Controversial men's help centre opens in Toronto

A new social assistance centre in Toronto is being described as an “unprecedented venue” due its mandate of offering support exclusively to men and boys.

Though its existence has raised as much conversation about whether the site is necessary at all as whether it should expand to other communities.

The Canadian Centre for Men and Families opened in Toronto on Monday and is said to be the first shelter service designed specifically for men. It a controversial stance some claim undermines the struggle women face in today’s society. Shelter organizers, however, don’t see it that way, claiming Canadian men are underserviced when it comes to social assistance.

The centre’s mandate statement reads:

The CCMF is fighting against difficult optics, being seen as a place designed to protect men’s rights amid growing awareness and appreciation for the struggles women face on a daily basis.

The argument is that while women’s rights are being addressed, men face increased difficulties that have gone relatively unnoticed.

According to statistics provided by the group, men are at a higher risk of alcohol abuse problems, and three times more likely to commit suicide.

Statistics Canada notes that the number of men graduating from university has been long surpassed by the number of women.

It is that inevitable comparison – men versus women – that leads to some of the discomfort. And has led some to question the centre’s mandate. Global News reports that the group behind the shelter has received criticism over its stance on men’s rights, and how that is perceived to affect the rights of women.

“I think they work really hard to discredit the feminist movement and to kind of take back a lot of the gains that women have made,” feminist blogger Anne Theriault told the network.

That group - the Canadian Association for Equality - has a history of controversy. It has been the subject of protest in the past, most recently while sponsoring an appearance by U.S. men’s rights activist Dr. Warren Farrell, who had been accused of spreading hate speech.

The centre’s organizers say there are not interested in creating a division between men’s and women’s rights, only ensuring men have a venue they can turn to as well.

“We’re not competing for victim status,” director Justin Trottier told the Globe and Mail. “This is more about raising awareness that many issues we tend to think about as women’s issues affect both men and women.”

The shelter itself is a long-time in the making. Considered the first men’s-only shelter in Canada, the group has been fundraising for more than a year, and was established based entirely on donations.

The group’s action plan, posted online earlier this year, noted that the centre would face some “inevitable critics,” and urged representatives not to engage in gender politics or debates about feminism.

"Because men have traditionally been cast as the oppressive factor in society, it is important not to compete for victimhood, but to emphasize collaboration and community with all people," the document reads.

"It will be important to acknowledge that men are responsible for a lot of destructive behaviour, and not to minimize that. But that does not detract from our need to understand, respect, and tend to men’s needs in society."