Capilano University does not tolerate or condone sexual violence and is committed to creating and maintaining a safe working, learning and living environment by promoting a culture of consent and respect and taking proactive measures to prevent and respond to sexual violence as per the Sexual Violence Policy (B.401).
Support we provide
Capilano University is dedicated to supporting survivors and those impacted by sexual violence.
Any member of the University community who has experienced sexual violence can access confidential support through the Office of Student Affairs (students) or Human Resources (employees) regardless of the time or place at which the sexual violence occurred. We also provide support for those who have caused harm and are looking for a way forward.
Our support services are inclusive of all gender identities and sexualities, including but not limited to queer, trans, non-binary and 2-Spirit people. We recognize that anyone can experience sexual violence and that anyone can cause harm. When recognizing this, we understand that sexual violence can have many impacts on individuals and communities and that some groups of people experience sexual violence at higher rates.
You do not need to make a formal report to receive support at CapU.
Read our key definitions to understand the difference between a disclosure and a report. For information regarding your options, check out our sexual violence resources page.
Social factors
Preventing and responding to sexual violence requires acknowledging how various social factors and systems create environments that enable people to cause harm. Social factors such as race, gender, sexuality, ability, age, socio-economic status, spirituality, immigration status and ethnicity play a part of who is targeted for violence. These social factors also mean that people may experience sexual violence differently and may experience additional barriers to disclosing or reporting harm.
Systems of harm
Systems of harm, such as colonialism and systemic racism, result in marginalized communities experiencing ongoing oppression while having limited access to social support and resources, pathways towards justice and healing and facing the compounding effects of intergenerational trauma.
We acknowledge that sexual violence is linked to settler colonialism as a tool of oppression that continues to impact Indigenous women, girls, 2-Spirit people, and queer, trans and disabled people at disproportionate rates.
Our ethics and approach
Capilano University commits to providing sexual violence prevention and response that is:
Referring to "the process of deconstructing colonial ideologies of the superiority and privilege of Western thought and approaches. A decolonial approach involves valuing and revitalizing Indigenous knowledge and approaches, and rethinking Western biases or assumptions that have impacted Indigenous ways of being."
Citation: Antoine, A., Mason, R., Mason, R., Palahicky, S. & Rodriguez de France, C. (2018). Pulling
Together: A Guide for Curriculum Developers. Victoria, BC: BCcampus. Retrieved from
https://opentextbc.ca/indigenizationcurriculumdevelopers
"Accounts for the ways in which a person's lived experiences are shaped by different social positions that can result in privilege and/or oppression (e.g. race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, dis/ability, or religion)."
Intersectionality provides the understanding that individuals experience harm differently based on their different identities, and therefore also experience different barriers to accessing support. By addressing systemic inequity that causes these issues, we aim to provide support that is more relevant and accessible for individuals and communities that have been historically marginalized.
An approach to creating programs and interventions that center the social, cultural, and historical context of the community or population they are intended to serve.
An approach to creating programming and initiatives that centers the lived experiences and needs of survivors. By taking a trauma and violence informed approach, survivor centered programming aims to increase accessibility and reduce re-traumatization.
"Accounts for the impacts of sexual violence on individuals, families, communities and place, including intergenerational trauma. A trauma and violence informed approach uses that understanding to develop practices that minimize further harm, foster healing and honor strength and resiliency. It also recognizes historical trauma and promotes systemic change rooted in resilience, not re-victimization."
If you would like confidential support navigating resources on campus or in the larger community, email disclosures@capilanou.ca or call/text 604-240-1317 for more information. Those who access support will have the agency to choose the options that best support their needs and will be treated with dignity and respect.