Waterloo, ON – April 24, 2026 – The CanAfro Research Institute has announced the launch of its new “Legal Navigation & Peer Support Helpline,” a  component of the project “Interrupting the Cycle: Research and Advocacy for Black Male Survivors Criminalized by Self-Defense and Systemic Bias.”

The service addresses a gap in Canada’s justice system where male survivors  ( eg. intimate partner violence, assault or racial harassment) are often mis/taken as aggressors, leading to their overrepresentation as accused persons instead of being supported as victims.

How to Access:

• Online Intake Form (24/7): Submit a request at any time via the secure, confidential form:
  Legal Navigation & Peer Support Intake Form

• Phone Helpline (limited hours): Live operators are available Thursdays and Fridays, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The institute plans to expand hours in the future.

The service provides legal navigation (plain-language legal information and referrals) and peer mentorship (emotional support from trained mentors with lived experience). It does not provide legal advice or representation.  We are also recruiting participants for our research. We would like to interview Black male individuals who have been in contact with the justice system due to self defense or systemic bias. Please contact us using our contact us form, phone number or email address. 

Contact:
Dr. Sam Tecle 

samtecle@canafroinstitute.com 

Or 

Dr. Tedla Desta

contact@canafroinstitute.com

CanAfro Research Institute

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CanAfro Research Institute – Community Resource Directory

Find resources for legal services, reentry support, survivor services, mental health, housing, food security, newcomer support, and more – across Ontario and other Canadian provinces.

1. Reentry & Support for System‑Impacted Black Men

Direct support for formerly incarcerated individuals and Black men navigating the justice system.

2. Survivor, Victim & Crisis Support Services

Focus on identifying “dual‑status” individuals (victims who are also accused) and providing trauma‑informed referrals.

3. Legal Aid, Sentencing & Institutional Partners

Professionals who interact with the “legal record” daily and can identify systemic trends.

4. Newcomer, Refugee & Immigrant Support

Focus on immigration precarity and language barriers in family court and community systems.

5. National Justice Organizations

Broad systemic data and multi‑city networking.

6. Men‑Focused & Black‑Focused Institutions

Organizations specifically dedicated to supporting Black men, boys, and fathers.

7. Multidisciplinary Community Organizations

Holistic wrap‑around services: health, mental wellness, housing, settlement, employment.

National

• Black Health Alliance – blackhealthalliance.ca

Ontario

• TAIBU Community Health Centre – 416-644-3536 – 27 Tapscott Rd, Unit 1, Toronto

• Across Boundaries: An Ethnoracial Mental Health Centre – 416-787-3007 – 20 Neighbourhood Lane, Unit 102, Toronto

• Hamilton Urban Core – Black Men Wellness – 905-522-2722 – hamiltonurbancore.ca

• UPlift Black Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion – upliftblack.ca

• Restoration and Empowerment for Social Transition (REST Centres) – 905-216-2700 – restcentres.org

• African Community Services of Peel – acspeel.com

British Columbia

• Centre for Integration of African Immigrants (CIAI) – ciia-ciai.com

8. Legal Services (by Province)

Ontario

• 211 Ontario – 211 – 211ontario.ca

• African Canadian Legal Clinic (ACLC) – info@aclc.net – 416-214-4747

• Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) – info@blacklegalactioncentre.ca – 416-214-0964 / 1-877-805-2522

• Legal Aid Ontario – 1-800-668-8258 – legalaid.on.ca

• Human Rights Legal Support Centre – hrlsc@hrlsc.on.ca – 1-866-625-5179

• Pro Bono Ontario – 1-855-255-7256 – probonoontario.org

British Columbia

• Access Pro Bono BC – apb@accessprobono.ca – 1-877-762-6664

• BC First Nations Justice Council – info@bcfnjc.com – 1-866-282-4757

• Legal Aid BC – 1-866-577-2525 – legalaid.bc.ca

• Pivot Legal Society – info@pivotlegal.org – 604-255-9700

Alberta

• Legal Aid Alberta – 1-866-845-3425 – legalaid.ab.ca

• Calgary Legal Guidance – reception@clg.ab.ca – 403-234-9266

• Edmonton Community Legal Centre – reception@eclc.ca – 780-702-1725

• Miyo Pimatisiwin Legal Services – 1-780-990-8155

Manitoba

• Legal Aid Manitoba – 1-204-985-8500 / 1-800-261-2960 – legalaid.mb.ca

• Community Legal Education Association – clea@clea.mb.ca – 1-204-943-2382

Saskatchewan

• Legal Aid Saskatchewan – 1-306-933-5300 / 1-800-667-3757 – legalaid.sk.ca

• CLASSIC – info@classiclaw.ca – 1-306-244-8284

Nova Scotia

• African Nova Scotian Justice Institute – info@ansji.ca – 902-492-5619 / 1-888-428-4233

• Nova Scotia Legal Aid – 1-877-420-8818

• Dalhousie Legal Aid Service – legalaid@dal.ca – 902-423-8105

9. General Community & Family Supports – National & Provincial

National

• 211 Canada – Dial 211 – 211.ca

• Kids Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868 – crisistextline.ca

• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – cmha.ca

• Victims of Crime – Federal Ombudsman – info@ombudsman-victims.gc.ca – 1-866-481-8429

• Canada Child Benefit / CRA supports – 1-800-387-1193 – canada.ca

Ontario

• 211 Ontario – 211 – 211ontario.ca

• Ontario Works / ODSP – 1-888-789-4199 (ODSP)

• Food Banks Canada (Ontario) – foodbankscanada.ca

• Housing Stability Services (Ontario) – 1-877-391-3826

• ConnexOntario (mental health & addictions) – 1-866-531-2600 – connexontario.ca

• John Howard Society (Ontario) – johnhoward.on.ca

British Columbia

• BC 211 – 211 – bc211.ca

• BC Housing – 1-604-433-2218 / 1-866-465-6873

• Food Banks BC – foodbanksbc.com

• BC Mental Health Support – 1-800-784-2433 (crisis line)

Alberta

• Alberta 211 – 211 – ab.211.ca

• Alberta Works – 1-866-644-5135

• Calgary Food Bank – 1-403-253-2055

• Edmonton Food Bank – 1-780-425-4190

• Alberta Mental Health Helpline – 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)

Manitoba

• Manitoba 211 – 211 – mb.211.ca

• Manitoba Housing – 1-204-945-4663 / 1-800-661-4663

• Harvest Manitoba (food support) – 1-204-982-3663

• Klinic Community Health (crisis support) – 1-204-786-8686 / 1-888-322-3019

Saskatchewan

• Saskatchewan 211 – 211 – sk.211.ca

• Saskatchewan Housing Corporation – 1-306-787-4050

• Food Banks of Saskatchewan – foodbankssaskatchewan.ca

• Farm Stress Line – 1-800-667-4442

Nova Scotia

• 211 Nova Scotia – 211 – ns.211.ca

• Adsum for Women & Children – 902-423-5049 / Crisis: 902-429-4443

• Bryony House (shelter) – 902-423-7183 / Distress: 902-422-7650

• Feed Nova Scotia – 902-457-1900

• Seniors Info Line – 902-424-0770 / 1-844-277-0770

Nota Bene: This list is not exhaustive. We will continue to update it. Many services have waitlists or eligibility criteria. CanAfro Research Institute recommends contacting 211 or a local community legal clinic for personalized referrals. For immediate crisis, call 9‑1‑1 or your local distress centre.