About WSN

Our Mission                             

  Women Support Network of York Region (WSN) is the community-based sexual violence support centre in York region, Ontario. WSN provides free, confidential rape crisis and sexual assault supports and services for women, trans women, youth, and gender-diverse people who have experienced sexual violence.

What we do

WSN services:

 A 24-hour crisis line for survivors of sexual violence

 An integrated online chat and SMS platform for crisis support to survivors of sexual violence

 Crisis and ongoing counselling

 Groups/workshops for survivors of sexual violence or sexual exploitation

 Practical assistance, such as access to food vouchers, transportation, personal hygiene items for marginalized survivors of violence

 Prevention education programming

 Outreach to isolated survivors

WSN’s support model includes believing survivors as a foundational approach to support, culturally safe services and trauma-informed services, anti-oppressive approaches to support, and a continuum of support options.

Our impact and testimonials

Group support

In 2025, 99% of group support participants agreed that group support at WSN helped them to explore their feelings. 97% of group support participants agreed that group support at WSN helped them to improve their mental health or well-being

 “This group helped me to be more compassionate with myself” – group support participant, 2025

 “Every session brings a new revelation” – group support participant, 2025

 “I'm on the right path to getting better and the support is out there in the community” –group support participant, 2025

Intake, crisis and drop-in support In 2025

over 90% of clients that completed a post-counselling survey agreed that intake, crisis or virtual drop-in services at WSN had helped them to improve their safety. All clients agreed that the support they got helped them to deal with their emotions.

Over 90% of clients that used intake, crisis or virtual drop-in services agreed that taking part in this service helped them to better understand themselves and what they needed.

 “I am very grateful to get help from the crisis support coordinator. She was very patient and knowledgeable. She helped refer to all agencies that could give me all the support I need” – crisis support recipient, 2025

 “This support was critical for me in my situation and helped me focus on what I needed to do to be safe and move forward” – crisis support recipient, 2025

Youth support

In 2025, most youth accessing WSN’s individual counselling agreed that taking part in individual support services had helped them to better understand themself and what they needed.3 out of 4 youth agreed that the service had helped them to understand their rights. 100% of youth agreed that the service helped them to improve their safety.

 “I have worked with many counsellors before, none of them have been nearly as helpful”– youth client, 2025

 “[WSN counsellor] was so kind and helped me through a difficult time in my life. Through her, I was empowered to make decisions that helped me live a happier life and my feelings were validated” – youth client, 2025