Founded in 1985, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic (Schlifer Clinic) supports women who have experienced violence. The clinic was established in honour of Barbra Teena Schlifer, a young lawyer who was assaulted and murdered on the day she was called to the bar of Ontario. Schlifer Clinic offers legal representation, counselling, and interpretation services to clients. Through legal advocacy, it works to change the conditions that threaten women’s safety, dignity, and equality.

Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic provides free legal services to victims of violence and abuse. In F2018, 2,293 women accessed legal services to receive advice related to family law, criminal law, immigration and refugee law, and family court support.

Schlifer Clinic offers individual and group counselling sessions to women who have experienced abuse and violence either in childhood or as adults. The abuse may have been committed by a partner, family member, friend, occupying military, or a stranger. Women can receive support if they decide to remain in their current relationship or get help to find housing if they choose to leave. In F2018, 2,171 women accessed counselling services which was an increase of 93% from F2017.

Through Interpreter Services Toronto, the clinic provides free interpretation for women in counselling sessions and legal proceedings. Interpretation services are available in more than 200 languages including sign language. In F2018, 2,474 clinic clients received free interpretation services, representing a 110% increase from usage in F2017. Interpreter Services Toronto also operates as a social enterprise, offering interpretation for a fee to health, legal, business, government and other organizations in the Greater Toronto Area.

As Canada’s only gender-based violence, multi-service clinic, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic works on broader legal issues dealing with women’s right to live free from violence. Recent advocacy includes asking the Canadian government to consider the effect of gun control regulations on the safety of women (re: Bill C-71). In 2017, the clinic joined a lawsuit against London Police Services regarding the rate of sexual assault cases labelled “unfounded” and then closed.

Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is a small charity in terms of donations and special events revenue, receiving $857k in F2018. The clinic received $2.6m in government funding, representing 68% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 15% of revenues less investment income, and fundraising costs are 29% of donations. For every dollar donated, 56 cents go to the cause. This is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Schlifer Clinic has funding reserves of $638k which could cover less than three months of program costs.

This charity profile is an update that has been sent to Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 12, 2019 by Madison Kerr.