About the Evolve Program

What we do

Mentorship, counselling, & trauma-informed care. 

Supports Available

Participants in the Evolve program can access a variety of services including:

  • Connection to community resources, including those that support basic needs (such as housing, food security, income support, etc.)
  • Support understanding and navigating systems (justice, health, housing, social assistance, etc.)
  • Mentorship and relational support (talking to people who’ve gone through similar experiences)
  • Personal and family counselling
  • Culturally-informed support
  • Strategies to support mental health
  • Addiction support
  • Employment and educational support
  • Crisis management
  • Connection to leisure and recreation services
  • News and media literacy

The Evolve program also helps participants access and navigate bureaucratic support systems such as financial assistance, employment support, child welfare services, legal aid, and the justice system.

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Responding to Hate-Motivated Violence

The Evolve Program is operated by the Organization for the Prevention of Violence (OPV). The OPV is a diverse group of professionals with experience in understanding and responding to hate-motivated violence and other forms of social polarization.
Our confidential, voluntary and free program provides customized support to individuals and families who:
  • whose actions or beliefs are getting in the way of making meaningful connections and reaching their life goals (these actions/beliefs may include extremist ideologies, conspiracy theories, grievances, involvement with groups that justify violence, etc.)
  • who have been affected by hate incidents or crimes

Evolve Program Staff

The Evolve program uses a relationship-based service model and trauma-informed care. Our multi-disciplinary team includes clinical professionals, case workers, and specialized mentors. Our mentors include two former members of the far-right movement and an Islamic scholar. The intervention team uses their collective experience and knowledge of local services to:

  1. assess needs, risks, and protective factors;
  2. plan and deliver intervention services; and
  3. mobilize necessary resources for program participants.

Evolve Program: The First Two Years

After three years of program development and two years of operations, we are proud to share our data and findings from the Evolve intervention program. The Organization for the Prevention of Violence (OPV) holds a commitment of openness and transparency to the communities we serve. This is the impetus for the “First Two Years” report, which tells a complete story about our operations: who we aid, the services we provide, and an honest account of our successes and challenges.

Evolve Program: The First Two Years report sitting on a desktop surface near a cup of coffe