A Guide to Medical Care After Sexual Assault in Alberta
This resource contains information on services for people in Alberta seeking medical care after sexual assault. Services include Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs), medical sexual assault exams, and general medical care and emotional support. If you do not see the name of where you live on this list go to the location closest to you, or contact 811 to learn about options closer to home.
Access to medical care and treatment is available even if there is no apparent injury. Most sexual assaults do not result in visible injuries. Accessing medical care after sexual assault can connect people to appropriate testing and referrals, such as to sexual assault centres, but it is a personal choice to decide to access medical services. Healing looks different for everyone, and medical care is just one response option. Accessing medical services is not a requirement for accessing SACE services.
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Locations
General Medical Care and Emotional Support Locations
Who can access
People of all genders who have recently been sexually assaulted.
When to access
Within one week (7 days) of the sexual assault for anyone 14 years or older.
Within 3 days (72 hours) for anyone 13 years old or younger (at the Stollery Children’s Hospital).
How to access SART Edmonton
Go to the Emergency Room at any of the hospitals below and tell the triage nurse you would like to see the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) or that you’ve been sexually assaulted.
Where to access SART Edmonton
* Grey Nuns
1100 Youville Drive W Northwest, Edmonton, AB T6L 5X8
* This facility is operated by Covenant Health, a Catholic Healthcare provider. According to their Health Ethics Guide, people should be able to access medical care following a sexual assault, including emergency contraception. However, those seeking abortion services will likely be advised of the religious restrictions that prevent Catholic hospitals from offering abortion
* This facility is operated by Covenant Health, a Catholic Healthcare provider. According to their Health Ethics Guide, people should be able to access medical care following a sexual assault, including emergency contraception. However, those seeking abortion services will likely be advised of the ethical restrictions that prevent Catholic hospitals from offering abortion
Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital
9401 86 Avenue, Fort Saskatchewan, AB T8L 0C6
Leduc Community Hospital
4210 48 Street, Leduc, AB T9E 5Z3
Strathcona Community Hospital
9000 Emerald Drive, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 0J3
Sturgeon Community Hospital
201 Boudreau Road, St. Albert, AB T8N 6C4
Westview Health Centre
4405 S Park Drive, Stony Plain, AB T7Z 2M7
Where to access SART Calgary
Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre
1213 4 Street SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0X7
Alberta Children’s Hospital
(For those under 14 years)
28 Oki Drive NW Calgary, AB T3B 6A8
Who can access
People of all genders who have recently been sexually assaulted.
When to access
Within 4 days (96 hours) of the sexual assault.
Additional support
All patients receive referrals for follow-up care, including the local sexual assault centre.
How to access SART Lethbridge
Within Lethbridge:
Outside of Lethbridge:
Where to access SART Lethbridge
Chinook Regional Hospital
960 19 Street S Lethbridge, AB T1J 1W5
Where to access SART Lloydminster
Lloydminster Hospital
3820 43 Avenue Llyodminster, SK S9V 1Y5
Who can access
Anyone 14 years or older who has been sexually assaulted. For anyone under 14, pediatrics is called and the SART team is not included.
When to access
Within 4 days (96 hours) of the sexual assault.
How to access SART Medicine Hat
Within Medicine Hat:
Outside of Medicine Hat:
Where to access SART Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat Regional Hospital
666 5 Street SW Medicine Hat, AB T1A 4H6
Who can access
Anyone who has been affected by sexual violence can access the SART program. For those who are under the age of 13, the SART team will still respond, but a pediatrician will do the examination.
When to access
Anyone at anytime can go to the hospital. However, to collect a forensic kit needs to be completed within 7 days.
Please note, Option 3 (medical care, forensic evidence collection, with no immediate reporting to police) is offered at the SART nurse’s discretion.
Additional support
A Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) trained SART member can provide an information package and a support package (including a blanket and stuffed animal).
How to access SART Red Deer and Central Alberta
Go to the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre’s Emergency Department and tell the triage nurse you would like to see the Sexual Assault Response Team or tell them you’ve been sexually assaulted.
Where to access SART Red Deer and Central Alberta
Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre
3942 50a Avenue Red Deer, AB T4N 4E7
The Lake Louise Medical Centre recently completed Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) training & can now conduct both medical treatment and forensic examinations (sexual assault exam kit) for the Lake Louise community. This is an important step in increasing access to specialized sexual assault services – previously individuals had to travel to Calgary for the exam.
Who can access
People of all genders who are 16 years or older, who have been recently sexually assaulted.
For anyone under 16 years old, the clinic will arrange transportation to CSART in Calgary.
When to access
The Sexual Assault Evidence kit can be completed within 4 days (96 hours) of the sexual assault.
Medical and mental health care will be provided to survivors regardless of timeline since assault.
Additional support
3rd option evidence storage is available through self-referral at the Lake Louise Medical Clinic, or with an RCMP member if the survivor has chosen to report. The kits will be kept anonymously at the local police detachment, with a file number associated with their patient’s chart at the clinic.
Survivors will be able to continue their care at the clinic for medical follow-ups regarding testing (self swabs/blood work), along with STI treatments, pregnancy prevention or termination.
How to access SART Lake Louise
Call the clinic and follow the prompts.
The clinic can be called any time of day and has trained physicians available 24/7.
Please note that walk-in services are not currently available so a call must be placed to access services
Where to access Lake Louise SART in the Bow Valley Region
Lake Louise Medical Centre
200 Hector Rd, Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0
Note: This is a general clinic/medical care setting where a sexual assault exam, and medical/mental health care regarding sexual assault can be accessed with trained physicians.
Sexual Assault Medical Exams
The following locations do not have SART programs but offer sexual assault exams for people who have recently been sexually assaulted. Please note that, while sexual assault exams can include the collection of evidence and reporting to the police, the following locations do not offer the third option of collecting and storing evidence without immediate reporting.
Additional Support
in Athabasca, Bonnyville, Lac la Biche, and St. Paul
Dragonfly Counselling & Support Centre (DCSC) satellite offices may be available to provide hospital accompaniment during business hours (Monday – Thursday 8:30am-4:00pm). To access this service please call 780.812.3174.
Additional Support
For hospital accompaniment contact the Sexual Assault Program at Waypoints at 780.791.6708.
Athabasca Healthcare Centre
3100 48 Avenue, Athabasca, AB T9S 1M9
*Bonnyville Healthcare Centre
5001 Lakeshore Drive, Bonnyville, AB T9N 2J7
*This facility is operated by Covenant Health, a Catholic Healthcare provider. According to their Health Ethics Guide, people should be able to access medical care following a sexual assault, including emergency contraception. However, those seeking abortion services will likely be advised of the ethical restrictions that prevent Catholic hospitals from offering abortion.
Northern Lights Regional Hospital
7 Hospital Street, Fort McMurray, AB T9H 1P2
William J Cadzow – Lac la Biche Healthcare Centre
9110 93 Street, Lac la Biche, AB T0A 2C0
*St. Therese – St. Paul Healthcare Centre
4713 48 Avenue, St. Paul, AB T0A 3A3
*This facility is operated by Covenant Health, a Catholic Healthcare provider. According to their Health Ethics Guide, people should be able to access medical care following a sexual assault, including emergency contraception. However, those seeking abortion services will likely be advised of the ethical restrictions that prevent Catholic hospitals from offering abortion.
General Medical Care and Emotional Support Services
The following locations offer medical care for people who have recently been sexually assaulted, and have services that can provide emotional support nearby. Anyone can access medical care following a sexual assault from an emergency physician, urgent care physician, or family physician across the province. Emergency physicians are also able to conduct the forensic evidence kit collection.
Please note that forensic evidence collection is not an Alberta Health Services insured service, therefore emergency physicians are not obligated to perform this examination and/or may not feel comfortable doing so.
For information and support making decisions regarding medical care, contact the Harmony Project’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response program (Monday-Saturday, 9:00am – 5:00pm) to speak with a Sexual Violence Support Worker. They are able to provide support over the phone, in the YWCA Banff office, or in the hospital.
*Banff Mineral Springs Hospital
305 Lynx Street, Banff, AB T1L 1H7
*This facility is operated by Covenant Health, a Catholic Healthcare provider. According to their Health Ethics Guide, people should be able to access medical care following a sexual assault, including emergency contraception. However, those seeking abortion services will likely be advised of the ethical restrictions that prevent Catholic hospitals from offering abortion
Canmore General Hospital
1100 Hospital Place, Canmore, AB T1W 1N2
For people living in this Northwest region of Alberta, medical care after a sexual assault can be accessed at the emergency room of the nearest hospital. Staff at the hospital can connect people who’ve been sexually assaulted to a Victim Service Unit and provide information regarding Pace Community Support, Sexual Assault, and Trauma Centre (Pace).
Crisis support for people living in the region is also available through the Peace Country Sexual Assault Helpline at 1.888.377.3223.
PACE Centre