Ottawa, July 24, 2025 – Like many across the country, we watched as five members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior Hockey Team stood trial for sexual assault. Today’s verdict was deeply troubling, though tragically not surprising.
It reflects the entrenched patterns of disbelief, dismissal and denial as well as the deeply rooted barriers that survivors of sexual violence continue to face in their pursuit of justice.
The trial has been hard to watch. For survivors of sexual violence, for those who support them, for all who continue to hope for justice in a system that too often fails to fully deliver it, and for all who recognized the painful familiarity of what played out in the courtroom and across headlines. We know that moments like this are deeply personal for so many – stirring up fear, anger, exhaustion, and pain.
We want to be clear: we believe E.M. We believe survivors. And we stand with them unwaveringly, now and always.
Coming forward takes immense courage and bravery, particularly in the face of systems seeking to minimize harm or discredit survivors.
As an organization dedicated to ending gender-based violence, we stand in solidarity with all survivors – those who come forward, often at great personal cost, and those who may never feel safe enough to come forward.
At Women’s Shelters Canada, we hear directly from VAW shelters and transition houses across the country that see firsthand the impact that sexual violence has on survivors, and the immense barriers they face. Many survivors turn to shelters for physical safety, yes, but also for support in rebuilding lives disrupted by violence and systemic failure. Shelters and transition houses across the country support survivors navigating trauma, homelessness, poverty, and legal systems that were not built for them.
This case is not an outlier. Sexual violence is not an isolated act. It is an outcome enabled and perpetuated by systems of patriarchy, misogyny, white supremacy, colonialism, and rape culture. Systems that often shield those in power and fail to prioritize survivors’ dignity and rights.
We are heartbroken and angry. But we remain committed to our fight for a world where survivors are believed, protected and supported. We stand with E.M. and all survivors of sexual violence in their fight for justice.
To all survivors reading this message: We see you. We believe you. And we are with you.
For support:
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact a women’s shelter or transition house in your area. A list of local supports is available at sheltersafe.ca. You can also contact the Assaulted Women’s Helpline for 24/7, free and confidential support.