A Renewed Space for Safety and Healing: Headwaters’ Sunrise Centre Unveils Its New Renovations

Headwaters is proud to share the unveiling of the newly renovated Sunrise Centre. The updated space strengthens our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality support and resources for those affected by sexual assault and domestic violence (SADV).

The Sunrise Centre is one of 37 SADV treatment centres across Ontario. It provides OHIP-funded access to medical forensic supports and resources for community members affected by SADV.

Before the renovations, the Sunrise Centre housed furniture from the 1990s with outdated design features. Siobhan Bell, SADV Program Leader for Headwaters, says the Centre “didn’t provide a space that conveyed care and holistic compassion.” Creating a compassionate environment is essential in helping people navigate some of the most traumatic experiences of their lives.

Working with partners from Caledon Dufferin Victim Services, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Punjabi Community Health Services, Headwaters received a grant to renovate the Sunrise Centre to improve capacity and support for patients and their supporters.

The renovation has created a more welcoming and comforting space, with inviting colours and touches of purple, the colour associated with awareness of violence against women. Siobhan notes that “the overall vibe of the space now reflects the promise to our patients to holistically support them in accessing resources and medical forensic care.”

In 2024, intimate partner violence (IPV) was declared an epidemic in Dufferin County. “This should tell you something about the rates of domestic violence and IPV seen across the county,” says Siobhan. The Sunrise Centre will help address this growing need in the community.

She adds that “our community is full of courageous people who have been victims of sexual and intimate partner violence and who do not know that they have options, support, and resources.”

The Sunrise Centre aims to work closely with community partners across the province to ensure patients are connected with the supports they need to stay safe. This includes local partnerships with Family Transition Place (FTP) and Dufferin Child and Family Services (DCAFS), who provide extensive counseling support.

Services offered by the Centre include the collection and storage of forensic evidence, written and photographic documentation of SADV experiences, and nurse-led assessments of physical, psychological, and social health. In addition, the Centre offers treatment for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, as well as many other options for support such as counselling.

Siobhan explains that “the Sunrise Centre follow-up clinic ensures that patients have someone to provide acute and immediate health and holistic support for physical and mental health needs, while also ensuring they have another place for safety planning and other supports.”

The Sunrise Centre also provides comprehensive assessments of traumatic brain injuries and non-fatal strangulation, “two very important and under-supported consequences of IPV,” Siobhan says.

Kim Delahunt, President and CEO of Headwaters Health Care Centre, says that “the Sunrise Centre represents Headwaters’ unwavering commitment to providing compassionate care for those affected by sexual and domestic violence. This renovated space reflects the dignity, safety, and support every person in our community deserves.”

The Sunrise Centre is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Those affected by SADV or IPV can contact the Centre by calling 519‑941‑2702, ext. 2519, to speak with a forensic nurse, or by coming to Headwaters’ Emergency Department and requesting to see the physician and forensic nurse examiner. For non‑urgent needs, email sadvreferrals@headwatershealth.ca.

“As the program lead, I am so proud of the work our team is doing and so proud that our hospital is now providing a space where our patients can truly feel the care and professionalism that we bring to this work,” says Siobhan.