Virtual Circles of Support and Accountability

08/29/2025

https://youtu.be/W6THXOxSkl0?si=-KoZb_4BU373QUEi

As part of the Virtual Circles of Support and Accountability (Virtual CoSA) project (September 2023-July 2025), this information is being made available to a...

08/25/2025

https://youtu.be/IjDBIUNGj7s?si=-Fjxo8L4IjEY2YNf
As part of the Virtual Circles of Support and Accountability (Virtual CoSA) project (September 2023-July 2025), this information is being made available to anyone considering using virtual Circles as part of their services to reintegrating individuals who have sexually offended. This video summarises the information Virtual CoSA shared with the other CoSA sites.

The background music used in this video is from Uppbeat:
"Adventure Is Calling" by Vens Adams - License code: VQDWQCGTHG8RYH0H
"Innovation" by Mountaineer - License code: VEHQIHTECHRYXHMS

Disclaimer: The images in this video are provided by Adobe Stock; the people in this video are actors and not affiliated with Circles of Support and Accountability.

As part of the Virtual Circles of Support and Accountability (Virtual CoSA) project (September 2023-July 2025), this information is being made available to a...

08/07/2025

We regret to inform you that Public Safety’s funding of Virtual CoSA has come to an end, and we have not been able to find another source of funding. We will continue to reach out to potential funders and apply for grants; hopefully, we’ll have good news for you within a few months. Virtual CoSA has proven to be very popular with CSC clients (and their POs!) We would like to continue offering this service to the communities that need support and healing.

08/06/2025

Word of the Day: Disgust. The word comes from the Latin meaning ‘no taste for it’. It’s assumed that people who work in the field of sexual offence prevention/reduction are not bothered by the offences: au contraire, friends. People who work in the field know so much more about the offences than the local salacious rag has reported that it would be impossible to not feel some disgust. It’s just that ‘accountability’ is a much more valuable word when it comes to upholding society’s role in prevention/reduction of sexual offending. We all need to put our disgust aside just enough that we can be an accountable society and focus on the work–the goal of which is no more victims.

07/31/2025

Word of the Day: Victim. While some people prefer the word “survivor”, we use “victim” to refer to the people our clients have caused harm to because, unfortunately, we can’t be sure the individual has survived the harm. This way, our clients are reminded to remain fully accountable for the harm they’ve caused, rather than minimising it.

07/29/2025

CoSA isn’t just a ‘hug-a-thug’ organisation. The individuals we support have partners, children, parents and siblings, friends and colleagues. When we support the Core Member of the Circle and hold them accountable for their actions, we support everyone in their lives.

07/28/2025

If we’re missing 94% of the assaults, and 58% of the complaints can retraumatise the victim by making them prove themselves in the court room, then you’re probably sitting beside at least one victim of sexual harm and another potential victim. What will you do to help them? https://rcmp.ca/en/gazette/just-facts-sexual-assault

07/23/2025

https://gofund.me/31bea670

July is almost over, and it looks like Virtual CoSA is almost over, too. We haven't yet found further funding. If you know someone who would like to donate, please share the link!

In our short period of operation, Virtual Circles of Support … Sheila van den Heuvel-Collins needs your support for One Month of Virtual CoSA: No More Victims

07/18/2025

Word of the Day: Stigma. The stigma around sexual offending is such that researchers are ostracised for studying it, therapists are ostracised for treating patients who have sexually offended… and non-profits that support people who don’t want to reoffend are denied funding. If we are to help victims/survivors (as well as offenders) and prevent reoffending, the stigma around sexual offending must be reduced.

07/14/2025

Word of the Day: Ignorance. Many people are ignorant of the facts of sexual offending. Some people are willfully ignorant: they believe what they believe, and there’s nothing anyone can say to change their mind. They’re not interested in discussion; their contribution to the topic is to rant about revenge violence. Other people are ignorant because society doesn’t talk about sexual offending. It’s not covered in school; it’s hushed up in universities and workplaces and religious institutions. People turn a blind eye when it happens in their families and social circles. Politicians don’t make it part of their campaigns. If we want to reduce sexual offending, we need to stop being ignorant of the facts.

06/26/2025

Virtual CoSA has a new letter of support! Go to www.virtualcosa.ca to read letters from organisations and individuals who believe we play a significant role in reducing recidivism.

06/24/2025

Congratulations, CoSA Ottawa!

🎬 Exciting News! 🎉

Our documentary Facing Our Messy Lives has been selected for the New York Lift-Off Festival 2025! 🌟

Big thank you to the incredible team who made this possible — and special shoutout to our visionary director, Geoff Bowie, whose passion and talent brought our story to life.

This is a huge honor, and we can't wait to share our documentary with audiences around the world as part of this amazing international showcase of independent cinema.