Sexual violence prevention & response

Our Sexual Violence and Misconduct policy affirms that Royal Roads University stands united against sexual violence and is committed to creating a safe and inclusive community. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, supports and services are available to you.

This page provides guidance and information for RRU staff, faculty and associate faculty who have experienced sexual violence.

What to do after experiencing sexual violence

If you have experienced sexual violence, or you know someone who has experienced sexual violence, we encouraged you to take the following actions as soon as possible.

These resources are available to you right away, or later on, when you feel ready. But it may be beneficial for you to get immediate medical attention should you decide to report the incident to police at a later date.

1. Go to a safe place and seek help

Get help by phone

  • Call 911
    You will be asked, “fire, police or ambulance?” You can either answer "police" or "ambulance," or you can tell the operator what happened, and they will help you.
  • Call the 24-hour, confidential VictimLinkBC service
    Call 1.800.563.0808 or text 604.836.6381.

    If you are outside BC and in Canada, you can find victim services close to you by searching the Government of Canada’s Victim Services Directory.
  • Call the RRU 24-hour Sexual Violence Support Line 
    250.391.2600 ext. 8514

Get help on campus

  • Call Campus Security
    If you are on campus, call Campus Security at 250.391.2525 or dial 2525 from any campus phone.
  • Find a safe place
    If you are a university community member and you are on campus during regular business hours, and you need somewhere to go right away, go to the Human Resources office (third floor of the Millward Building, at the corner of Neptune Crescent and College Drive).

    Ask any staff member for help. We will find you a private place to wait while we find you the help you need. You do not have to tell us what happened — just say you want to speak to a staff member privately about something that happened to you, and they will know to find you a private place and someone who can help. You are welcome to bring someone with you.

2. Get medical assistance

  • Call 911
    You will be asked, “fire, police or ambulance?” You can either answer "police" or "ambulance," or you can tell the operator what happened and they will help you.
  • Get medical help
    If you are able, go to any hospital emergency department or medical clinic.
  • Call the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre
    Call the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre’s Crisis and Information Line at 250.383.3232 or go to the centre at 3060 Cedar Hill Rd., Unit 300B. The centre is open during regular business hours but can be accessed after hours by calling them any time.

    If you are outside BC and in Canada, you can find victim services close to you by searching the Government of Canada’s Victim Services Directory.
  • Call the 24-hour Vancouver Island Crisis Line
    If the Victoria Sexual Assault Clinic is closed, call the 24-hour Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1.888.494.3888.

3. Seek personal support

  • Employee and family assistance program
    If you're a Royal Roads staff member, call 1.800.481.5511 to access the university’s employee and family assistance program.

    You'll need to provide the RRU access code. Login to view the access code. You can also call RRU Human Resources at ext. 4385 for assistance.
  • Victoria Sexual Assault Centre
    Call the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre’s crisis and information line at 250.383.3232.
  • Vancouver Island Crisis Line
    Call the 24-hour Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1.888.494.3888.
  • Make a format complaint to the university
    To make a formal report of sexual violence to the university, email Gina Williams, associate director, HR, or call ext. 4417.

4. Write it down

If you're able, and when you're ready, you may find it helpful to write down the details of what happened. It doesn’t have to be right away. As difficult as it may be, writing the details may help you express your feelings and may further aid you if you decide to report the incident at any time.

Education and prevention

We all have a role to play in creating a safe and respectful university community. Through the Research Universities Council of BC, RRU partnered with five other universities to create educational resources to prevent sexual violence in our communities.

Find out more about consent, being an active bystander, setting boundaries, and supporting a survivor of sexual violence on our Sexual Violence Education website.

Further information

Here is additional information that may help: