1973
The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre was the first established centre in Ontario.
Over the next four years, 30 more centres would open their doors to women across Canada.

1977
The Rape Crisis Centre in Kingston was organized by fifteen dedicated, committed, feminist women with a diverse range of life knowledge, religions, ages, and work experience. The new Rape Crisis Centre's vision was to provide support to women who had been raped or sexually assaulted and to work against the elements of society that allowed sexual assault to continue without penalty.

The Rape Crisis Centre operated as a collective.

1978
The Rape Crisis Centre Kingston opened its crisis line for the first time.
Women now had a supportive group to voice issues of sexual violence and the impact of rape/sexual assault.

The Centre had 51 volunteer members; 33 were frontline volunteers trained to operate the 24-hour crisis line. Volunteers provided non-judgmental support, advocacy, public education, and accompaniment to police, hospitals, and court.

The Centre became incorporated July 5, 1978 and renamed the Sexual Assault Crisis Centre Kingston. Funding was provided by St. Lawrence College, Queen's University, service clubs, and private donations.

1991
The five-year Violence Against Women Initiative Program was funded by the Ministry of the Solicitor General. With this funding new positions were
developed: Public Education Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and Regional Services Coordinator.

1992
Funding from the Ministry of Correctional Services for a part-time counsellor at prisons for women was received. For the first time women inmates who had experienced sexual violence were provided with confidential counselling.

1993
SACCK became a modified collective in organizational structure and hired a Personnel Coordinator.
In May of 1993, SACCK was honoured with an award from the Canadian Mental Health Association recognizing the quality of service SACCK provided.

1995
New resource booklets were developed and printed. They were designed for immigrant women, refugee women and women of colour who are survivors of sexual violence. The goal of the project was to provide information regarding medical and legal resources in Kingston for these often marginalized women.

1996
A new Board of Directors was established and the Centre hired a Centre Coordinator and Administrative Assistant.

1997
SACCK received funding from the Health Promotion and Social Development Office and Health Canada for a Seniors Women's Program for survivors of sexual violence. A new resource manual was also printed for senior women.

2000
SACCK reaffirmed its commitment to being a modified collective in structure allowing staff, volunteers, and Board members an equal voice in decision making.

Employees voted to join the Canadian Auto Workers Union Local 830.

2002
SACK employees withdrew from the Canadian Auto Workers Union and returned to a staff association. The staff association began negiotiating directly with the CORE for a new collective agreement to take effect March 2003.

2003
SACCK officially changed its name to Sexual Assault Centre Kingston.

2007
SAC Kingston staff and Board voted to change the organizational structure from a modified collective to a participatory hierarchy. This organizational evolution provides the following benefits:

* better use of staff time allowing them to fulfill their obligations as outlined in job descriptions
* all staff will be more accountable
* strong leadership offers exciting opportunities for future expansion of the organization
* clarity in the role of the Board and ability of the Board to provide more of a leadership role
* and an opportunity to more effectively serve the women who come to us for support.

This decision was supported by funders and sister centres in the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres, most of whom have already pushed through to this evolution themselves.

The Sexual Assault Centre Kingston is now staffed by an Executive Director, Financial Coordinator, Public Education Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and four Counsellors.

This year, SAC Kingston received funding from the Community Foundation of Greater Kingston to update our library materials. SAC Kingston is also coordinating the production of a Sexual Assault Protocol to be used by service providers in the Kingston area funded by the Ontario Victims Services Secretariat.