I grew up in a hockey town.

In a hockey family, for a big part of my life.

I grew up in a community where players were celebrated — as stars and heroes, on and off the ice.

Every hockey parent had a quiet dream: that maybe, just maybe, their kid would be the one to go all the way. 

The game consumed them. And with it, a culture steeped in toxicity.

Where aggression was normalized and gossip thrived. 

Off the ice, many players carried a sense of entitlement. That included access to young women.

They treated being with them like a gift. But we knew it was different.

They were crude. Aggressive. Demeaning — especially toward the girls who engaged with them.

They called their conquests kills — as if each young woman was something to take, use, and discard.

I can name countless women who had engaged with players in high school — stories that weren’t truly consensual. But we were young. We didn’t understand. 

We weren’t taught about power, coercion, or consent.

Today marks the start of Victims and Survivors of Crime Week.

At She Matters, we honour the strength, resilience, and wisdom of survivors—because we are survivors. We know firsthand that in the aftermath of sexual assault or domestic violence, the hardest part can be not knowing what comes next.

That’s why we created the Survivor Support Platform — a survivor-led resource that bridges the gap and breaks down the unknowns. SSP offers guidance on care pathways, reporting options, and evidence collection, so that survivors can make informed decisions rooted in choice, safety, and dignity.

To kick off this week, we’re launching our first activity:
Celebrating Survivors’ Gifts: Fostering Safe Spaces, Allyship, and Advocacy — a self-guided course exploring the gifts survivors carry, and how we can create a culture of care, allyship, and support. 

Register free: https://www.shematters.ca/offers/MEY5ny48 

Important Note: 'Celebrating Survivors' Gifts' course work will be accessible for tho...

As Pride Month unfolds, it's a time for celebration, reflection, and advocacy in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. It's crucial to recognize that while we honor the progress made, there remains significant work to ensure all community members feel safe and supported. Acknowledging the unique challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors is an essential part of our collective journey toward inclusivity and support.

At She Matters, we are committed to standing alongside 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors of sexual assault. We understand that survivors in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community often encounter additional barriers when seeking support, from discrimination and stigmatization to a lack of specialized resources. To bridge this gap, we have curated a comprehensive resource list specifically designed to support 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors. This list includes access to mental health services, legal assistance, and community support networks tailored to meet the needs of diverse identities within the community. This...

Our small but mighty team of survivors and allies has been blown away by the support we have received since the launch of the Silenced: Canada's Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Accessibility Crisis report. We've been able to connect with hundreds of survivors from across Canada, begin to develop our donor base and get the Silenced Report featured in Canadian media (shoutout to Sarah and the team at Change.org for your support in this).  While we haven't received the feedback and support from the government we were hoping for, we understand this will be an uphill battle -- and we're ready to continue advocating for equal access to justice for survivors of sexual violence across Canada. Change takes time, and we're dedicated to amplifying the need for SAEK's to be available at every Canadian hospital and health centre. 

This past week we had a big win to celebrate as Senator Renée Dupuis referenced the Silenced: Canada's Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Accessibility Crisis report during the Sen...

One of the biggest barriers to accessing justice for survivors is understanding where to begin. There is no handbook guiding survivors on how to report sexual violence. If you are a survivor and have felt lost in the process you are not alone. 

She Matters exists (in part) to educate survivors on our rights - and put up a good fight when our rights are being violated! Regardless of location, we are here for you. Consider this your welcome to the She Matters Community - moving forward you are not alone. 

Navigating the reporting process can be confusing. Fear of the unknowns are natural. We have all been there. After experiencing sexual violence our emotions are raw and many survivors feel numb inside. We have just lived through an unimaginable trauma and now we have to figure out next steps. So many questions run through our minds. One of the most common thoughts is, "what is the right choice?" It's okay not to have all of the answers. The truth is, there is no "right way" to heal fr...