Our services are voluntary.
It is our policy that all victims are treated with courtesy, compassion and respect.
Our services are provided in a way that recognizes each victim’s need for physical and emotional safety; as well as the ability to have choice and control on the decisions affecting their life. We can help you explore your options and provide you with the information and support you need.
Community Collaboration
Victim Services of Brant participates on a variety of community committee’s addressing the needs of victims of crime.
Membership on community committees includes:
- Brant Regional Association of Volunteer Administrators (BRAVA)
- Brant Response to Violence Everywhere (BRAVE)
- Brant Elder Abuse Awareness Committee
- Brant, Brantford and Six Nations Impaired and Distracted Driving Committee
- Brant Community Response Team
- Ontario Network of Victim Service Providers (ONVSP)
- Partners Against Trafficking Humans (PATH)
Victim Services of Brant is available to attend schools, community forums and public presentations to educate the community on prevention, safety, signs and effects of crime.
Our History
In 1987, three Victim Crisis Assistance & Referral Services (VCARS) pilot projects were funded in the province by the Ministry of the Solicitor General. The three pilot projects were designated in Kingston, serving Frontenac County; Sault Ste. Marie, serving Algoma County; and Brantford serving Brantford, County of Brant. Based on the success of these pilots the VCARS program has expanded across the province of Ontario.
Brant Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Service was incorporated as a non-profit organization in April 1, 1995. To enable expansion of the mandate to enhance service provided to victims, the Board of Directors elected to change the name of Brant Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Service to Victim Services of Brant in September 1998.
April 1, 1999 Brantford Police Services provided us a new office within their building. Grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony took place on May 10, 1999.
Our Court Assistance Program was established in 2000 with funding from community donations and Brant United Way. In 2002 the SupportLink Program was established with funding from the Ministry of the Attorney General, Rogers AT&T and Ericsson Canada.
Effective April 1, 2015 the VCARS program funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General was modernized and renamed Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario (VCAO).
Effective April 1, 2022 the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services began funding the Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario (VCAO).