive, safe spaces available for those who come through our doors to focus on their healing and wellness journey.
Anishnawbe Health Toronto
Anishnawbe Health Toronto is a fully accredited health centre, accredited by the Canadian Centre for Accreditation (CCA). AHT’s model of health care is based on Indigenous culture and traditions and as a result, AHT is the only facility in Toronto that cares for Indigenous clients with both western and traditional approaches to health care.
Native Child & Family Services
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto strives to provide a life of quality, well-being, caring and healing for children and families in the Toronto Native Community. They do this by creating a service model that is culture-based and respects the values of Native people, the extended family, and the right to self-determination.
Refugee, Undocumented, Newcomer, & Immigrant Supports
Access Alliance Multicultural Community Health Centre
Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services (Access Alliance) provides services and addresses system inequities to improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable immigrants, refugees, and their communities.
The Arab Community Centre of Toronto (ACCT)
The Arab Community Centre of Toronto (ACCT) strives to enable and empower individuals, families, and communities to lead informed, productive, and culturally sensitive lives. As a non-profit model of excellence, we honour our Arab Canadian heritage through community building and service to those in need of every heritage.
Toronto Community Services Resource Guide for Non-Status Immigrants
If you do not have immigration status, or are waiting for a decision on your case from Citizenship & Immigration Canada, there are places to get services such as health care, legal advice, counselling, or shelter. This guide is intended to help you find the available resources within the city.
Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture
CCVT is a community-based organization that helps victims of torture, war, genocide and crimes against humanity. We provide treatment, tools and support that allow refugees to heal from trauma and become active community members.
Riverdale Immigrant Women’s Centre
Riverdale Immigrant Women’s Centre (RIWC) is a community based registered charity founded with a mission to empower racialized, immigrant and refugee women and their families. RIWC delivers its services through a holistic and integrated service framework that addresses the social, cultural and economic determinants of healthy and vibrant immigrant communities.
Working Women Community Centre
From settlement counseling and community initiatives to economic development and English language instruction, to educational supports and resident engagement, we work to provide holistic programs and services delivered by caring knowledgeable staff. It’s what makes Working Women feel like a trusted friend, and in many cases, a lifeline for the thousands of immigrant women that visit our centres.
Counselling, Advocacy, and Referral Services
Abrigo (Violence Against Women Program)
To build community capacity in west Toronto by helping individuals and families achieve their full protentional and to ensure our collaborative efforts result in socially integrated and empowered individuals, families and communities.
COSTI (Violence Against Women Program)
COSTI Family and Mental Health Services Centre offers confidential and culturally competent Italian and English one-on-one supportive and crisis counselling and a support group for women experiencing abuse. The Centre also offers one-on-one counselling to children who have witnessed or experienced abuse.
Family Service Toronto (Violence Against Women Program)
The aim of Family Service Toronto’s Violence against Women (VAW) program is to promote non-violence and to work towards the eventual elimination of violence against women. The VAW Program assists women-identified people who have experienced abuse during the course of their lives. Abuse may have occurred in childhood, during a past relationship, or it may be an ongoing concern in a current relationship.
Jewish Family & Child (Women Abuse Program)
A multi-service agency that strengthens and supports individuals, children, families and communities by increasing safety and security, improving mental health and wellness and reducing the effects of poverty, within the context of Jewish values.
TIRP Low-Cost Therapy
This site will help you find a high quality therapist who is a good match for you and who charges a fee you can afford. We aim to reach those in the community who would not otherwise be able to access therapy due to financial constraints and other life circumstances that make it difficult to pay for full-fee psychotherapy services.
Trauma Therapy Program (TTP) at Women's College Hospital
The Trauma Therapy Program is composed of an interdisciplinary team of trauma therapists with backgrounds in psychiatry, psychotherapy, psychology, social work, and nursing. Women’s College Hospital is a teaching facility and students training in these professions may also be involved in the provision of therapy.