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Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP)

The mandate of the Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) is to provide information, assistance and support to victims and witnesses of crime throughout the criminal justice process in order to increase their understanding of, and participation in, the criminal justice process. Offered by the Ontario Victim Services Secretariat, VWAP services include crisis intervention, needs assessment, referrals to community agencies, emotional support, case specific information (court dates, bail conditions) and court preparation and orientation.

VWAP services are available to adult and child victims and witnesses of crime, after charges have been laid. Closely associated with the domestic violence court program, VWAP staff work extensively but not exclusively with victims/witnesses of partner assault, sexual assault and child abuse. A specialized information and activity book has been developed for child witnesses and is available in both official languages. VWAP staff provide training for Crown Attorneys with respect to the issues of sexual assault and domestic violence. In addition, staff participate in public education activities and engage in community coordination initiatives and development of protocols. Although available to all victims, services are provided on a priority basis to victims that have been most traumatized by crime.

The program has 45 offices in Ontario with plans for further expansion. Offices are currently located in:

NORTH: For offices in North Region contact: (705) 564-7269

  • North Bay: serving Nipissing district
  • Sudbury: serving Sudbury district
  • Gore Bay: serving Manitoulin district (and Espanola which is in Sudbury district)
  • Sault Ste. Marie: serving Algoma district
  • Thunder Bay: serving Thunder Bay district
  • Kenora: serving City of Kenora, Red Lake, and fly-in reserves
  • Dryden: serving City of Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Ignace, Pickle Lake and Lac Seul

WEST: For offices in West Region contact (519) 453-8973

  • Chatham-Kent
  • London/Middlesex County
  • Owen Sound/Grey County
  • Sarnia/Lambton County
  • Stratford/Perth County
  • Walkerton/Bruce County
  • Windsor/Essex County
  • Woodstock/Oxford County

EAST: For offices in East Region contact (613) 239-0392

  • Ottawa
  • Kingston /Frontenac
  • Napanee/Lennox & Addington
  • Belleville/ Hastings
  • Picton/Prince Edward County
  • Brockville & Kemptville/ Leeds & Grenville
  • Cornwall/Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry & Akwesasne
  • L'Orignal/Prescott-Russell
  • Pembroke/Renfrew County
  • Perth/ Lanark County

CENTRAL: or offices in Central Region contact (905) 853-4852

  • Barrie/Simcoe
  • Newmarket/York
  • Whitby/Durham
  • Peterborough
  • Lindsay - Kawartha Lakes
  • Cobourg - Northumberland

CENTRAL WEST: For offices in Central West Region contact (905) 521-7590

  • Kitchener/Cambridge - Waterloo Region
  • Brampton - Peel Region
  • Hamilton
  • Milton/Oakville/Burlington Halton Region
  • St.Catharines
  • Orangeville - Dufferin County
  • Welland/Niagara Falls
  • Brantford

TORONTO: For offices in Toronto Region contact (416) 212-1310

  • Old City Hall/311 Jarvis Courthouse
  • College Park
  • North York
  • Etobicoke
  • Scarborough
  • 361 University Courthouse