Sexual Violence Support Services
Reporting an incident
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and there is an immediate health or safety concern, please call 9-1-1. If the immediate health or safety concern happened on campus, you should also contact Campus Security (Downtown: 604.433.8361 or Broadway: 778.783.5020)
VCC’s Safety, Security, and Risk Management Department has a variety of information and support services for students who have experienced sexual violence or misconduct. Here are some of the ways we can help:
- Referrals to on- or off-campus support services
- Help with academic or classroom accommodations
- Information on reporting options available
- Information about privacy and confidentiality
- Personalized safety planning
- Receiving reports and conducting investigations
- Assistance with reporting to law enforcement if desired.
VCC encourages, but does not require, students to disclose or report any incident of sexual violence or misconduct to the Manager of Safety, Security, and Risk Management. We also encourage individuals to seek assistance from a medical service provider, the police, and counseling services.
Reporting an incident internally
Students who wish to seek support from the college have the options to disclose or to report an incident.
What is a disclosure?
A disclosure can be made to anyone in the College. It involves an individual telling another person about their experience, but it does not start any formal process with the college or result in any formal accommodations or disciplinary measures. Someone may choose to disclose to get emotional support, to learn about college resources, or to have their experience and feelings validated.
What is a report?
A report triggers an investigation into an incident of sexual violence or misconduct. A formal report and investigation are the only way disciplinary measures can be put in place. A report can only be made to the Manager of Safety, Security, and Risk Management.
Individuals may have a support person of their choice with them throughout the investigation. An incident can be reported at any time, regardless of when the incident occurred. However, the length of time between an incident and a report being made may make an investigation difficult if individuals have since left the college.
No one is ever pressured or forced into making a report, and a survivor may choose to stop the investigation process at any time.
Reporting an incident externally
Individuals may report their allegations through the criminal justice system by contacting the police. If an individual chooses to do so, VCC Safety, Security and Risk Management can facilitate making a report. The college will lawfully cooperate with any criminal investigation.
View procedures for disclosing and reporting sexual violence and misconduct.
More Information
If you require more information about reporting an incident or VCC's policies and procedures please contact the Manager of Safety, Security and Risk Management.