Some rape crisis centres report spike in calls since start of Hockey
Canada sexual assault trial
Kate Dubinski
| CBC News | Posted: June 4, 2025 9:00 AM | Last Updated: June
4
People calling for help, to talk and to ask about London, Ont.,
trial for 5 ex-world junior players
Image | E.M. Hockey Canada trial
Caption: E.M., whose identity is protected under a standard
publication ban, is the complainant in the sex assault trial
for five former world junior hockey players in London, Ont.
Some crisis centres say they've been receiving more calls since
the proceedings began in late April. (Alexandra Newbould/CBC)
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WARNING: This article references sexual assault and may affect
those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone
impacted by it.
Some rape crisis centres are reporting a big jump in calls
since the start of the high-profile trial of five former world
junior hockey players accused of sexually assaulting a woman in
a London, Ont., hotel room in 2018.
At the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region,
there's been a 25 per cent spike in the number of women asking
for help or to talk about their own experiences with sexual
violence, said Karley Doucette, the centre's education and
communications manager.
"We're seeing a little bit of everything on the support line,"
she said. "We have survivors in the community who are
retraumatized by what they're reading and seeing in the news.
They're reaching out for support because maybe it's bringing up
memories and experience they've had and need some support
around."
* Detective, last witness at Hockey Canada sex assault trial,
says not adding to E.M.'s trauma was top of mind
Other callers want to talk through whether their own experience
with reporting to police and going through the criminal justice
system and a trial could be like that of E.M., the complainant
in the world junior hockey case, Doucette said.
"It's very common that folks feel our legal system is not
equipped to deal with sexual violence and sexual assault
cases."
Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Alex Formenton, Cal Foote and
Carter Hart have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges,
stemming from their time at a hotel in London, where they
attended a Hockey Canada gala in June 2018.
E.M. told police she had consensual sex with McLeod in his
hotel room after a night of dancing and drinking at a local
bar. The Crown alleges McLeod invited his teammates to the
hotel room for sex acts with E.M., which she says she did not
consent to.
WATCH | WARNING: This video contains graphic content: The next
phase of the world junior hockey trial:
Media Video | The National : Testimony wraps up at world junior
hockey sexual assault trial
Caption: Testimony has concluded at the sexual assault trial
for five former world junior hockey players, with only one
defendant taking the stand. Closing arguments in the case will
begin June 9.
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The men have alleged E.M. was the sexual aggressor and
consented to the sexual acts.
Since the trial began almost two months ago, sexual assault
centres across the country have been bracing themselves for an
increase in call volumes — something they say happens whenever
a high-profile trial or event brings awareness to sexual
violence, said Julie Lalonde, a victims' rights advocate based
in Ottawa.
"The calls to support lines have been through the roof because
women are so triggered by the case and by the details that have
come out," Lalonde said.
* Making sense of some of the evidence in the Hockey Canada
sexual assault trial
The days-long cross-examination of E.M. by the five defence
teams has prompted some women to rethink going forward to
police with their complaints, added Lalonde.
"Women see themselves reflected in this experience and it's
their worst nightmare played out."
The London Abused Women's Centre usually fields about 350 to
400 calls per month to its crisis line, said executive director
Jennifer Dunn. Since the trial started, the number has been
consistently been above 400, she added.
Violence has 'lifelong impacts'
"When something is in the media or prevalent in the community,
we are usually prepared for the spike [in calls]," Dunn said.
"Current clients have told us that the trial is impacting them
and we've been able to work with them addressing trauma that's
being brought to the forefront."
Other callers are asking how typical the Hockey Canada trial is
of sexual assault proceedings, Dunn said.
"There are worries that if they choose to report what happened
to them, will it look like what's going on in the courtroom
right now."
* How women's advocates are using the Hockey Canada sexual
assault trial to talk to players about consent
The London centre has had calls from as far away as Alberta to
express their support, she added.
"Women who have been subjected to violence of any kind often
have lifelong impacts from that. Sometimes, regardless if it
happened years and years ago, or just yesterday, those feelings
can come back up. It can be almost as if you're reliving what
you are subjected to."
E.M. filed a police report in 2018 but the London Police
Service (LPS) closed the case in early 2019 without charging
anyone.
Hockey Canada settled a civil lawsuit brought by E.M. in 2022.
When details of the lawsuit were reported in the media, the LPS
reopened the investigation and eventually charged the five men
now on trial.
Image | Hockey Canada trial defendants court sketch
Caption: Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon
Dubé and Cal Foote, left to right in this court sketch, have
pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault charges. (Alexandra
Newbould/CBC)
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Closing arguments from the defence and Crown lawyers will begin
Monday before Justice Maria Carroccia at the judge-alone trial.
"It takes a lot of courage and a lot of strength to go through
something like this, and the fact that E.M. was willing to be
on the stand and be a witness in this case I think really does
show her strength and can speak to women who are wanting to do
maybe the same thing," Dunn said.
The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region has
launched a text and chat service that allows people to contact
them that way instead of having to place a phone call, Doucette
said.
"Picking up a phone and talking out loud is not always
something that's accessible for them if they're looking for
support, so this is a more discreet way for folks to access
support."
__________________________________________________________
If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that
of others around you, please call 911. For support in your
area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the
Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database.
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