THE ADVOCATE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME

Along-time Crown prosecutor known for his work on some of B.C.’s most significant and high-profile criminal cases, Winston Sayson, KC was the recipient of the 2022 KPU Distinguished Alumni Award.

Highly regarded for his expertise in working with children and vulnerable victims and helping them through the criminal justice system with genuine care, Sayson was the first Filipino-Chinese Canadian lawyer given the honourary title of King’s Counsel, which recognizes exceptional merit and contribution to the legal profession.

Sayson, a retired trial Crown counsel with the B.C. Prosecution Service, had a storied, 30-year career during which he received countless accolades and awards. He says receiving the KPU Distinguished Alumni Award is particularly significant because it’s from the institution that gave him his start.

“It is deeply meaningful for me to be recognized with the 2022 KPU Distinguished Alumni Award,” says Sayson. “This brings back good memories of my first two years in Canada in a community college that was just founded. This award affirms the value of an academic education and vocational training from a polytechnic university.”

Sayson attended KPU from 1981 to 1983. At the time, he was a new immigrant from the Philippines. English was his third language, and KPU was instrumental to his adjustment to a new country and culture.

“I’m very grateful to KPU,” he says. “It was a safe place for a new immigrant to get used to and to be immersed in the Canadian way of life and culture.”

After he earned his university transfer courses, Sayson went on to UBC to obtain his bachelor of arts and law degrees. He had already established an exemplary career as a trial prosecutor when he decided to expand his knowledge so he could do more to help vulnerable victims who had been traumatized by crime. He did this by returning to KPU in 2004 to earn a citation in counselling skills.

“Having the skills that KPU provided to me greatly enhanced and improved my skills as a prosecutor,” explains Sayson. “It enhances your ability and wellroundedness to be a prosecutor with strong empathy and understanding of the trauma that victims of crimes are going through.

“People in my position have that opportunity,” he says. “When we make use of those opportunities, it gives much benefit to our community.”

Sayson’s compassion for others set him apart as a prosecutor and was a powerful example for young lawyers he took the time to mentor. His hope was always for them to surpass him in terms of their impact on the profession.

“When you see people become better than you in the areas of your expertise, it gives you happiness because they will continue to drive up the quality and excellence of the work that we do.”

It’s a sentiment that is evident in Sayson’s legacy in the B.C. criminal justice system. He supported the development of B.C.’s forensic nursing program by advocating for the use of expert evidence in court from forensic nurses. Forensic nursing is now widely recognized for providing compassionate medical care to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and providing valuable forensic evidence for court.

In 2015, he was presented the Vision Award from the International Association of Forensic Nurses in Orlando, Florida for his contribution to the promotion and advancement of the field. He also championed the Courthouse Dog Project, which now allows accredited facility dogs to comfort and support children or vulnerable witnesses as they give testimony in court.

“Thinking out of the box and advocating to make the criminal justice system a better, safer place for children and vulnerable victims are things that are important to me,” he reflects. “The work of the Crown in making people talk about their trauma is, sadly, a form of re-victimization. What we need to do is to think outside the box to find ways to mitigate their suffering.”

For his passionate work on behalf of crime victims and their families, Sayson was awarded the Criminal Justice System Leadership Award by the Police

Victim Services of British Columbia in 2010. In 2018, he received the 30-year Long Service Award from the Attorney General and the inaugural Leadership Award from the B.C. Prosecution Service. In 2019, he was presented the inaugural Lawyer of Distinction Award from the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Western Chapter.

He is quick to say, however, that any of his achievements were always the result of team effort from victim services workers, police officers, colleagues, support staff, counsellors, sheriffs and more.

“In the work that I do, it is always, always teamwork,” he says. “Everything and anything I accomplished was a result of team effort.”

It’s an ethic he has continued to embrace in his retirement through his work in the community. Today, he is actively involved as a speaker and advocate as well as a volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross and his church. He also continues to mentor and coach law students and new lawyers and shows no signs of slowing down.

“There is no reason why retirement should stop me from continuing to be of help, of assistance, and basically to be a cheerleader for people.”

He is grateful for the opportunities Canada and KPU provided him. He hopes that being recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award will inspire others to give back to their community.

“When I first immigrated to Canada I was determined to do what I can to help make the country that welcomed me and my family, and has offered me many opportunities, a better place. The desire to help other people and make Canada a better place is important to me.”

Over the years, Sayson has made many contributions to B.C. and Canada, saying he is most proud of the work he has done on behalf of victims of crime.

“When I have a small part in the redemption and the rebuilding of the lives of people whose lives have been broken by crimes, that, I believe, is the most important thing.” 

On December 5, 2022 Sayson was one of 15 people awarded the Medal of Good Citizenship by the Province of British Columbia. “This award celebrates British Columbians who have acted in a particularly generous, kind or selfless manner for the common good without expectation of reward.”