Canada
Helplines, statutory routes, and cult-recovery networks for survivors and concerned family in Canada. Many provincial services exist alongside the federal lines below.
Canada has good federal helpline provision for the most-acute concerns and a relatively well-developed cult-recovery community concentrated around Info-Secte in Montreal and ICSA Canadian members. Provincial human-rights and child-protection services vary by province; the federal lines below will route appropriately.
Quebec and British Columbia have produced notable cult-related legal cases (Fondation Roch Thériault; the BC polygamy reference judgment). Canadian charity oversight is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency.
If you are in immediate danger
- Emergency services· 24/7911Police, ambulance, fire — for immediate threat to life or safety.
What situation are you in?
If you are worried about someone in a high-control group
Sustain low-pressure contact. Learn the specific group. Avoid confrontation. Position yourself as a soft landing. The /guides/what-to-do-if-loved-one-joined-a-cult guide covers the long version. Loved-one guide →
If you are inside a high-control group
Talk to a single trusted person outside the group. Open a group-invisible communication channel. Begin mapping financial, housing, and employment dependencies. The leaving guide has the longer version. Leaving guide →
If you recently left
Give yourself a long enough horizon for recovery. Religious-trauma-aware therapy materially helps. Build ordinary relationships outside the tradition. Rebuild-identity guide →
If children are involved
Children's situations are not adult-exit-planning. Statutory child-safeguarding helplines and family-law specialists are the appropriate route. Children guide →
If money, documents, or housing are controlled
Document control overlaps with trafficking and domestic-abuse frameworks. The specialist helplines listed on this page are the right first call. Document-control guide →
Domestic abuse and coercive control
- ShelterSafe (national DV shelter finder)Find local women's shelters and crisis support across Canada. Provincial helplines vary; the site routes to the right one.
- Assaulted Women's Helpline (Ontario)· 24/71-866-863-0511 WebsiteOntario-based 24/7 helpline; provincial coverage with national referrals.
Modern slavery and trafficking
- Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline· 24/71-833-900-1010 WebsiteConfidential 24/7 helpline. Appropriate where document, financial, employment, or immigration control is part of the situation.
Child safeguarding
- Kids Help Phone· 24/71-800-668-6868 WebsiteFree 24/7 helpline for children and youth. Bilingual (English / French); other languages by arrangement.
- Provincial child protection servicesEach province operates a child-protective services agency. The federal landing page links to each provincial route.
Mental-health crisis
- Talk Suicide Canada· 24/71-833-456-4566 WebsiteNational suicide-prevention helpline. Text 45645 in evenings.
Cult-recovery networks
- Info-Secte / Info-CultMontreal-based bilingual resource centre on cults and high-control groups. Long-standing; runs library, family support, and educational outreach.
- ICSA CanadaCanadian members of the International Cultic Studies Association maintain referrals across English Canada.
Legal and safeguarding routes
- Canada Revenue Agency — Charities listingPublic registry of registered Canadian charities with annual filings.
Printable quick-reference checklist
- If immediate danger: 911.
- Trafficking / document control: 1-833-900-1010.
- Domestic abuse: ShelterSafe routes to local provincial support.
- Children at risk: Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 or provincial child protection.
- Suicide / mental-health crisis: Talk Suicide Canada 1-833-456-4566.
- Cult-specific support: Info-Secte (FR/EN) or ICSA Canada.
This page is educational and not legal, medical, or clinical advice. CLCI Hub does not endorse or vouch for any specific service. See the Legal Disclaimer for the full statement. Found a helpline that has changed? Submit a correction.