Participating in Community Consultations
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Who can participate
The SMSRC is currently consulting on various topics. More information about who is eligible to be involved in these two distinct consultation processes is included below.
You can participate in consultations on sexual misconduct if you are:
- affected by sexual misconduct
- 18 years of age or older
- a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
- a former member of the CAF/Veteran
- a Canadian Coast Guard
- a current or former Department of National Defence (DND) public service employees (including new Department of Fisheries and Oceans who transferred to DND)
- a Cadet
- a Junior Canadian Ranger
- a family member or caregiver of the above
You can participate in consultations on the design of Restorative Engagement on Systemic Racism if you:
- are a racialized member of the CAF
- are a racialized former member of the CAF/Veteran
- have experienced racial discrimination and racial harassment during your service between April 17, 1985, and January 10, 2025
- are 18 years of age or older
How to participate
Complete the following steps to participate:
- Fill out the Expression of Interest Form (below) or contact us for support at: SMSRC.Partnerships-Partenariats.CSRIS@forces.gc.ca.
- A member of our team will contact you to discuss the process, confidentiality, how we support safety, and participation options.
Please note: Submitting an Expression of Interest Form does not commit you to participating—it simply allows us to provide you with more information and discuss your preferences.
Expression of Interest Form
What to expect
Each consultation session focuses on a specific topic, service or resource. We encourage you to share your feedback and suggestions in the official language of your choice.
You can participate through the following options:
- virtual group sessions: anonymous and non-anonymous on Microsoft Teams
- individual sessions: by phone or virtual on Microsoft Teams
- written feedback by email
Group sessions are small (2 to 6 individuals) and facilitators use a trauma-informed approach, supporting safety, respect, confidentiality and open dialogue. A support counsellor is available to provide confidential, one-on-one support, as needed.
Why participate
Consultations on sexual misconduct
These consultations are opportunities for you to share your insight into ways we can improve the support services and resources available to people affected by sexual misconduct.
Your feedback matters because it:
- helps create services that meet the needs of the community we serve
- ensures that many voices, perspectives, and experiences are heard
- supports a stronger and more inclusive Defence community
We need your expertise to help improve our support services for today and the future.
Consultations on the design of Restorative Engagement on Systemic Racism
These consultations are opportunities for you to share your insight on the development of Restorative Engagement on Systemic Racism, mandated by the CAF Systemic Racism Class Action Settlement.
Your feedback matters because it:
- helps create an initiative that reflects the needs of class members
- ensures that many voices, and perspectives are heard
- supports a stronger and more inclusive CAF community
We need your expertise to help design this new initiative.
Privacy and confidentiality
We are committed to protecting your privacy and confidentiality within legal limitations. All personal information is handled in accordance with the Privacy Act.
Key privacy measures include:
- Option to participate anonymously in virtual group sessions via Microsoft Teams
- Limited access to Microsoft Teams sessions—only invited participants can join
- No recording of sessions
- Notes taken by our team members are anonymous
- Personal information is used only for communication about consultations and is securely stored in a Protected B database
Privacy Notice Statement
The personal information on this form is collected under the authority of s. 4 of the National Defence Act and will be used by the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC) for the purpose of creating a Consultation Group(s) which will provide input and recommendations on the development and improvement of SMSRC programs and services. The personal information collected on this form will be used to ensure the Consultation Group(s) is representative across various criteria, such as location, language, military experience, and gender/gender identity.
The personal information on this form will be used to determine and communicate your participation as a Community Consultation Group member. If you do not participate in an initial Consultation Group, the SMSRC will retain the information on this form so that it can be used in the formation of future Consultation Groups. If, after submitting your expression of interest, you wish to remove your name from the Community Consultation Group, you may do so by notifying the SMSRC at SMSRC.Partnerships-Partenariats.CSRIS@forces.gc.ca.
Personal information will be used for program administration and may be used for program development, program evaluation, reporting, research, and statistical analysis.
The SMSRC will not use the information you submit, including your contact information, for any purposes other than those described in this privacy notice statement without first obtaining your explicit consent, except when otherwise required by law, which includes the circumstances listed under ss. 8(2) of the Privacy Act.
If you participate in the Community Consultation Group, a program-specific consent form will be provided to you for review and signature. Program officials will review that consent form with you to ensure you understand its contents and how it impacts you.
Personal information collected, as well as its use, disclosure, and retention, is described in Personal Information Bank DND PPU 880 (Sexual Misconduct) which can be found on DND’s Information about Programs and Information Holdings (IPIH) page.
Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to access your personal information and request corrections to your personal information. Should you wish to exercise your rights under the Privacy Act, or have any questions about this privacy notice statement, contact DND’s Directorate of Access to Information and Privacy (DAIP) by submitting a Personal Information Request Form online, or send a written request to:
Directorate of Access to Information and Privacy (DAIP)
Department of National Defence
60 Moodie Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K2
Should you wish to lodge a complaint with respect to the handling of your personal information, you may do so by contacting the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Contact us
For more information, send an email to: SMSRC.Partnerships-Partenariats.CSRIS@forces.gc.ca or call the SMSRC confidential 24/7 support line at 1-844-750-1648.
Fill out the form to provide your feedback or to file a complaint.