1. Name of the Organization

CALACS La Bôme Gaspésie

2. Our Mission

CALACS La Bôme Gaspésie is an autonomous community action organization whose mission is to provide help, support, and guidance to individuals aged 14 and over who have experienced sexual assault, as well as to their loved ones. The organization combats sexual violence in all its forms by carrying out prevention and awareness activities within the Gaspésie population.

3. Our Values

  • Autonomy: We promote the empowerment of individuals to help them develop their full autonomy.

  • Equity: We treat everyone equally, taking into account the specific realities and needs of each person.

  • Feminism: We aim “to end sexism, exploitation, and sexist oppression and to achieve full gender equality in law and in practice (COE.int).”

  • Respect: We recognize the intrinsic value of each person, regardless of their individual identity.

4. Services Offered to Victims

Direct Assistance:

  • Individual intervention meetings (help, support, listening)

  • Telephone intervention

  • Information, preparation, and support for medical and judicial processes
    (Individuals are free to file a complaint with the police or not)

  • Help, support, and guidance for victims’ loved ones

  • Personalized referrals to other services as needed

Prevention, Awareness, and Training:

  • School prevention programs

  • Activities and workshops on various topics for organizations and groups
    (e.g., sexual harassment in the workplace, sexual assault against seniors, etc.)

    These initiatives aim to dispel myths and prejudices surrounding sexual assault, change perceptions and discriminatory attitudes, and break the silence.

Advocacy and Mobilization:

  • Community mobilization for social, political, and legal change to end sexual violence

  • Promoting awareness that NOTHING justifies sexual assault

All services are free, bilingual, and confidential throughout the Gaspésie region!

5. Our Commitments to You

At CALACS La Bôme Gaspésie, we are committed to respecting the following:

According to the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms:

It is prohibited to discriminate based on race, color, marital status, age (except as provided by law), religion, moral or political beliefs, language, ethnic or national origin, social status, disability, or sexual orientation.

  1. Our interventions are based on feminist, empowerment, systemic, and community principles. Specific helping relationship techniques, such as impact techniques, may also be used.

  2. Recognize that violence against women, in any form, is a tool of social control.

  3. Actively advocate and defend a society based on equal and equitable relationships, where people have the right to:

    • Dignity

    • Integrity

    • Security

    • Self-affirmation

    • Justice

    • Respect

    • Listening

    • Non-judgment

    • Openness

  4. Promote autonomy, respect, and freedom for those we help; recognize their potential in solving their problems.

  5. Respect and trust the choices of the person being helped.

  6. Foster mutual respect and support among staff, the director, and those being helped.

  7. Recognize and assess our intervention limits and expertise, and refer when limits are reached.

  8. The counselor must evaluate the case every 7 sessions to determine if CALACS services are still needed, whether to continue with our resource, refer, or adjust the frequency of sessions.

  9. Inform the person being helped about the judicial process so they can make an informed decision.

6. Rights of Individuals Using CALACS La Bôme Gaspésie Services

  1. The person has the right to be treated with courtesy, equity, and understanding, with respect for their dignity, autonomy, needs, identity, and privacy.

  2. The person has the right to have their own values respected. The counselor must not impose their own values.

  3. Unless there is a serious contraindication, the counselor respects the person’s choice to access their file. The request must be made in writing, stating the reason and contact information. A response will be provided within one month, pending prior authorization from the director.

  4. The person has the right to be respected and supported in their decisions.

  5. The person has the right to be respected in their pace of progress.

  6. The person has the right to be referred to another service or professional if the intervention exceeds the counselor’s abilities, knowledge, or competencies.

  7. All individuals have the right to equal treatment, regardless of their social status or that of their loved ones (see Intervention Protocol).

  8. The person has the right to be informed about our services, other available resources in the community, and access procedures.

  9. The person has the right to be accompanied by a center counselor and assisted in obtaining or understanding information.

  10. The person has the right to be accompanied during interventions, provided the companion does not hinder the CALACS counselor’s work.

  11. The person has the right to file a complaint about services they consider poorly rendered by a CALACS counselor. They may appeal to the CALACS management or to the Gaspésie Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) complaints commissioner if dissatisfied (see complaint mechanism).

7. Confidentiality

The counselor respects the anonymity and confidentiality of all information provided by the person being helped and their file. No confidential information can be disclosed to another professional without written consent, unless required by law—in which case, the person will be informed. However, information may be shared with the director, team, or the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), who are also bound by this confidentiality.

8. Complaint Mechanism

If dissatisfied with CALACS La Bôme Gaspésie services, submit a written complaint to management at direction@calacslabomegaspesie.com. Every victim has the right to be informed of the outcome of their complaint. Processing may take up to 45 business days, after which a decision will be sent by email. If still dissatisfied, please contact the Complaints Commissioner.

For assistance with your complaint to the Complaints Commissioner:

The Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Assistance and Support Center for Complaints (CAAP) can help you formulate your complaint or accompany you through the process. Their services are free and confidential.

  • You may submit a written or verbal complaint.

  • You can use the form available on the CISSS de la Gaspésie website or at its various locations, but this is not mandatory.

  • Your complaint must be addressed to the CISSS de la Gaspésie Complaints Commissioner.

Complaints Commissioner and Service Quality

  • Phone: 418-368-2349, ext. 5340

  • Toll-free: 1-877-666-8766, ext. 3604

  • Email: plaintes.cisssgaspesie@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

  • Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm

  • Website: (see CISSS de la Gaspésie official site)

“Every victim has the right to be informed of the outcome of their complaint. The commissioner must communicate the conclusions of the complaint analysis no later than 45 calendar days after receipt.”

9. Contact Information and Hours

Service Area:
Services are offered throughout the Gaspésie region.

Head Office – MRC Côte-de-Gaspé
47 Baker Street, Suite 5
P.O. Box 6160
Gaspé (Québec) G4X 2R7
Toll-free: 1-866-968-6686
Fax: 418-368-8096

MRC Haute-Gaspésie
10-O, Ste-Anne West Blvd.
Sainte-Anne-des-Monts (Québec) G4V 1P3
Toll-free: 1-866-968-6686

MRC Avignon & MRC Bonaventure
597 A Perron Blvd.
Carleton (Québec) G0C 1J0
Toll-free: 1-866-968-6686

Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday, 8 am – 4 pm

Adopted February 7, 2024