Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Programs
Violence is when there is an unlawful exercise of physical force that may result in criminal charges or physical and/or sexual abuse.
Abuse is when someone in a caring relationship does or says things to gain control over another person by hurting that person or causing feelings such as fear, anxiety, nervousness, guilt, helplessness or worthlessness.
Interpersonal violence and abuse refers to violence and abuse that occurs between people who know each other. It can occur within or outside a family setting.
Women, men and children can all be victims of interpersonal violence and abuse. Older family members can be abused by their adult children and other caretakers. Interpersonal violence and abuse may take many different forms and include physical abuse, mental and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, intimidation, financial abuse and threat.
Abusive behaviour is rooted in the desire for someone to gain control over another to the advantage of the individual who is gaining control. An abuser may not need to hit or physically harm an individual to gain control over them. Emotional and verbal abuse can have the same impact as physical violence.
1. Transition Houses
The following women's shelters are funded to provide emergency accommodation and support for women and their children:
- Regina Transition House - 306-569-2292
- Isabel Johnson Shelter, Regina - 306-525-2141
- Wichihik Iskwewak Safe House (WISH), Regina - 306-543-0493
- Moose Jaw Transition House - 306-693-6511
- Southwest Safe Shelter, Swift Current - 306-778-3692
- Saskatoon Interval House - 306-244-0185
- Shelwin House, Yorkton - 306-783-7233
- Prince Albert Safe Shelter for Women Inc. - 306-764-7233
- Piwapan Women's Centre, La Ronge - 306-425-3900; crisis line - 306-425-4090
- Battlefords Interval House - 306-445-2742
- Lloydminster Interval Home - 780-875 -0966
- North East Women's Shelter, Melfort - 306-752-9455
For further information, or for a complete list of all women's shelters in Saskatchewan, please contact:
Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan, Inc. (PATHS)
1102 8th Avenue, Suite 202
Regina, SK S4R 1C9
Phone: 306-522-3515
Email: paths@sasktel.net
2. Sexual Assault Services
Sexual assault services may include a 24-hour crisis telephone line, direct support and counseling for victims of sexual assault. The following community-based organizations receive funding to provide a range of sexual assault services. Some organizations provide sexual assault services as one component of a broader service:
| Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre Inc. 1211 98th Street North Battleford, SK S9A 0L8 306-445-0055 24-hour support line: 306-446-4444 |
Envision Counselling and Support Centre Inc. Box 511 Estevan, SK S4A 2A5 306-637-4004 Weyburn, SK 306-842-8821 |
| Lloydminster Sexual Assault Services Inc. 5011 - 49th Ave Lloydminster, SK S9V 1R2 306-825-8255 24-hour support line: 306-825-8255 |
North East Outreach and Support Services Inc. 128 McKendry Ave West Melfort, SK S0E 1A0 306-752-9464 24-hour support line: 1-800-611-6349 |
| The Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit Cooperative Ltd. Unit C 4050 2nd Avenue Wes Prince Albert, SK S6V 0X5 306-764-1039 24-hour support line: 306-764-1011 |
Regina Sexual Assault Centre Inc. 1830 MacKay Street Regina, SK S4N 6R4 306-522-2777 24-hour support line: 306-352-0434 |
| Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre Inc. 201 - 506 25th Street East Saskatoon, SK S7K 4A7 306-244-2294 24-hour support line: 306-244-2224 |
Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbours Inc. (SIGN) Sexual Assault Counselling Program 345 Broadway Street West Yorkton, SK S3N 0N8 306-783-9428 |
| South West Crisis Services Inc. Box 1102 Swift Current, SK S9H 3X3 306-778-3386 24-hour support line: 306-778-3386; 1-800-567-3334 |
West Central Crisis and Family Support Centre Inc. Box 2235 Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0 306-463-6655 24-hour support line: 306-933-6200 |
For further information, you may also contact:
Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan Inc.
103 - 1102 8th Avenue
Regina, SK S4R 1C9
306-757-1941
3. Family Violence Outreach and Victim Services Programs
Outreach services funded through the Ministry of Justice assist women who may not use a shelter or need help in accessing a shelter or other services. Services may include support to women, children and families to assist victims of intimate partner violence with the goal of empowering victims, ending the cycle of violence and abuse, and educating on abuse.
The following community-based organizations receive funding to provide family violence outreach services.
| Family Service Regina Domestic Violence Programs 200-1440 Broadway Ave. Regina, SK S4P 1E2 Ph: 306-757-6675 Fax: 306-757-0133 |
The Moose Jaw Women's Transition Association Inc. P.O. Box 1866 Moose Jaw, SK S6H 7N6 Ph: 306-693-6511 |
| Envision Counselling and Support Centre Inc. Box 511 Estevan, SK S4A 2A5 Ph: 306-637-4004 Weyburn, SK Ph: 306-842-8821 |
Yorkton Women in Need Inc. P.O. Box 1828 Yorkton, SK S3N 3R2 Ph: 306-783-7233 Toll Free: 1-888-783-3111 |
| Family Service Saskatoon Domestic Violence Programs 102, 506 - 25 Street East Saskatoon, SK S7K 4A7 Ph: 306-244-0127 Fax: 306-244-1201 |
West Central Crisis and Family Support Centre Inc. Box 2235 Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0 Ph: 306-463-6655 24-Hour Support Line: 306-933-6200 |
| La Ronge Native Women's Council Inc. P.O. Box 888 La Ronge, SK S0J 1L0 Ph: 306-425-3910 |
North East Outreach & Support Services Inc. P.O. Box 2066 Melfort, SK S0E 1A0 Ph: 306-752-9464 Toll-Free Crisis Line 1-800-611-6349 |
| Hudson Bay Family & Support Centre Inc. P.O. Box 403 Hudson Bay, SK S0E 0Y0 Ph: 306-865-3064 |
Catholic Family Services of the Battlefords Inc. 101 -1272 101st Street North Battleford, SK S9A 0Z8 Ph: 306-445-6960 |
| North West Friendship Centre Inc. P.O. Box 1780 Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1Z2 Ph: 306-236-3766 |
PARTNERS Family Services Inc. P.O. Box 2741 Humboldt, SK S0K 2A0 Ph: 306-682-4135 |
| TFHQ Safe Shelter Inc. Qu'Appelle Haven of Hope Box 457 Fort Qu'Appelle, SK S0G 1S0 Ph: 306-332-6881 |
Battlefords Domestic Violence Treatment Option Court Battlefords Victim Services |
For further information, you may also contact:
Saskatchewan Towards Offering Partnership Solutions to Violence Inc.
103 - 1102 8th Ave
Regina, SK S4R 1C9
306-565-3199
4. Stalking and the Crime of Criminal Harassment
Some stalking behaviour is against the law and is known as "criminal harassment" in the Criminal Code of Canada. You can learn more about stalking and the crime of criminal harassment, keeping a stalking log, reducing the risk of harm when being stalked, and reporting harassment to the police, by reading the Stalking Information Sheet.
Keeping a stocking log is an important way to keep track of unwanted attention and conduct to establish a pattern of harassment. The police may use your stalking log as evidence in a criminal harassment investigation. You may wish to use this example of a stalking log.
5. Laws to Help Victims of Violence and Abuse
- The Victims of Interpersonal Violence Act (formerly known as The Victims of Domestic Violence Act)
- The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
- Saskatchewan Child Abuse Protocol 2014
- Saskatchewan Employment Amendment Act, 2019 (Paid Interpersonal Violence and Sexual Violence Leave)
- Saskatchewan Employment Amendment Act, 2017 (Interpersonal Violence Leave)
- The Privacy Amendment Act, 2018
- The Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol (Clare's Law) Act; further information Explaining the Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol is available.
- Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol (June 1, 2020) (Clare's Law); (Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police)
- Orders of the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police June 1, 2020 (Clare's Law)
6. How to End a Fixed-Term Tenancy Agreement
A tenant in a fixed-term tenancy agreement may end the agreement early if:
- the tenant, the tenant's child or an adult under the care of the tenant is a victim of interpersonal violence; and
- has received a certificate from an official of the Victims Services Branch that the tenant, child or adult is at risk of interpersonal violence from a cohabitant if the tenancy continues.
The tenant must apply to the Victims Services Branch by providing either:
- A Court Order Submission Form and a copy of a court order or bond that is in place to prevent a cohabitant of the tenant from contacting or communicating with the tenant, the tenant's child, or the adult under the care of the tenant; or
- A Professional Person Statement indicating that the child or the adult under the care of the tenant has been the subject of interpersonal violence. This form can be completed by a Social Worker, Psychologist, duly qualified medical practitioner, registered nurse, registered psychiatric nurse, member of the RCMP or a police service, or an employee of an emergency transitional shelter or an agency that provides support for victims of interpersonal violence.
If satisfied that there is risk if the tenancy continues, the Victims Services Branch will provide the tenant with a Certificate Confirming Safety Risk. The tenant will then be able to provide to the landlord a Notice to Landlord to Terminate a Fixed Term Tenancy for Interpersonal Violence.
For further information or assistance in completing these documents, please contact your local Victim Services program or Victims Services at 1-888-286-6664 (toll-free) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday (except statutory holidays).
Completed documents can be emailed to victimsservices@gov.sk.ca.