Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre Restorative Engagement program updates – Summer 2024

Greetings,

Since our last contact with you, we have been working diligently to provide you as a class member with more options to participate in the program. We are sharing with you some of these new options and upcoming activities you can expect from the program in the next few months.

Fall program intake

In early fall 2024, we will be reaching out to class members who have not yet responded to confirm their interest in the program to ensure everyone has a chance to indicate whether they wish to participate.

If you want to participate in the Restorative Engagement Program, please let us know before September 2025 so that we may assign you to a restorative practitioner. The program is expected to conclude early 2026.

Participation options for class members

We strive to provide flexible options for you to share your experiences, impacts and insights related to sexual misconduct in the DND/CAF.

Since the launch of the program, we have worked on improvements and changes while staying consistent with our commitment to class members, and the integrity of the program’s restorative approach. You now can select one of the following process options to meet your objectives in the program.

Individual engagement process

Since 2022, we have been offering you the opportunity to participate in individual processes to share about your lived experiences, impacts, or insights directly or indirectly with a Defence representative.

Group engagement process

We will be offering group processes to interested class members. This means you can choose to participate in a group process with other class members to share your impacts and insights either directly or indirectly with Defence representatives. Each group process will have a theme or focus. This will be an opportunity to share, as a group of class members, about the impacts of sexual misconduct and thoughts and knowledge about the causes of sexual misconduct and what needs to change to better respond to it and prevent it in the in the DND/CAF.

Following your participation in an engagement process, you will also be given the opportunity to express your interest in participating in the Executive Leadership Circle Process. Executive Leadership Circles will be an opportunity for you, as a class member, to share your learnings and insights around predetermined themes with positional leaders from the institution that participated in the Option 4 cohort (General and Flag Officers, EX-02 and above). This process will involve a group of class members preparing and meeting with Executives in virtual Circles facilitated by Restorative Practitioners.

You will be able to identify if you are interested in this option after having participated in your selected individual or group process. There will be a limited number of Executive Leadership Circle processes between now and the end of the program, so participation isn’t guaranteed.

If you have already concluded your participation with the program, you can expect to be contacted about the opportunity to express interest in the Executive Leadership Circle processes.

How to reach out

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to RE-DR@forces.gc.ca or by phone at 1- 833-998-2048. We will continue to provide you with updates throughout the program.

You can also reach out through the SMSRC 24/7 line at 1-844-750-1648. Trained counsellors can provide you with confidential support, including information on options, and referrals to care and service organizations. This service is available in both official languages.

Note: We are unable to provide you with an update on your claim and invite you to contact the Claims Administrator about the CAF-DND Sexual Misconduct Class Action Settlement at info@caf-dndsexualmisconductclassaction.ca or by telephone at 1-888-626-2611.

Your experiences, insights, and feedback not only shape the improvement of the program but also play a role in promoting culture change in the Defence community.

Thank you for your continued patience, and commitment to this important initiative. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive community for all.

Warm regards,

Restorative Engagement Program Team