Sexual Violence Prevention and Education works to build awareness about sexual violence and gender-based violence on campus and make accessible the supports and services for those who are affected. The Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator provides support to survivors, students, staff and faculty.
For more information on Sexual Violence Prevention and Education, explore the links below:
Our services are available to all members of the Lakers community, including undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students, staff, and faculty. Sexual Violence Prevention and Education works to build awareness about sexual violence and gender-based violence on campus and make accessible the supports and services for those affected.
If you have experienced sexual violence, please know that the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator is available to listen, support, and help you navigate the next steps in non-emergency situations. If you feel you are in danger, contact 911.
Consent Belongs Here is Nipissing University’s campaign to end sexual violence through education, prevention and outreach. Consent Belongs Here will be organizing events and initiatives on campus focused on sexual violence prevention and education throughout the year.
Sexual Violence Prevention and Education provides information and guidance for any community member on the policy, procedures, programs, and referral to campus and community services and resources.
If you have experienced sexual violence or are supporting someone who has experienced sexual violence, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator is available to listen, support, and help you navigate the next steps in non-emergency situations.
Office: Student Development & Services, B209
Phone: 705-474-3450 ext. 4075
Email: svsupport@nipissingu.ca
The Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator is available to all Nipissing University students who may seek support or information related to sexual or gender-based violence. Additionally, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator is available to consult with and provide resources and support to those who have received a disclosure.
What you can expect:
When connecting with the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator, you can expect non-judgmental support for your disclosure and help to navigate the support options available, such as:
- consider safety measures that may be necessary;
- refers to medical services, as needed;
- actively and empathically listen to their needs and concerns without judgment;
- share reporting options available;
- clarify commitments to confidentiality and its limits;
- explain the difference between disclosure and reporting.
- make a referral to the police if the individual chooses that option
- assist with navigating any relevant University systems and procedures;
- facilitate academic and/or residential accommodations;
- provide information about and referral to campus and community services; and
- liaise with relevant partners to ensure coordinated response and support.
Mental Health & Wellbeing works to support all students in achieving positive mental and emotional wellness.
Nipissing University Mental Health & Wellbeing
Office: B210
Phone: 705-474-3450 ext. 4507
E-mail: mhwellbeing@nipissingu.ca
Website: www.nipissingu.ca/mhwellbeing
Amelia Rising Sexual Violence Support Centre provides free, completely confidential support for people 12 years of age and older who have experienced sexual or gender-based violence.
Amelia Rising – Sexual Assault Centre of Nipissing
101 Worthington St E., Suite 215
North Bay, Ontario, Canada, P1B 1G5
Phone: 705-840-2403
Fax: 866-253-7476
Website: http://www.ameliarising.ca/
The Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program and Treatment Centre at NBRHC is an individualized service available to survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence. The program provides emergency health care and psychosocial support, and follow-up care by specially trained nurses.
North Bay Regional Health Centre – Sexual Assault Treatment Centre
50 College Drive
P.O. Box 2500
North Bay, ON
P1B 5A4
Phone: 705-474-8600 ext. 4478
Website: http://www.nbrhc.on.ca/programs-services/medical-services-2/sexual-assault-treatment-centre/
Good2Talk (Postsecondary Student Helpline): 1-866-925-5454
Victim Support Line: 1-888-579-2888
Mental Health Helpline (Health Services Information): 1-866-531-2600
Support Services for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: 1-866-887-0015
Assaulted Women’s Helpline: 1-866-863-0511
Talk4Healing (Aboriginal Women’s Helpline): 1-855-554-HEAL (4325)
You may choose to report the sexual violence to the police. You may choose to do this whether or not you make a complaint with the University against the accused or not. Making a police report does not stop you from also making a complaint at the University against the accused.
The Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator is available to chat with you if you would like more information about either of these options or the next steps.
- North Bay Police Service: 705-472-1234
- 22 Wing Military Police: 705-494-2188
- Anishinabek Police Service: 705-472-0270
- West Nipissing Police Service: 705-753-1234
- Ontario Provincial Police (OPP): 1-888-310-1122
Contact:
• Phone: 705-472-2649
• Email: info@vsnd.ca
• Website: www.vsnd.ca
VSND can support with:
• Immediate crisis intervention and emotional support.
• Safety planning and practical assistance following a crime or traumatic event.
• Referrals, system navigation, and ongoing advocacy.
Sexual violence is a traumatic experience. While every individual will react differently, the experience can have significant lasting effects and interrupt many aspects of a survivor's life. A supportive and non-judgemental initial response to disclosure can significantly impact the survivor's ability to seek further support.
If there is an imminent risk of harm:
(i.e., an immediate threat or risk of harm to a person, or an act of violence that is currently taking place)
- Call 911
- Call Campus Security 705-498-7244
- Mobile Blue Light on the Nipissing Safe App
Sexual Violence Prevention & Education Coordinator
The Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator is available to all Nipissing University students who may seek support or information related to sexual or gender-based violence. Additionally, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator is available to consult with and provide resources and support to those who have received a disclosure.
Office: Student Development & Services - B209
Email: svsupport@nipissingu.ca
Phone: 705-474-3450 ext. 4075
Consent Belongs Here is Nipissing University’s campaign to end sexual violence through education, prevention and outreach. The hashtag #nuconsentculture is included as a symbol to start a campus-wide conversation around preventing sexual violence. Consent Belongs: Here, events and initiatives on campus will be organized focused on sexual violence prevention and education throughout the year.
Indicate your interest in participating in the upcoming training. All sessions require a minimum of 5 participants.
2026-2027 Training Interest Form
Are you looking for something a little different or personalized training? Email consentbelongshere@nipissingu.ca to let us know what you’d like.
- Are you interested in learning how to build safer spaces for individuals impacted by gendered and sexual violence? The Sexual Violence Prevention & Education Outreach team offers a series of virtual and in-person workshops that focus on building our awareness and skills to respond to disclosures and build solidarity for survivors.
Students who complete each of the following workshops will be eligible to receive a Sexual Violence Prevention Certificate:
- Consent+
- Gender 101
- Intro to Allyship
Students who complete the above workshops in addition to the following workshops will be eligible to receive the Advanced Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Certificate:
- BITB (Bringing in the Bystander)
- Responding to Disclosures: Sexual Violence Response Training for Students
Request your certificate here
All Consent Belongs Here workshops are Record of Student Development (RSD) approved!
Consent+*
Consent+ is an interactive training designed to deepen participants' understanding of consent, sexual violence, and the broader cultural and personal dynamics that influence these issues. Through presentations, discussions, and reflection activities, participants will explore the definition and essential elements of consent, recognize various forms of sexual violence, and understand the impact of these behaviours in educational and social environments.
The training encourages critical reflection on personal beliefs related to gender, sexuality, and relationships while promoting empathy and accountability. Attendees will also learn about available support resources and develop strategies to foster a consent-centred culture in their communities.
Length: 90 minutes
Format: Available in virtual, hybrid, or in-person formats using slides and interactive discussions.
Suggested Audience: New and incoming students
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Understand what constitutes consent and sexual violence.
- Recognize the prevalence and impacts of sexual violence.
- Identify various types of sexual violence, including how power and coercion affect consent.
- Critically reflect on personal beliefs shaped by social norms and media.
- Learn about available support resources for survivors.
RSD Competencies: Ethical Practice, Decision Making, Social Responsibility
Building Communities of Consent*
The Building a Community of Consent workshop is designed to engage student leaders in building and promoting consent-driven communities. This interactive training encourages participants to critically examine the elements of consent, explore the principles of a consent culture, and reflect on the social barriers that hinder its development.
Through group discussions, brainstorming activities, and action planning, participants will explore the impacts of consent violations on communities, understand the role of sex positivity in consent culture, and develop practical strategies to integrate consent into their everyday leadership and interpersonal roles.
Length: 60 minutes
Format: In-person session
Suggested Audience: Students in leadership positions
Upper year students
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Discuss the nine essential elements of consent.
- Define what a “community of consent” entails.
- Identify societal and cultural barriers to consent.
- Analyze the broader community impact of consent violations.
- Engage in action-oriented planning to promote consent in leadership roles.
- Model respectful behaviour and help foster inclusive environments.
RSD Competencies: Social responsibility, commitment and accountability, inclusion
Gender 101*
Gender 101 Training is an interactive, introductory session designed to deepen participants' understanding of gender and its connection to sexual and gender-based violence. This training is grounded in trauma-informed, equity-oriented approaches and incorporates both lived experience and data-driven insights to foster awareness, empathy, and action.
Participants will explore foundational concepts such as what gender is, how gender-based violence manifests, and the systemic and societal factors that perpetuate it, particularly as they affect transgender and gender-diverse communities. Key Canadian statistics and studies are shared to highlight the disproportionate rates of violence and discrimination experienced by these groups.
Length: 90 minutes
Format: Available in virtual, hybrid, or in-person formats using slides and interactive discussions.
Suggested Audience: New and incoming students
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Define gender-related concepts, including the distinctions between sex, gender identity, and gender expression.
- Understand how gender norms contribute to sexual and gender-based violence.
- Identify the disproportionate impacts on transgender and gender-diverse individuals using Canadian data.
- Recognize and challenge harmful stereotypes in media, language, and daily life.
- Explore how safety and inclusion vary by gender identity.
- Practice respectful behaviours such as using correct pronouns and intervening in discrimination.
- Commit to ongoing learning and advocacy in support of gender equity.
RSD Competencies: Equity and diversity, inclusion, social responsibility
Recognize. Respond. Prevent: Bystander Skills for Safer Communities
This interactive training equips participants with the knowledge and skills to recognize, respond to, and prevent gender-based violence in their communities. Grounded in research and the Courage to Act framework, the session explores common barriers to intervention, challenges harmful myths, and builds practical strategies for safe and effective bystander action.
Through reflection, discussion, and hands-on activities, participants will learn how to identify early warning signs of harm, apply multiple intervention approaches, and support peers in real-world situations. The training also emphasizes the importance of cultural and systemic change, encouraging participants to move beyond individual action toward creating safer, more equitable environments.
Length: 90-120 minutes
Format: In-person
Suggested Audiences: Students in leadership positions, Upper year students, Staff and faculty
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Identify a range of gender-based violence behaviours, including less visible forms
• Explain common barriers to bystander intervention
• Demonstrate at least two bystander intervention strategies (5Ds)
• Challenge common myths and harmful beliefs about sexual violence
• Propose strategies to prevent harm at the individual and community level
RSD Competencies: Empathy, Conflict Negotiation, Social Responsibility
Intro to Allyship*
Intro to Allyship is a foundational workshop designed to engage participants in understanding and practicing allyship in the context of gender-based and sexual violence. Through interactive activities, data-informed insights, and reflective discussions, participants will explore the roots of sexual violence, the impact of power and privilege, and the role of allyship in fostering safer, more inclusive campus communities.
This training emphasizes self-care, empathy, and community accountability. It is part of Nipissing University’s broader commitment to equity, consent education, and ending gender-based violence on campus.
Format: Available in virtual, hybrid, or in-person formats using slides and interactive discussions.
Length: 90 minutes
Suggested Audience: New and incoming students, Students in leadership positions
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Understand how sexual violence disproportionately affects marginalized groups, including LGBTQ2S+ individuals, Indigenous people, and students with disabilities.
- Reflect on personal identity and privilege using the Power and Privilege Wheel.
- Learn actionable allyship strategies, including support, intervention, and accountability.
- Practice meaningful apologies and address harm with care.
- Identify personal steps along the Allyship Continuum from apathy to advocacy.
RSD Competencies: Empathy, Equity and Diversity, and Inclusion
Sexual Violence Response Training - Students*
Sexual Violence Response training is designed to enhance understanding of sexual violence and its community impact. Participants will learn to recognize various forms of unwanted sexual behaviours and explore the psychological, social, and emotional effects on survivors. The training focuses on developing skills for providing supportive responses to disclosures while addressing confidentiality issues. By the end, attendees will be equipped to handle disclosures of sexual violence with confidence, empathy, and respect.
Length: 2 hours
Format: Available in virtual, hybrid, or in-person formats using slides and interactive discussions.
Suggested Audiences: Students in leadership positions, Upper year students, Staff and faculty
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Define sexual violence as an umbrella term for various unwanted sexual behaviours.
- Increase awareness of the emotional, social, and psychological impacts on survivors.
- Build confidence and skills to respond to disclosures with empathy and care.
- Know how and when to seek help for oneself or others.
- Navigate confidentiality responsibly, understanding when information can be shared.
RSD Competencies: Empathy, Critical Thinking, Inclusion, Emotional and Interpersonal Intelligence, Leadership
Below are links to websites and resources. Please note, we do not own/maintain the information on these external links. These resources are available in print format from the Sexual Violence Prevention & Education Coordinator in office B209.
Looking for more information? Contact the Sexual Violence Prevention & Education Coordinator:
Office: Student Development & Services - B209
Phone: 705-474-3450 ext. 4075
Email: svsupport@nipissingu.ca
Below is information on have a safer and fun night when consuming alcohol
- Stick with a group and watch out for each other. Plan to arrive together and leave together. If you decide to leave early, let your friends know that you’re leaving and when you arrive home safely.
- Keep your phone charged. Stay in contact with your group, use it to ger home, and in case of an emergency.
- Plan a safe way home. Have a sober friend available to drive, or plan your trip home with a taxi, Uride, or bus.
- Know what you’re drinking. Don’t recognize an ingredient? Use your phone to look it up. Consider avoiding large-batch drinks like punches that may have a deceptively high alcohol content and may have other ingredients added. If you choose to drink from a communal mix, let a friend know, take a slowly and listen to your body.
- Trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or worried for any reason, don’t ignore these feelings. Go with your gut. Get somewhere safe and find someone you trust, or call Campus Security or the Police.
- Don’t leave a drink unattended. That includes when you use the bathroom, go dancing, or leave to make a phone call. Either take the drink with you, have a trusted friend hold it or throw it out. Avoid using the same cup to refill your drink.
- Be aware. Pay attention to your drink and what is going on around you.
- Consume with consent. Make sure everyone consents to each round and let everyone order and pick up their own drink.
- Check-in with yourself. You might have heard the expression, “know your limits.” Whether you drink regularly or not, check in with yourself periodically to register how you feel. If you think you have had too much, ask a staff member to help you get water or get home safely.
- Be aware of sudden changes in the way your body feels. You might have heard the expression, “know your limits.” Whether you drink regularly or not, check in with yourself periodically to register how you feel. If you think you have had too much, ask a staff member to help you get water or get home safely.
- Get help. If something doesn’t look right, step in. Don’t be afraid to let a friend know if you are uncomfortable or worried about their safety.
- Have a snack. Balance out alcohol consumption with drinking water and eating between drinks.
- If you are planning on consuming a lot, ensure you are with a friend in a safe place, and stick to one substance at a time.
Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines can help you make informed decisions about drinking.
- Drink slowly. Aim for a maximum of 2 standard drinks in any 3 hours.
- For every drink of alcohol, have one non-alcoholic drink.
- Consider your age, body weight and health when setting your limits.
A standard drink is a measure of how much pure alcohol you are drinking. It varies based on the concentration of alcohol in a beverage.
In Canada, a standard drink is 17.05 millilitres or 13.45 grams of pure alcohol. This is the equivalent of:
- a bottle of beer (12 oz., 341 ml, 5% alcohol)
- a bottle of cider (12 oz., 341 ml, 5% alcohol)
- a glass of wine (5 oz., 142 ml, 12% alcohol)
- a shot glass of spirits (1.5 oz., 43 ml, 40% alcohol)
Image source: https://alcohol.iupui.edu/calculators/alcohol-serving-size.html
Any substance that alters ones level of consciousness and / or physical ability to resist or fight back can be used to commit Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault. Causing someone to ingest something without their awareness is called ‘drink-spiking’, ‘spiking,’ or non-consensual dosing. Alcohol is the most common substance used to facilitate DFSA.
DFSA occurs when alcohol or other substances are used to intentionally sedate or incapacitate a person in order to perpetrate sexual assault. DFSA also makes a person more vulnerable to human trafficking, robbery, abduction and injury.
Most often, the assumption of how DFSA occurs is when a perpetrator puts a drug into an unsuspecting victim’s drink. This is considered a ‘proactive’ DFSA.
A ‘proactive’ DFSA also includes supplying someone with large quantities of alcohol with the intent to incapacitate them.
An ‘opportunistic’ DFSA occurs when someone specifically targets an already intoxicated person.
Redflags
Redflags to watch out for when it comes to drink-spiking when someone is:
- Making 'jokes' or comments about getting people drunk in order to have sex with them.
- Pressuring others to drink faster, larger quantities, or stronger drinks.
- Targeting the most visibly intoxicated person in the space.
- Making or ordering drinks stronger than asked for.
- Trying to get an incapacitated person alone / away from friends, or outside of the space.
- Purchasing drinks for others with a sense of entitlement to attention or physicality in return.
- Pressuring people to do drugs.
- Flirting with people who are in need of care or support due to over intoxication.
(source: goodnightoutvancouver.com)
Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms that can accompany non-consensual dosing:
- Slurred Speech
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Passing out
- Vomiting
- Alert & aware but unable to move
- Someone saying something like "I shouldn't be this drunk" or "I've only had one drink."
- Missing parts or all of the evening
- Hangover doesn’t match amount drank
- Indicators of sexual assault
- conciseness (blacking out)
- Loss of memory
(source: goodnightoutvancouver.com)
If you have been a victim of drink spiking or non-consensual dosing, it is not your fault. Please see our Getting Help tab.
Our services are available to all members of the Lakers community, including undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students, staff, and faculty.
In-person:
Student Development and Services, B209
General Inquiries:
Phone: 705-474-3450 ext 4075
Email: svsupport@nipissingu.ca
Training and Workshop Inquires:
Phone: 705-474-3450 ext 4075
Email: consentbelongshere@nipissingu.ca