Victims of Crime Awareness Week

The theme of the 8th Annual Nationals Victims of Crime Awareness Week is "We All Have a Role."

In our region Southwest Victim Services takes the lead.

"We exist to ensure that the basic services which a victim requires are met," said Coordinator Wayne Johnston. "That can vary from just sitting down over a cup of coffee, or referring a victim to professional counselling or to other agencies, or other health providers... that's what we do."

Southwest Victim Services is organized by the RCMP and is mostly staffed by volunteers all throughout the region. They are either informed of a need by fellow police officers or sometimes contacted directly.

Interview with Wayne Johnston"We'll sit down with the individuals to try and get an appreciation of where they are coming," Johnston said. "We make suggestions only about referrals for other groups or other agencies that may be able to help them."

Becoming a volunteer requires an RCMP security clearance process and a 40 hour initial training program. They have regular workshops on specific subjects to keep them trained to deal with new cases.

"One of my questions when an applicant comes to our office is why have you chosen our particular program," Johnston said. "Many people give us the same response... 'It's time for me to maybe pay back some of the help I received when I was going through rough times myself in earlier years' that's quite a common result... many of them have been victims of crime or a traumatic event."

Victims of Crime Awareness Week also recognizes the work of staff and volunteers across the province.

Interview with Gordon Wyant"I have had the opportunity to meet with a number of Victims Services staff and volunteers across the province since becoming Minister, and I’m always struck by how kind-hearted these people are,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant said.  “We could not ask for a more compassionate and dedicated group of people to be delivering these services.”

During Victims of Crime Awareness Week, all of the nearly 300 volunteer Victim Support Workers and nearly 90 board members will be recognized for their service to the people of their communities.  Minister Wyant hosted a luncheon at the Legislative Building for long-term volunteers who have completed 10, 15 and 20 years of service.

The program began in 1992 in the city of Swift Current and has since spread to Maple Creek, Shaunavon, Gull Lake, Tompkins, Leader, Ponteix, Gravelbourg, Morse, Herbert and 40 other smaller communities in the region.

They have a base of 35 trained volunteers who work out of the respective districts with the RCMP. There are Victim Services offices in each of the local RCMP detachments.

You can learn more at www.southwestvictimservices.ca and at www.victimsweek.gc.ca.