Harvey v. Victim Services Toronto

Bringing in the new year with unexpected, but important news.

For a long time, I’ve asked myself what kind of lawyer I want to be. The kind who quietly goes along with the system, or the kind who pushes back until real change is made.

And what kind of future lawyer would I be if I didn’t extend that same expectation to myself?

In September, I was terminated from Victim Services Toronto, an organization that publicly claims to support survivors during their most vulnerable moments. I believe they did not extend to me the same dignity, respect, or protection they promote outwardly.

My lived experience was leveraged for credibility and recognition.

This is a message to every survivor reading this:

You escaped the worst, but that doesn’t mean the harm always ends there. Sometimes it continues in quieter, more insidious ways through institutions that profit from your trauma while failing to truly value you.

You are not disposable.

You are not your story.

When you are paid $200 to recount the most painful moments of your life, so little that it makes you think you’d be better off back in a hotel room, because at least then you’d make more, something is deeply wrong with the system claiming to “support” you.

We are more than that.

We are educators.

We are advocates.

We are students, lawyers, doctors, and leaders.

And above all, we are human beings who survived a horrific crime.

It’s time we stand together and stop allowing survivor-led labour to be minimized, exploited, or dismissed, especially by organizations that claim to act in the name of care. Accountability matters.

If you have been exploited and need someone to talk to, please message me. I will always hold space for you.

I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to my lawyer Atrisha Lewis, someone who has consistently held space for me, understands my story, and truly listens. That kind of advocacy matters more than words can express.

You can view my Statement of Claim against Victim Services Toronto here.