Contact Information
Mailing Address:
438 King Street West
P.O. Box 30525
Oshawa, Ontario
L1J 8L8
Administration/General Information:
Phone: 905-444-9672
Fax: 905-444-9277
Email: info@drcc.ca
24/7 Crisis and Support Line: 905-668-9200
Toll-Free: 866-905-1919
Read about why we share our pronouns.
Staff
Gemma, EMBA (she/her)
Executive Director
Full-time | Phone: 905-749-1032 | Email: gemma@drcc.ca
Gemma has been the Executive Director of Durham Rape Crisis Centre since 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice & Public Policy as well as an Executive Masters of Business Administration, specializing in Strategic Leadership. She has also completed many certificates including non-profit governance and leadership. Gemma started her career as a residential counsellor and has over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector with over a decade of leadership experience as an Executive Director. She is passionate and specializes in women’s support services and community social justice. She is honoured to work with her team to support survivors and create awareness of sexual violence!
Wendy (she/her)
Director of Finance & Administration
Part-time | Email: wendy@drcc.ca
Emma, BA (she/her)
Community and Crisis Services Manager
Full-time | Phone: 437-228-7396 | Email: emma@drcc.ca
Emma has worked in the non-profit field for over 14 years, many of those years spent doing work within a feminist framework as well as working with children and youth. She has a degree in Anthropology and Gender and Women’s studies from Trent University and strives to be a lifelong student. Emma enjoys having music on most of the time and when not working enjoys reading fantasy books and cuddling with her corgi (when she allows it).
Counselling Team
Lynn, RSSW (she/her)
Clinical Sexual Violence Counsellor/Outreach Coordinator
Full-time | Phone: 647-273-0457 | Email: lynn@drcc.ca
As a trauma therapist for nearly 40 years, Lynn has been a passionate, tireless advocate and support for women who have experienced any form of gender-based violence, with a focus on sexual abuse. Prior to joining the Durham Rape Crisis Centre, Lynn started her career at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic in Toronto, where she worked as a counsellor for 18 years. During her time there she also helped develop the sexual abuse program, as well as contributing to the training of the cultural volunteers. She has now worked as a counsellor at the DRCC for almost 19 years, and has also taken on many different roles, including being the Public Education Coordinator for 16 years. Lynn is very active in the community and represents the DRCC on a number of community committees, including the Human Trafficking Coalition, Durham Elder Abuse Network, the Woman’s Committee of Durham Region, and the Sex Worker Support Circle. She recently shifted into a new role, and is now the Outreach Coordinator and Human Trafficking Counsellor. Lynn is very proud and grateful to be working at an agency that continues to grow, and that has created a trauma-informed environment that supports not only our clients, but also the staff, volunteers, and the community. On a personal note, Lynn is blessed to have 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, who she attributes to keeping her active and young at heart.
Isabella, RSSW, BAHons (she/her)
Sexual Violence Counsellor
Post-Secondary Program (Trent University)
Full-time | Phone: 437-228-1862 | Email: isabella@drcc.ca
Isabella has been working for the DRCC since 2019, and has over 9 years of experience working within the social services sector. Her work has primarily been in feminist organizations, specifically Violence Against Women Agencies (VAW). She has dedicated her professional career to supporting individuals in healing from their traumas, living happier and healthier lives, and loving themselves. In her work, Isabella uses a variety of therapeutic modalities such as trauma-informed, person/client-centred, strength-based, solution-focused, intersectional/ARAO, and holistic approaches. She believes in making each session a safe and warm space for her clients. She is a grounded and transparent counsellor, who allows organic conversation to flow and manifest into something helpful, informative, empowering, and beautiful.
Michaela, AWCCA (she/her)
Sexual Violence Intake and Support Persons Counsellor
Part-time, Tuesday-Thursday, 8am-2pm
Phone: 416-278-9086 | Email: michaela@drcc.ca
Michaela has been at the Durham Rape Crisis Centre since 2016 as a part-time Intake Counsellor. She is a graduate of the Assaulted Women’s and Children’s Counsellor/Advocate program with an additional 13+ years’ experience working as a frontline counsellor in shelters for violence against women. Michaela is the Mom of two young children. In her spare time she enjoys taking her dog for walks.
Karina, MSW, RSW (she/her/they)
Sexual Violence Counsellor
Clinical Counsellor and Psychotherapist
Full-time | Phone: 365-688-9540 | Email: karina@drcc.ca
Karina holds a Masters of Social Work Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, in addition to an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Trent University and Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. Karina has worked, learned, and volunteered in community spaces for over 15 years, including municipal programs, schools, employment services, a VAW shelter, and Victim Services. Karina has worked one-on-one support to individuals experiencing trauma, mental illness, and major life events for 7 years, and is honored to be a part of the healing journey of each client she supports at the DRCC. Her trauma-informed approach to counselling is eclectic and tailored to each individual client, exploring the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social context of their lives and trauma. Karina believes that a good therapeutic relationship is based on trust, collaboration, transparency, and acknowledging the client as the expert in their own life.
Kelsey, BASc (she/her)
Sexual Violence Counsellor
Sex Trafficking and Exploitation Counselling and Support Services (STECSS)
Full-time | Phone: 905-904-2981 | Email: kelsey@drcc.ca
Kelsey is a mental health counsellor with over four years of experience in the field. She holds a B.Sc. in Psychology and a graduate certificate in Addictions and Mental Health. She has been accepted into her M.A. in Counselling Psychology with the goal of becoming a registered psychotherapist specializing in trauma-informed practice.
Kelsey has previous experience in individual and group settings, public education, psychometry, and crisis management. She is passionate in advocating alongside survivors to enhance resource allocation and destigmatize harmful stereotypes. Kelsey enjoys travelling, trying new recipes, and going on walks with her dog.
Tajinder, BSW, BA (she/her)
Sexual Violence Counsellor
Full-time | Phone: 289-404-3363 | Email: tajinder@drcc.ca
Tajinder is a graduate of York University where she obtained both her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work. Tajinder started her career in child welfare, where she worked with families and children facing issues including physical/sexual abuse, mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence for 15 years. She then turned her focus to working in the fight to counter violence against women in her previous role as a Domestic Violence Counsellor. Tajinder provided psychoeducation regarding Intimate Partner Violence through counselling, referred victims to community resources, developed safety plans, and hosted support groups for survivors. Tajinder has recently shifted her career path to focus on assisting survivors of sexual violence as a Sexual Violence Counsellor with the DRCC. Regardless of the population she works with, Tajinder works from a client-focused, strengths-based, inclusive and trauma informed approach where she views the survivor as the expert of their own journey.
Danielle, MSc, BA (she/her) Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Post-Secondary Sexual Violence Counsellor (Ontario Tech University)
Part-time, Tuesday-Thursday, 9am-4pm | Phone: 416-919-9744 | Email: danielle@drcc.ca
Danielle holds a Master of Science in Psychotherapy from McMaster University, and a BA in Psychology from Toronto Metropolitan University (formally Ryerson University). Her experience includes various work and volunteering experiences in mental health in hospital settings, shelters, and other community agencies. Danielle’s approach to counselling is eclectic, strengths-based, client-centred, feminist, and trauma-informed. She uses a multitude of modalities that are mainly based in cognitive-behavioural therapies, such as ACT, in addition to mindfulness, and neurobiological approaches. Danielle’s therapeutic presence is one centered in authenticity, genuineness, and compassion. She believes trust, collaboration, and attunement are essential to the therapeutic process.
Samantha, SSW, BA (she/her)
Individual and Group Sexual Violence Counsellor
Part-time | Email: samanthag@drcc.ca
Samantha is a clinically trained, trauma-informed counsellor and group facilitator. She has been with DRCC since 2019. Samantha graduated with her diploma of Social Services Worker and has her Bachelors of Liberal Arts, where she specialized in Gender and Women’s Studies.
Samantha has been working front line for over 10+ years with women who are survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence. Samantha has experience working with children who are also survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence.
Samantha’s passion is healing from a holistic lens and guiding individuals back to connecting to their body, mind, and heart so that they can create safety within reflecting outwards. She brings this passion into her groups she runs at DRCC through Yoga, Meditation, Journaling Through Meditation, and other holistic/therapeutic groups!