Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre Society

The Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre Society is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of sexualized violence. Established over 40 years ago, Salal is the largest sexual violence support centre in British Columbia, operating as a feminist, anti-oppressive, and decolonizing organization on the unceded Coast Salish Territories, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.

Mission and Approach

Salal focuses on providing trauma-informed, gender-affirming support services to survivors of sexual violence, particularly women, trans, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals. The organization operates with an intersectional feminist framework, recognizing gender-based violence as systemic and working not only to support survivors but also to advocate for social change to build safer communities.

Services

The centre offers a wide range of free and confidential services including:

• A 24-hour crisis and information line
• Text and chat support
• One-to-one counselling and advocacy
• Support groups
• Accompaniment to hospitals and police stations on a 24-hour basis
• Assistance with legal forms and compensation applications
• Support for friends and family members of survivors
• Elder-supported, land-based culturally relevant programming for Indigenous survivors and families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people
• Violence prevention workshops and educational outreach (often delivered in partnership with community organizations; some fees may apply)

All services are informed by anti-oppressive, decolonial, and culturally affirming principles to ensure accessibility and relevance for marginalized gender groups.

Organization and Registration

Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre Society is a registered Canadian charity with the business registration number 892504366RR0001. The organization maintains office and intake hours from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and provides crisis support around the clock.

Community Role

Beyond direct service provision, Salal is actively involved in advocacy efforts addressing systemic gender-based violence. By centering the experiences of survivors and marginalized genders, the centre plays a crucial role in fostering social awareness, healing, and prevention of sexualized violence in British Columbia and beyond.

This summary captures the key aspects of Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre Society’s work, ethos, and operations as BC’s largest sexual violence support centre.