Supporting Ontario's Crisis Workers
Welcome to the Crisis Workers Society of Ontario (CWSO). We are dedicated to supporting crisis workers across the province, providing training, advocacy, and valuable resources to help them in their important work.
About CWSO
In 1984, a group of crisis workers from across Ontario met in Toronto to discuss areas of common interest and issues faced in the profession.
This meeting led to the creation of the Crisis Workers Society of Ontario, which since its inception has worked to ensure that there is a forum for crisis workers to come together to share knowledge and to enhance the standing of the profession.
Upcoming events
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FREE Webinar: May 22nd, 2025 @ 10:00
BLUEPRINT TO RESILIENCE
We all experience challenges in our lives. Challenges to heal, to adapt, and to overcome.
My Blueprint to Resilience will provide you with the necessary skills that will empower you to confront life’s challenges head-on with a growth mindset. I will provide a plan and a perspective that was instrumental in my own healing journey, that will ultimately guide you on your own path towards progress, by harnessing the power of your resilient mind.
Presentation Objectives:
1. Learn skills that will assist in confronting life’s challenges
2. Learn how to harness the power of your resilient mind.
James Jefferson is a 17-year police service veteran, and the current Wellness Coordinator Officer with the Greater Sudbury Police Service.
In a policing career that involved P.T.S.D, suicidality, and addiction, James is no stranger to the psychological hardships of working in public safety. Through the creation and application of his Blueprint to Resilience, James was able to heal his trauma and was no longer defined by his P.T.S.D diagnosis, he defied it.
James is a keynote speaker, and 2023 national recipient of the Canada Beyond the Blue Darius Garda Legacy Award for his advocacy in mental health. James is a member of the Crisis Workers Society of Ontario board of directors, a Canada Beyond the Blue national ambassador, and a Laurentian University graduate with a bachelors in both Law and Psychology.
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NATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS
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Victims and Survivors of Crime Week 2025
“THE POWER OF COLLABORATION”
May 11th - 17th
The Policy Centre for Victim Issues (PCVI) at the Department of Justice Canada is pleased to announce that Victims and Survivors of Crime Week (Victims Week) 2025.
PCVI will be hosting a virtual Victims Week, including an opening ceremony and keynote presentation on Monday, May 12, 2025, workshops throughout the week, and a plenary session and closing ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Registration is FREE but is required for each of the virtual events.
To register, please go to VWSDV@justice.gc.ca.
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SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 12, 2025
Supporting Survivors and Their Families
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is a charitable organization dedicated to the personal safety of all children. The Centre’s goal is to reduce victimization by providing national programs and service to the Canadian public. Through the operation of Cybertip.ca – Canada’s tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children – the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has an expertise and unique window into child sexual abuse and how technology has impacted victimization. This session will explore the scope of the issue, support services provided by the Canadian Centre and available online training and practical resources for frontline service providers.
Lindsay Lobb is the Director of Operations - Support Services at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) where she helps lead a team of staff that support the victims of online sexual exploitation who have connected with C3P. Lindsay joined the agency in 2008 as a missing child caseworker and later was named the case management supervisor. In 2016, Lindsay became C3P’s Policing Relations Liaison, working with law enforcement agencies to implement agreements, deliver training and information sessions, and promote the use of C3P child safety resources. She continues to provide leadership to our missing children support services and to advance policing relations across Canada. Before joining C3P, Lindsay worked as a social worker in child protection in Ontario and Manitoba. She regularly presents across Canada to police, child welfare, and victim services.
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September 2025 @ 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Motivational Interviewing: Making the Most of our Moments
Sylvie Smith, M.Ed., R.P.
Therapist, Addiction and Mental Health
Homewood Community Addiction Services (CADS)
Regional Services, Homewood Health Centre
This evidence-based, practical approach continues to evolve, offering powerful tools to support meaningful, lasting change—even in moments of resistance, ambivalence, or emotional distress.
Let's Talk
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Human Trafficking
Ontario is a “major hub” for human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Overwhelmingly, survivors are girls and young women, and people from vulnerable populations, who come from within Canada’s borders.
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Criminal Court System
In Ontario, the Crown Attorney is responsible for prosecuting the majority of criminal offences. They should consider your wishes as the victim/witness, however they are responsible for reviewing all relevant.
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Abuse
Mental health issues can make individuals more vulnerable to experiences of violence and abuse. Violence, abuse and living under threat can also play a role in triggering or worsening mental health problems as stress levels stay high
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Homicide
Without intervention, abuse tends to escalate over time. Several risk factors have been associated with escalation of violence leading to significant harm and/or homicide
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Exercise Depression Toolkit
Exercise is now recommended as a stand-alone treatment for mild-moderate depression, and an adjunctive treatment for moderate-severe depression1
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High Mental Health Disorder Rates in Civilian Police Employees
Working in a police organization often involves being exposed to potentially traumatic events and stressful circumstances regardless of occupation or rank.
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Vaping Cessation
This resource is meant to guide healthcare providers to support their clients who want to quit vaping.
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Drug Checking
Unregulated drugs might contain substances that can increase the risk of drug poisoning. Drug checking aims to reduce harms by providing people the ability to make informed decisions about the substances they are using.
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Information Sharing Guide - Intimate Partner Violence
This guidance was developed in response to a coroner’s inquest into the deaths of Carol Cullerton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam in Renfrew County, Ontario, due to intimate partner violence (IPV).
Take Action With CWSO
Volunteer
Your valuable time volunteering will be fully spent on maintaining our valuable services.
Valuable Resources
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Supporting 2SLGBTQ+ Survivors of Violence
This resource provides information on the unique forms of abuse experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and offers guidance on safety planning and accessing support services.
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Assessing Your Safety: A Guide for Individuals Experiencing Abuse
This guide helps individuals assess their risk of experiencing severe harm or homicide in abusive relationships. It outlines risk factors, provides questions for self-reflection, and suggests resources for seeking help and developing safety plans.
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Child Safety Plan
A personalized safety plan for children in potentially unsafe situations, providing guidance on who to trust, where to go for help, and what to do in an emergency.
Supporting
Did You Know?
Discover the facts and statistics about crisis work in Ontario and learn more about the important work we do.
From Our Blog
Our Events
A Community that Connects
Our Partners
Your Voice Matters: Advocate for Change as a CWSO Member
Join us and explore valuable resources for crisis workers in Ontario.