Si vous désirez obtenir des services en français, prière d’appeler la ligne FEM’AIDE au 1-877-336-2433.
COVID-19 Update: FST is currently providing services remotely. For up-to-date information on current workshops and groups, please visit the Virtual Workshops and Groups or contact our Service Access Unit at 416.595.9618.
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.
Our counselling services are available in English, Tamil, Urdu, Hindi, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese and Yoruba to all women who live and/or work in Toronto. We provide counselling for women who have been labelled with developmental or intellectual disabilities and have experienced abuse.
Counselling services provided on an individual basis are goal-directed and time limited. You and your counsellor will work together to define a plan of service and will regularly check in on progress.
The VAW Program works from a feminist, intersectional, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed framework. Read the VAW Intersectional Feminist Statement for more information.
For more information about the VAW program please contact:
Woman abuse is defined as the intent by a man to intimidate and control his female partner, either by threat or by physical force on her person, her children, her pets or her property. The purpose of abuse is to induce fear and gain control. Underlying all abuse is a power imbalance between offender and victim.
If you are in danger now call 911.
If you are in crisis now, please call one of the following lines:
Assaulted Women’s Helpline: 416-863-0511
Distress Centre Line: 416-408-4357
Info & Resource Line: 211 – someone will direct you
FST-VAW Early Warning Signs quiz is a simple way for girls and women of all ages and abilities to determine if they are in an unhealthy or dangerous relationship. The content of the questions were informed by women who were in abusive relationship and what they said they experienced with their partners. Read or take the Early Warning Signs quiz, or download/print Early Warning Signs brochure.
To learn more about abuse please read VAW – Issues you may be facing
Violence Against Women – Issues you may be facing
The following community agencies and supports are available for women who need support or who would like to talk to someone anonymously about their situation. For more agencies that provide support, please go to 211Toronto or call the helplines listed below.
Police and Ambulance
Call 911
For non-emergency police matters call 416-808-2222
Assaulted Women’s Helpline
Tel: 416-863-0511; TTY 416-364-8762
Hours: Monday – Sunday 24 hours: Service is provided in over 154 languages
Distress Centres 24 hours
Tel: 416-408-4357
Hours: Monday Sunday 24 Hours
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape
Tel: 416-597-8808; TTY 416-597-1214
Hours: Crisis Line Monday-Sunday 24 hours
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic: Offers legal representation and professional counselling to women who have experienced violence.
Tel: 416-323-9149
Scarborough Women’s Centre: A women’s resource centre which provides information, education and support services to assist survivors of abuse.
Tel: 416-439-7111
YWCA Toronto: Provides an array of programs for women who are being abused, including a loan program, group programs, housing support and community events
Tel: 416-961-8100
Victim Services Program of Toronto: This agency provides crisis intervention, safety planning, and support immediately after an incident
Tel: 416-808-7066
Please use discretion when going to these sites; for your safety, make a plan to empty your browser.
Amnesty International: Activism revolving around putting a stop to violence against women around the world.
Canadian Domestic Violence and Abuse Agencies List: Global inventory of hotlines, shelters, refuges, crisis centres and women’s organizations
Dawn Ontario: Disabled Women’s Network Ontario
Health Canada: Violence Against Women: Information provided by Health Canada regarding Violence Against Women
Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women: Local community agency providing legal/safety information
The Canadian Women’s Foundation
White Ribbon Campaign: Men working to end men’s violence against women.