Sexual Violence Education & Prevention

• People can reach out for help when it is right for them. There is no time limit to make a disclosure or to receive support from the college.
• In cases where a survivor may have been using drugs or alcohol, the survivor will not be punished for using drugs or alcohol and the use will not affect the investigation.
• Anyone who is part of the Assiniboine community can disclose an incident of sexual violence, even if it is unrelated to the college, in order to receive support or accommodation from Assiniboine.
• Individuals may bring a support person to any meetings they may have with administrators through this process. This could be a friend, family member, translator or interpreter, or anyone they feel comfortable with.
• For more information, please see Assiniboine’s Sexual Violence Education & Prevention Policy and Complaint Procedure Guide.
• Other community and college resources are available. Individuals can access support on campus or from community resources, without making a formal complaint.

Disclosing is when an individual tells someone that they have experienced sexual violence.

This could be someone they trust or feel comfortable with, such as an instructor, coach, another staff member, or the Respectful College Coordinator. A disclosure can be made to receive support, accommodation, or to be connected to other resources.

Reporting involves making a statement to the Respectful College Coordinator, with the intention of initiating a formal college process. A person who reports may have the intention of seeking remedy, sanctions, or consequences through Assiniboine policy and procedures.

After a report is made, the Respectful College Coordinator will review it and discuss options with the person who made the report. These options may include an investigation process or an informal resolution if the individual prefers to resolve the issue without a formal investigation. The Respectful College Coordinator can also connect you with support, accommodations, or external organizations while the investigation is ongoing.

Individuals may disclose to any staff person they are comfortable speaking with. If the staff/faculty member needs assistance from other departments, so that they can provide the survivor with relevant information or help with accommodation, they will ask the survivor for permission, before they do so.

Students are encouraged to reach out to their Student Success Advisor. Student Success Advisors are the best suited to connect students with relevant community and campus resources and are able to put in place accommodation as needed.

When telling people about their experience, individuals can share as much as they feel comfortable sharing. Individuals do not need to share any details of the incident. People who receive disclosures do not need to know any of the details to provide information and support.

Staff who would like to make a disclosure are encouraged to reach out to Human Resources. HR is able to provide faculty or staff with relevant information and community resources and, if needed, put in place an accommodation as needed.

Assiniboine Campuses are located across Manitoba. To learn more about the community resources and supports that are available to you, please refer to the Assiniboine On and Off Campus Sexual Violence Resource list. Some community resources, like Klinic, are available throughout the province, while others are region specific. You are always welcome to speak to a Student Success Advisor or Human Resources, who can help you with these connections, if you wish.

Confidentiality is important. People’s privacy is protected under laws like The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).

Assiniboine Community members who receive a Disclosure or Report or who are involved in addressing or investigating an incident must keep the matter Confidential.

However, there are some cases, where the College is not able to keep information Confidential. These include:

• an individual is at imminent risk of self-harm;
• an individual has referenced suicidal thoughts;
• an individual is at imminent risk of harming another;
• there are reasonable grounds to believe that others in the College or wider community may be at risk of harm;
• a child or minor has been harmed or is at risk of harm; and/or
• any other circumstance where there is risk of harm.

In most cases, personal information will be kept private. If an individual requires accommodation, the reason for it will be kept confidential. People will advise survivors of any limits to confidentiality, and they will be advised if it is necessary to share any information. Survivors will be asked for permission before any personal information is shared.

Additionally, all records related to the policy are held confidentially.

Survivors are free to speak about their own experiences, but any information learned during an investigation must remain confidential. Information about others that is learned as part of an investigation must stay private unless the person has permission to share it.