Don Wright, who holds a Master's of Education in Counselling Psychology, is the Founder of B. C. Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse, which is the result of the 1997 amalgamation of Victoria Male Survivors of Sexual Assault Society (est. 1989) and Vancouver Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuser (est. 1990) both established by Don. These were the first agencies in Canada mandated to provide recovery options for males who were victims of childhood sexual abuse or recent sexual assault. Within the last couple years their contract has been expanded to include men who are victims of domestic violence. Don was the Executive Director of BCSMSSA up until June 2017 when a staff therapist was trained to take over that role. Don created and stepped into a new position as Education Coordinator, removing supervision of the agency’s Master’s and Doctoral student from the range of duties of the new Executive Director.
Over the years, Don has acted as a mentor and guide to the other new organizations across Canada that have subsequently been established. Also, a former student and then staff therapist, moved to Japan, his home country, to establish the first agency in that country for male survivors. Don has provided consultation to similar organizations in Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia. He has also provided consultation to the Provincial and Federal governments re: victims' issues.
In his new role as Education Coordinator Don supervises Master’s and Doctoral practicum students who have come to BCSMSSA from universities in eight countries. Don is also responsible for providing all of the agency's conference and training seminars across Canada and the US, as well as any other educational outreach projects. Recently, Don has been leading group for male members of ACTRA in light of the sexual abuse scandals in the film and theatre industry. His input has gone into the new collective agreement among unions in North American film industry.
He also maintains a case load of individual and group therapy clients on behave of BCSMSSA. In his words “This is what the agency is all about and I don't want to lose sight of that”.
In 2001, the B. C. Human Rigths commission awarded Don the B.C. Human Right Medal of Honour for his pioneering work in this field.
On October 27, 2017 the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Victim Services Division presented Don with the Award of Distinction for his life time achievement in his field.
