RECOGNITION OF DISTINCTION
We are thrilled and proud to report that long-time Child Witness Centre staff member Jo-Anne Hughes was one of five individuals from across the province to receive a Victim Services Award of Distinction. The awards are a ‘first’ in Ontario, having been established in December 2006 by Attorney General Michael Bryant to recognize the dedication and creativity of victim services professionals and volunteers, as well as victims and others affected by violent crime who have raised the profile of victims’ issues in their communities. Until now, no broad-based provincial program has existed to recognize those who support victims of crime.
Jo-Anne was honoured in a ceremony at Queen’s Park on April 26 for her outstanding service to victims of crime. The Attorney General described Jo-Anne as co-founder and current Program Co-ordinator for support and court preparation services provided by the Child Witness Centre serving Waterloo Region and Wellington County; as a person who has devoted her career to child victims; and as having designed and developed the child witness program, which is today viewed as unique and vital by organizations in the justice system and social service agencies across Ontario.
Other award recipients were Moonie Ali of Toronto for courage and perseverance in raising the profile of victim issues after losing her son to an act of senseless violence; Rick Goodwin, executive director of The Men’s Project in Ottawa, for developing an innovative treatment program for male survivors of sexual abuse; Brian Weller of York Region for volunteer efforts with the Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Services program; and Lynn Zammit of Waterloo Region who worked to develop and implement a school-based Choices for Youth Program and a restorative justice initiative aimed at school violence and bullying.
“The outstanding results of their efforts make Ontario communities stronger,” said Ministry Bryant.
SYMPOSIUM GIVES STUDENTS IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS
By Cara Honeywood, grade 8 student and winning entry in a news-writing assignment by teacher Louise Dawe at Lincoln Avenue Public School in Cambridge
Grade 8 students from Waterloo Region and Guelph attended the Child Witness Centre 2007 Youth Symposium on Thursday, April 19, at Studio 12 (formerly Silver City theatres) in Kitchener.
This special event hosted 1,635 students to help raise awareness and discuss serios youth issues such as bullying, Internet safety, gambling and drug addition, racism and achieving goals.
Each school had a choice of picking three out of 11 sessions offered during the full-day symposium.
Lincoln Avenue students first session was Choices, presented by Lee Fitzpatrick and Pete Barbuto of the Waterloo Regional Police Services. This presentation taught students that having a criminal record would be a big deal in their lives. Drugs and gambling are not good ways to be "cool" or relieve stress. Drugs just alter your health and ultimately kill you.
Students were told that gambling can become an addiction that is hard to break. It can put you into serious debt and lead you down a destructive path.
The second workshop for the Lincoln Avenue students, Cyber Stalking and Internet Safety, by Eugene Silva of the Waterloo Regional Police, used a real case study to demonstrate what can happen when people fill in profiles for chat rooms. In the case given, the 13-year-old was stalked, raped and left on a street corner in Toronto.
Eugene left the students with the powerful message to beware: you may not be talking to whom you think you are online. There are 25,000 to 50,000 known predators and pedophiles in Canada. Many misrepresent themselves in Internet chat rooms.
Lincoln students ended their day with the workshop, The Pecking Order, given by comedian DynaMike (Mike Bonnici). He rode a unicycle and juggled during his interactive discussion on bullying.
Presentations consisted of slide shows, video clips and case studies. The dynamic speakers sincerely wanted to help students think about and be aware of the issues facing youth todya. Startling statistics and true-life stories had the students glued to their seats. In the end they understood the sometimes severe consequences of making the wrong decisions.
From students' conversations as they left the building, one could tell that they were taking important life messages home with them about drugs, Internet safety and bullying.
The Child Witness Centre, which hosted the event, was established in 1983 to provide support and court preparation for child victims and witnesses under the age of 18, who are involved in the criminal justice system in Waterloo Region and Wellington County. Sertoma International, the major sponsor, is one of the oldest service clubs in North America.
CHILD VICTIMS IN WELLINGTON COUNTY TO RECEIVE
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
July 20, 2006 - Guelph
The Child Witness Centre of Waterloo Region is pleased to announce that, effective immediately, its services will be extended to child victims and witnesses in Wellington County.
Established in 1981, the Child Witness Centre is a registered charity, and provides these services for more than 325 child victims referred each year in Waterloo Region. More than 80% of the cases involve sexual or physical abuse or domestic violence. While the organization normally relies on community donations and United Way support to sustain its operations, this expansion of services to Wellington County has been made possible through a significant grant from the Victims’ Justice Fund, announced recently by Attorney General Michael Bryant.
Child Witness Centre services are provided free of charge and include:
- Support through each stage of the court process for child victims or witnesses age 17 or younger.
- Helping the child cope with the fear and apprehension of testifying through increased awareness of court proceedings and the role of a witness.
- Providing updates to the child and parents on the progress of their case.
- Providing information on counselling services available in the community.
- Helping parents to be effective in their support for the child.
- Scheduling and attending pre-trial meetings for the child with the Crown Attorney.
- Providing a ‘child friendly’ location where children wait before going to court.
- Accompanying children into the courtroom, and on occasion onto the witness stand.
- Assisting with the preparation of Victim Impact Statements.
- Explaining the verdict.
“The goal of the Child Witness Centre,” said Executive Director Jack Reynolds, “is to reduce the risk of the court process retraumatizing children who have already been victimized; to help protect their sense of self worth and get them through the process with their confidence intact. This is a vital service for children, and we’re pleased to now serve both Waterloo Region and Wellington County.
“As we move forward with this expansion, it is important to have Wellington County representation on our Board of Directors,” said Jack Reynolds. “I happy to announce that Kendra Pagnan has joined the Child Witness Centre Board. Kendra is a resident of Guelph, President of Citizen’s Concerned With Crime Against Children (Guelph 4Cs), and Vice-President of the Family and Children’s Services Guelph-Wellington Board.”
This change builds on the victim/witness services provided previously in Wellington County. From 1993 to early 2005, court preparation services for child victims were provided by Guelph 4Cs. Since March 2005 the Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) of the Ministry of the Attorney General has been delivering services to the County’s child victims and witnesses. The Child Witness Centre will now be working collaboratively with VWAP, Guelph Police Services, Ontario Provincial Police, the Crown Attorney’s office, Family and Children’s Services and others who support victims, to ensure that they receive the help needed while involved in the court process.
VWAP will continue to offer services to adults age 18 and over who are victims and/or witnesses of crime. The Child Witness Centre will offer its services to children under age 18. In cases where both the adult caregiver and the child are victims and/or witnesses of crime, the two services will collaborate to avoid confusion or duplication.
“The Child Witness Centre program provides specialized services of direct benefit to victimized children,” said Guelph MPP Liz Sandals. “The government’s support of this program demonstrates our commitment to improve the welfare of children in our community.”
Child Witness Centre services for Wellington County will be provided at 36 Wyndham Street South (at the lower level of the courthouse) in Guelph, and at other locations in Wellington County as required.
-30-
For information, contact:
Jack Reynolds, Executive Director, Child Witness Centre, 1-888-544-0904
www.childwitness.com
CAMBRIDGE & NORTH DUMFRIES SUPPORTS THE CHILD WITNESS CENTRE CASE WORKER TRAINING PROJECT
We are pleased to announce that the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation has supported the Child Witness Centre with a $1,500 grant. This funding, along with the continuous financial support from Shaughnessy Howell, a Waterloo training firm, that provides their services free of charge, will allow us to finish our Case Worker Training Project. This project is important because of the heavy reliance on the knowledge and experience of our two program co-founders, built over many years of involvement with this work. This project will capture the know-how of our program leaders and develop an effective training process that will include a self-paced, six-module child witness case worker training program.
News Release
Communiqué |
|
|
|
|
|
Ministry of the Ministère du
Attorney General Procureur général
For Immediate Release
April 21, 2006
ONTARIO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS PROGRAM FOR
CHILD VICTIMS AND WITNESSES IN WATERLOO REGION
AND WELLINGTON COUNTY
KITCHENER - The McGuinty government is supporting child victims and witnesses of crime by providing the Child Witness Centre of Waterloo Region with $165,000 from the Victims’ Justice Fund, Attorney General Michael Bryant announced today.
“Protecting vulnerable Ontarians is an important commitment, and we are pleased to support the centre’s work in helping children cope with victimization and reducing the trauma suffered by young witnesses,” said Bryant. “The centre is renowned for providing effective support services and court preparation for child victims and witnesses 16 years of age and younger.”
The Centre’s services, which are provided free of charge, include the following:
- Providing “child friendly” rooms where staff help children prepare for court and wait with them before they attend at court. This facility, available in Kitchener and Cambridge, enables children to be kept apart and sheltered from the accused
- Educating the child on court proceedings and the role of a witness
- Providing updates to the child and parent or guardian on the progress of a case
- Offering support and assistance through each stage of the court process, including accompanying children into the courtroom
- Assisting with the preparation of Victim Impact Statements
- Explaining the verdict.
“We are very pleased that the government has provided funding to the Centre, which offers invaluable help and assistance to more than 550 children and youth in the region each year,” said Jack Reynolds, Executive Director of Child Witness Centre of Waterloo Region.
“This program provides direct assistance and benefits to children who are victims of violence or witnesses to violence,” said John Milloy, MPP Kitchener-Centre. “The government's support of this program demonstrates our commitment to improve the welfare of children in our community.”
- 30 -
Contacts:
Greg Crone
Minister’s Office
(416) 326-1785
|
Brendan Crawley
Communications Branch
(416) 326-2210
|
Disponible en français
www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca
|