WARNING: This article references sexual assault and may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone impacted by it.
Some rape crisis centres are reporting a big jump in calls since the start of the high-profile trial of five former world junior hockey players accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a London, Ont., hotel room in 2018.
At the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, there’s been a 25 per cent spike in the number of women asking for help or to talk about their own experiences with sexual violence, said Karley Doucette, the centre’s education and communications manager.
“We’re seeing a little bit of everything on the support line,” she said. “We have survivors in the community who are retraumatized by what they’re reading and seeing in the news. They’re reaching out for support because maybe it’s bringing up memories and experience they’ve had and need some support around.”
Other callers want to talk through whether their own experience with reporting to police and going through the criminal justice system and a trial could be like that of E.M., the complainant in the world junior hockey case, Doucette said.
“It’s very common that folks feel our legal system is not equipped to deal with sexual violence and sexual assault cases.”
Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Alex Formenton, Cal Foote and Carter Hart have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges, stemming from their time at a hotel in London, where they attended a Hockey Canada gala in June 2018.
E.M. told police she had consensual sex with McLeod in his hotel room after a night of dancing and drinking at a local bar. The Crown alleges McLeod invited his teammates to the hotel room for sex acts with E.M., which she says she did not consent to.
Testimony has concluded at the sexual assault trial for five former world junior hockey players, with only one defendant taking the stand. Closing arguments in the case will begin June 9.
The men have alleged E.M. was the sexual aggressor and consented to the sexual acts.
Since the trial began almost two months ago, sexual assault centres across the country have been bracing themselves for an increase in call volumes — something they say happens whenever a high-profile trial or event brings awareness to sexual violence, said Julie Lalonde, a victims’ rights advocate based in Ottawa.
“The calls to support lines have been through the roof because women are so triggered by the case and by the details that have come out,” Lalonde said.
The days-long cross-examination of E.M. by the five defence teams has prompted some women to rethink going forward to police with their complaints, added Lalonde.
“Women see themselves reflected in this experience and it’s their worst nightmare played out.”
The London Abused Women’s Centre usually fields about 350 to 400 calls per month to its crisis line, said executive director Jennifer Dunn. Since the trial started, the number has been consistently been above 400, she added.
Violence has ‘lifelong impacts’
“When something is in the media or prevalent in the community, we are usually prepared for the spike [in calls],” Dunn said. “Current clients have told us that the trial is impacting them and we’ve been able to work with them addressing trauma that’s being brought to the forefront.”
Other callers are asking how typical the Hockey Canada trial is of sexual assault proceedings, Dunn said.
“There are worries that if they choose to report what happened to them, will it look like what’s going on in the courtroom right now.”
The London centre has had calls from as far away as Alberta to express their support, she added.
“Women who have been subjected to violence of any kind often have lifelong impacts from that. Sometimes, regardless if it happened years and years ago, or just yesterday, those feelings can come back up. It can be almost as if you’re reliving what you are subjected to.”
E.M. filed a police report in 2018 but the London Police Service (LPS) closed the case in early 2019 without charging anyone.
Hockey Canada settled a civil lawsuit brought by E.M. in 2022. When details of the lawsuit were reported in the media, the LPS reopened the investigation and eventually charged the five men now on trial.
Closing arguments from the defence and Crown lawyers will begin Monday before Justice Maria Carroccia at the judge-alone trial.
“It takes a lot of courage and a lot of strength to go through something like this, and the fact that E.M. was willing to be on the stand and be a witness in this case I think really does show her strength and can speak to women who are wanting to do maybe the same thing,” Dunn said.
The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region has launched a text and chat service that allows people to contact them that way instead of having to place a phone call, Doucette said.
“Picking up a phone and talking out loud is not always something that’s accessible for them if they’re looking for support, so this is a more discreet way for folks to access support.”
If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database.
