Â鶹AV

Spotlight on Â鶹AV's Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education

Student Communications Assistant Kimberley Lord spoke to Émilie Marcotte, Associate Director for the Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education, about the various services they offer to the Â鶹AV community.

As we make our way through the Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education’s (Osvrse) annual Â鶹AV consent week campaign the organization is at the forefront of educating and supporting members of the Â鶹AV community to combat sexual assault and gender-based violence. Coming into this week I sat down with the associate director of Osvrse, Émilie Marcotte, to discuss the resources that the organization provides along with their goals and aspirations for the Â鶹AV community.

Osvrse approaches sexual violence from an intersectional, feminist and survivor-centered lens providing the Â鶹AV community with a multifaceted approach to support survivors and their allies. “We're created to be there for everybody, so whether they themselves have experienced something, whether they witnessed something, whether they have received a disclosure or have a friend or colleague who experienced something the resources are for everyone within Â鶹AV†says Osvrse Director. The organization works to bridge the gap between support and sexual violence. Along with the newly revamped “It takes all of us†campaign the team is committed to utilize advocacy and education to get everyone involved. The centre provides training and workshops on topics such as “becoming an Active Bystander†and “Alcohol and consent.â€

However, the group is not limited to advocacy-based support but offers reporting assistance. “We are not a reporting office, so we don't investigate, but we do sit with people, If they do want to report or to look at what their options are both at Â鶹AV, with the police or with student groups, depending on the type of outcome the person is looking for or the situation itself, we discuss what options are available to them.†With this, Confidentiality and compassion are tenets of the groups work as they hope to create a space in which the individual has the power over their decision. The director noted that Osvrse works with other Â鶹AV organizations like the wellness hub in order to properly aid anyone reaching out for support. Moreover, the organization offers short term crisis counselling, group therapy and trauma sensitive yoga to provide many services.

While the resources reflect compassion and awareness for individuals who seek them out, the organization reflects a larger social change towards better advocacy and understanding of gender-based and sexual violence. “We know that it can be very difficult for people to disclose, so for that reason too, to have an office that promotes awareness, that promotes a kind of compassionate, nonjudgmental response across campus, I think it's really helpful to kind of lead that culture change or coordinate that culture change.†This reflects the centre's larger goal “we would like for people to feel supported everywhere and that we reduce these incidents.†By doing so, “the ultimate goal of eliminating sexual or gender-based violence†is something the centre hopes to contribute to.

However, Osvrse is not the only resource that the Â鶹AV community can use “we don't have a 24-hour helpline, I think that's part of the importance of being connected to the groups on and off campus to make sure that there's kind of a holistic approach to care.â€Ìý (SACOMSS) provides services such as DIAL, a confidential sexual assault helpline and drop-in service (currently unavailable) that is free of charge and provides active listening and support to survivors, their peers, and allies. Moreover, there are multiple resources outside of the Â鶹AV community that are crucial services for anyone in the Montreal area including Centre pour les victimes d’agression sexuelle dès montreal. The centre provides a 24-hour helpline and medical resources.

Osvrse and other sexual violence services illuminate how crucial it is for sexual assault support, advocacy, and education within the Â鶹AV community. These organizations spearhead the change in attitudes towards sexual violence and advocate for compassion amongst community members. However, for the issue of Sexual violence to be combatted all members of the Â鶹AV community must do their part. “I think just overall thinking of respect and consent and encouraging peers to be active bystanders and to be compassionate is important.â€

Being an ally for survivors and supporting the elimination of sexual and gender-based violence can take many forms. “That kind of push for more respect and more visibility within society generally, we're all working towards the same purpose.†Thus, as members of the community respect towards survivors and consent is crucial for working towards larger change. It can be as simple as staying educated on matters of consent, supporting a friend, or volunteering for an organization like Osvrse. With their #ConsentÂ鶹AV Campaign Osvrse is holding many events on September 15th including Button Making with SACOMMS and ‘They go low we go laugh’ 5à7 comedy night. Moreover, in late september the organization is recruiting volunteers to get involved vistit their website.

Sexual and gender-based violence affects everyone. It is important as a community we hold one another accountable to eliminate the issue. Moreover, showing empathy and support for survivors is something all members of the Â鶹AV community should strive to achieve.

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A list of resources for support:

Osvrse: to book a or email, website, Office located at

550 Sherbrooke O. Suite 585

(West Tower elevators 1-11)

Montreal, Quebec H3A 1E3

SACOMMS: DIAL (438-943-4855) available Wednesday 12:00-3:00 PM and Thursday 5:00-8:00 PM or ABranch (Advocacy [at] sacomss.org)

Nightline: 514-398-6246 (operating hours are 6 pm – 3 am every day of the week)

Centre pour les victimes d’agression sexuelle des montreal: Helpline (188-933-9007)

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