October 2, 2009

Two North Bay individuals were recognized for exemplary service to Victims of Crime at a meeting of the Ontario Network of Victim Service Providers held in Kingston, Ontario earlier this week. They were nominated by local VCARS Executive Director, Carolyn Couchie.

Janine Lafreniere, Executive Director of the Nipissing Transition House was nominated and won in the category of Service Providers who deliver exceptional service to victims for her innovative project “End the Cycle of Abuse” as well as her recent involvement in the Calendar Girls project and the local Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee Education subcommittee.

Our Victim Services Officer, Constable Melodee Prevost was nominated and won in the category of Field Practitioners who develop and implement innovative victim service programs and projects. Constable Prevost has been instrumental in changing and developing policy within the police service; proactive with pilot projects and protocols partnered with Victim Services (VCARS); and her involvement on victim-specific committees in the community.

The awards were presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Network of Victim Services Providers by Ministry of the Attorney General representative Diane Dupont, Manager, Ontario Victim Services Secretariat, East Region. Also receiving awards in the category of Individuals who have raised the profile of victims’ issues were Izaak and Wendy Bayne of Brant County. Izaak was the victim of a brutal assault in 2004 and they tell his story to youth with a message about bullying and choices.

The Ontario Network of Victim Services Providers represents 33 member Victim Service agencies and VCARS throughout the Province.