Supporting Survivors of Sexual Abuse Conference 2024: Ripple Effects Across Communities

Speakers.

• Rick
  Westhead

  Rick Westhead is a senior correspondent for TSN and a contributor to CTV National News and W5. An award-winning investigative journalist with twenty-five years of experience, Westhead explores important issues in sports and offers his own unique perspective on the stories he breaks. In writing for TSN.ca and reporting on SPORTSCENTRE, Westhead takes on controversial issues in sports and sports business, uncovering the latest details and offering his own unique perspective.

• MPP Kristyn
  Wong-Tam

  Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP is a Canadian politician who has represented Toronto Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 2022 as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party. They are non-binary and use they/them pronouns. They served on Toronto City Council from 2010 to 2022. Their current roles include: Critic - 2SLGBTQ+ Issues,  Critic - Attorney General, Critic - Small Business, Member - Standing Committee on Justice Policy.

• Amelia
  Cline

  Amelia is a lawyer and a former elite gymnast with lived experience of psychological and physical abuse from her competitive career. After watching the Athlete A documentary, and hearing the stories of other brave gymnasts, she shared her own story in 2020, which set her on the path to survivor advocacy.

  She is the lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against Gymnastics Canada and six provincial federations, aimed at demanding accountability from sport institutions and achieving justice for survivors. She has made numerous media appearances, advocating for change to the sport system, and has testified before the Parliamentary Status of Women Committee in Ottawa.

  As the Managing Director of Athletes Empowered, Amelia provides support and guidance to our programming, as well as direct support to survivors engaged in our Case Support program. Drawing on her professional experience as a lawyer, she continues to advocate for policy change, and a safe and abuse-free sport for the next generation.

• Danielle
  Strickland

  Danielle lets Love lead her to inspire, challenge, provoke and disrupt the present, and to live the future now. Having lived in different cultures and contexts around the world she celebrates diversity and deeply longs for wrong things to be made right. Danielle practises following Jesus daily. This pursuit has led to exciting entrepreneurial exploits (like co-founding multiple charities and non-profits) and a whole host of failures (that we don’t as often talk about). All of this has convinced her of the deep need we all have for hope, faith, and love. Her deepest longing is to demonstrate what living that boundless life looks like.

  Danielle has written six books (the latest is The Other Side of Hope), has a podcast called The Right Side Up (which recently celebrated half-a-million downloads), and speaks to people at events all over the world. Danielle leads Boundless Communications Inc. which launches creative exploits like Women Speakers Collective (liberating voices of women around the globe), IMBY (a tiny home movement IN MY BACKYARD), Brave Global (preventing human trafficking), Infinitum (a way of living deeply), and Hagar’s Voice (support and advocacy for survivors of abuse). Danielle lives in Vancouver, Canada with her three sons and husband Steve. Danielle loves getting outside, doing new things, physical adventures, and she can’t seem to turn down a free lunch.

• Jessica
  Bonilla-Damptey

  Jessica Bonilla-Damptey is the Director of the Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton and Area (SACHA). She has been involved in crisis support since 2008. Jessica joined SACHA as director in 2019. Prior to this, she worked as a volunteer in various capacities (Crisis Support Line Volunteer, Take Back the Night, International Women’s Day and events tabling) with SACHA since 2008.

  SACHA is a feminist, non-profit, community-based organization that provides supports to survivors of all genders aged 16 and older, who have experienced sexualized violence at any point in their lives. This work has been done in Hamilton since 1975.

• Emma
  Giao

  Emma Giao is a Registered Psychotherapist with a Bachelor of Art, majoring in Psychology from University of Guelph as well as a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. Her career in mental health started in the adult developmental service sector, working with individuals with co-morbid mental and physical health issues. This experience pushed her to make individual psychotherapy more accessible to those who are neurodivergent and struggle with chronic mental and physical health issues.

  Emma works through a trauma-informed and harm reduction approach. While she practices in other areas, Emma’s work has a significant focus on various different forms of trauma including abuse, pregnancy and infant loss and PTSD. Additionally, her work continues to support the neurodivergent community.

• Rosalia
  Rivera

  Rosalia Rivera is a consent educator and child sexual abuse prevention specialist, sexual literacy advocate, 2x TEDx speaker, rape culture disruptor, co-founder of the BRAVE Movement, co-founder of the Survivors Council Canada, the founder of CONSENTparenting™, and the host of the AboutCONSENT™ podcast. She was also recently named a Verywell 25 Mind Mental Health Champion for 2023. Rosalia is certified in the Canadian Centre for Child Protection® COMMIT TO KIDS® Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training Program and is a Certified Facilitator of the Stewards Of Children® Training by Darkness to Light, as well as OnWatch™. She's a Certified Practitioner of the Conscious Parenting Coaching Method® from Dr. Shefali Tsabary’s CPCM Institute. Rosalia is also a CSA (child sexual abuse) survivor turned thriver. 

• Sherry
  Saevil

  Sherry is a member of Mistawasis nêhiyawak and an Alumni from University of Saskatchewan. She has dedicated her career to challenging systemic barriers and seeking justice for Indigenous communities in Canada.

  Sherry has worked with First Nations communities and organizations over the last 30 years in a variety of roles from a historical researcher, historical writer, policy analyst, Law coordinator and Assistant Director of Lands and Resources for Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Currently Sherry is the Indigenous Education Advisor with the Halton Catholic District School Board. She is a passionate advocate for First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education and believes that Reconciliation is possible through Education.

• Jacquie
  Marshall, MSW, RSW

  Jacquie is a child of a survivor. Jacquie provides individual and group support to people (and families) that have been impacted by interpersonal violence and abuse.  Through group and individual therapy, she provides autonomy-based, compassionate care and treatment to empower her clients to grow and thrive.  Jacquie provides services in local community agencies and interfaces with many different services. In the past, Jacquie has facilitated groups at a correctional centre for incarcerated women and advocated for their needs.  

  Jacquie holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Criminology from the University of Toronto, completing a year of that degree at the University of Liverpool in the U.K. She also holds a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Waterloo. 

• Lyndsey
  Butcher, MSW

  Lyndsey Butcher was born and raised in Moncton, New Brunswick where she spent more than a decade working as a political organizer and social justice campaigner.

  Lyndsey served as the Executive Director of Sexual Health Options, Resources & Education – SHORE Centre (formerly Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region) where she worked closely with SASCWR as a community ally and advocate. For the past few years Lyndsey has worked as a nonprofit consultant supporting grassroots charities working on issues of racial and gender justice.

  In 2023 Lyndsey joined the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region as its Director of Services where she provides leadership and strategic direction to ensure that survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking are wrapped in our community’s care. Responsibilities include operational planning, policy development, grant writing, risk management, budget oversight, evaluation, management of diverse teams, training and development.

• Mark
  Hawkins

  Mark Hawkins is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Mark volunteers his time, speaking across the province on male victimization to help educate those who work with survivors as well as help other survivors on their journeys. Mark has shared his perspective as a male survivor at numerous conferences and at Ontario Provincial Police Sexual Assault Detective Courses. In the fall of 2010 Mark was part of the landmark Oprah Show where 200 men who were sexually abused as children came forward to bring awareness to the issue of male victimization.

  Mark is a recipient of the Queen Diamond Jubilee medal and also received the OPP commissioner’s accommodation for his volunteer work. Mark retired as a Parks General Supervisor for the City of Toronto in 2020 after 36 years. Mark is a father of two children and a proud grandfather of a three-year-old grandson.

  Mark has taken a traumatic event that happened in his childhood and overcome the crimes committed against him to bring awareness to Childhood Sexual Abuse and to help break the silence on childhood sexual abuse.

• Emily
  Quint

  Emily Quint (Ager) is a sexual assault survivor and advocate. She has a Master of Education in Developmental Psychology, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Addictions and Mental Health and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work. After she was raped by an acquaintance in her own home, she did everything asked of her to bring the case to trial. Despite testifying and enduring cross examination, Emily’s case was thrown out due to the assailant’s Charter rights. Over the past year, Emily has transformed her anger and pain into advocacy for legislative change regarding the treatment of sexual assault survivors. In her spare time, you can find her with her husband, Brandon, and their dog, Rosie, reading, watching hockey, or immersing herself in nature.
• Simona
  Jellinek

  Simona has also been instrumental in changing important pieces of legislation including the removal of the limitation period in sexual abuse and assault cases. As well, she also assisted the government in amending legislation to allow survivors who are on ODSP to remain on ODSP even after receiving compensation from a judgment or settlement. 

  Simona’s expertise in the area has been recognized by her peers and she is listed in Best Lawyers and Lexpert. She has been honoured to receive the Distinguished Service Award by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and the Zenith Lexpert award. Simona is sought after by media outlets to provide insight and commentary on sexual abuse and assaults in Canada and abroad. As well, she has lectured at universities and presented papers on sexual violence litigation at Canadian and international conferences.

  View Bio
• Erin
  Ellis

  Erin has over a decade of experience and a proven track record of success advocating for survivors of both recent and historical sexual and physical abuse. She represents plaintiffs from across Canada, demanding acknowledgment and compensation for the harms perpetrated or facilitated by individuals and institutions, including abuse by teachers, coaches, relatives, foster parents, doctors, and clergy.  Erin has a deep understanding of civil abuse litigation.  Her extensive experience allows her to work effectively with her clients to determine the best approach for each individual case. Erin is passionate about representing survivors and uses compassion, dedication, and strong advocacy skills to assist her clients. 

  View Bio
• Linda
  O'Brien

  Linda joined the Gluckstein family from a boutique litigation firm where she focused exclusively on civil litigation, defending tort litigants. She is now a key member of our Sexual Abuse group with the Jellinek Ellis Gluckstein team advocating solely for survivors of sexual abuse.

  Over her almost 30 years of practice, Linda has appeared before all levels of courts in Ontario, along with appearances before numerous boards and at private arbitrations. She has been a speaker at many legal events and seminars.

  Linda is proud to be involved in initiatives to promote policies and practices to retain and advance women in law and to continue to serve as a mentor for many students and lawyers.

  View Bio
• Ivanna
  Iwasykiw

  Ivanna’s personal Injury practice is focused on representing survivors of sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, sexual harassment, revenge porn, invasions of privacy, and institutional abuse.

  Ivanna is a compassionate, practical, relentless lawyer, and a fierce advocate. She hopes that in assisting survivors in seeking justice and closure, she can help them find their power again. When not practicing law, Ivanna enjoys travelling, canoeing, hiking with her German Shepperd, fantasy books, and exploring new foods.

  View Bio
• Vanshika
  Dhawan

  Vanshika Dhawan is a fierce advocate for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Prior to joining the Jellinek Ellis Gluckstein team in 2023, Vanshika articled at a litigation boutique in Toronto, assisting with sexual abuse and assault cases. Her practice continues to focus on representing survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse. She is passionate about helping survivors better understand and navigate the legal system. 

  View Bio