This past May, we invited our community to be part of this historic project with an ambitious goal: raising $24,500 to purchase an accessible exam table, a forensic evidence freezer and the final equipment and supplies for the clinic. 

The response was extraordinary. Together, we raised $57,994.50, along with tens of thousands of dollars in in-kind donations.

We are profoundly grateful to everyone who made this milestone possible, with special thanks to our matching donor, Hammerco Lawyers, and to our major donors: Beem Credit Union, an anonymous organization, and an anonymous foundation.

This extraordinary support is not only making the clinic possible, where survivors will be welcomed with compassion, dignity, and choice, but also strengthening the wrap-around services Salal provides every day. Because of our dedicated community of supporters, we are building a place where every survivor can find care that truly honours their needs and their healing.

Like many transformative projects, the journey has not been without challenges. When the organization and construction company who had committed to renovate the space unexpectedly withdrew, our timeline was significantly delayed. Thankfully, our community of supporters stepped in. Thanks to a longtime ally who connected us with skilled partners in design and construction, the stalled renovations are moving forward once again. Work is now underway, and the clinic is set to open next year.

Alongside the construction work, we have also been strengthening the clinic’s model of care. Guided by an advisory committee of practitioners from sexual assault support services across the province, health care professionals, and our partners at B.C. Women’s Hospital, the clinic is being built on best practices to ensure the highest quality, trauma-informed care. Their expertise, combined with Salal’s survivor-centered approach, is shaping a clinic unlike any other in the Lower Mainland.

Together we are creating a future where survivors can move with dignity from crisis support to counselling, advocacy, and healing, all under one roof. This clinic is not just a project. It is a collective reimagining of what care can look like when we come together with intention and solidarity. 

Stay tuned for more updates as the clinic takes shape.