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Vol. 14, No. 13, Wednesday, February 13, 2019 www.LamontLeader.com
Victim Services presentation surprises Bruderheim council 25 Bruderheim calls, 38 Lamont area calls BY JOHN MATHER Bruderheim council got a rather harsh insight into local victims of crime during their Feb 6. meeting. “We’ve had a number of victims from Bruderheim in the last year,” said Lauren Reid, the executive director of the Volunteer Programs Association, during a report to council. “Some of these victims we’ve been out to see several times.” She said her program, part of the Fort Saskatchewan Victim Services and Restorative Justice, works in the same area covered by the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP although they are very discreet in their operations. “We had 25 call outs in Bruderheim in 2018, “ she said. “We’ve been out here more than ever.” She said the numbers tend to go up and down as do police files. Restorative justice can be referred to in three ways, she explained, through police files, crown prosecutor or selfreferral. Reid told council if people were feeling threatened in any way they could reach out for self-referral and a caseworker would come out and visit. She added, the Fort program was one of the few in the province that dealt with both youth and adults. “We always keep the victim in mind in the process,” she said. “We’re a policed-based victim services. Our base funding comes through the solicitor general’s department.” She stated the organization has herself, a court caseworker, and six advocates who are volunteers. “Every time there’s a victim of crime in our area, within 24 to 48 hours there
is one of us reaching out to the victim ness of the program victim’s services provides. to lend support.” “We have a lot of crime happening She told council the organization is always looking for volunteers. But, she out this way and to have all the advopointed out, ”it’s not easy being an cates from the Fort Saskatchewan area, puts us at a advocate.” bit of a dis“You need advantage.” a security Councillor clearance G e o r g e from the Campbell RCMP and wondered there is a why the course that crime was has to be up in this taken. They area. have to be “Is it an familiar with economic first aid and thing or suicide prewhat?” vention. Reid said “ W e ’ d she didn’t love to have really think a volunteer about the from the root causes Bruderheim of the need area. That for victim would give support. us someone “I think in a who knows lot of cases the commuits just more nity better, people are which is reporting important.” issues,” she She added A Facebook post from two years ago was cirsaid. She in the comculating like it was new this week, reporting added that ing year, an armed robbery at Stawnichy’s in Mundare besides the she’d like to from 2017. With the rash of rural robberies in 25 cases in attend more Alberta in the past few years this post was Bruderheim events in the alarming with the belief that it happened in the past Bruderheim again. However, all is well at the sausage year, there and Lamont house. Reminder to always check dates on were 38 vicarea to create internet re-posts. tims in the an aware-
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Lamont area. In total the victim services unit dealt with 442 victims in 2018. “I’d like to think more people are coming forward rather than more crime. People are calling in more to report thefts. More people are realizing the importance of creating those files than just letting things go.” “When a victim is referred to us the police ask them first if they want help, and we do a follow up. More people are being helped and we see a lot of repeat victims.” She said the people they help could be victims of theft, family violence of other causes. Councillor Len Falardeau suggested the organization leave brochures and cards at the town office, so people can get more information out to the community. Reid added many of the advocates are very private because of the nature of the complaints. “They just like to quietly do their work in private,” said Reid. “We’re not counsellors or legal aid, we’re just the middle man. We refer people to other agencies for further support.” Councillor Judy Schueler asked if there were any preventative measures Bruderheim could take to try and reduce the numbers. Reid suggested education and peer support groups dealing with grief or family violence would probably help immensely. Currently the closet shelter for domestic violence is in Sherwood Park. Another one, said Reid, is slated to be built in Morinville. She added victim services doesn’t do any work in the schools.