‘So important’: Victim services volunteers honored (11 photos)

On Thursday, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and victim services organizations from across Ontario came together at Hawk Ridge Golf Club in Severn to recognize volunteers who help support survivors and victims of crime and tragedy.

“Events like today are so important for many reasons as they give us the opportunity to thank and appreciate the long-standing and outstanding volunteers of our service who support survivors and victims of crime and tragic circumstances,” said Kim Kneeshaw, executive director North. Victim Services Simcoe.

The ceremony, which was billed by the OPP as a Crime Victims and Survivors recognition event, saw more than 25 recipients honored.

“This is an incredible opportunity to recognize our incredible volunteers who work tirelessly with our crime victims and alongside the OPP and gives us an opportunity to thank them for working 24/7, even because we were called overnight,” said Supt. OPP Veronica Eaton.

“This event is also a way for crime victims, even though they are not here today, to thank the volunteers who helped them in times of crisis and tragic circumstances.”

The ceremony included victim services from Caledon/Dufferin, Kawartha/Haliburton, North Simcoe, Simcoe County, Peterborough/Northumberland and Muskoka, as well as the OPP.

Each division chose up to five volunteers to be honored at the ceremony. Each recipient took home a certificate, plaque and glass trophy.

The following are the award recipients from all regions:

• Adrienne Readman (North Simcoe Victim Services)
• Montana Jervis (North Simcoe Victim Services)
• Sherry Telford (North Simcoe Victim Services)
• Margie Morey (Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services)
• Lynn Topping (Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services)
• Stephen Green (Kawartha Haliburton Victim Services)
• Scott Orsan (Major Crime Unit, OPP)
• Stefanie MacIntosh (Victim Specialist, OPP)
• Inspector Tim Tatchell (Kawartha Haliburton Victims Services)
• Terry Edmonds (Simcoe County Victim Services)
• Robert Burke (Simcoe County Victim Services)
• Karen MacDonald (Simcoe County Victim Services)
• Jon Duff (Victim Services of Muskoka)
• Marly Hanna (Victim Services of Muskoka)
• Zach Belfry (Victim Services of Muskoka)
• Jodee Hobor (OPP)
• Jamie Batisse (OPP)

During the ceremony, Kneeshaw explained how the program has supported a large number of victims over the years in the region.

“Last year alone, we answered over 900 calls,” Kneeshaw said, noting that calls have increased regularly over the past 25 years the agency has been in Orillia.

She also mentioned that it is a mostly volunteer organization.

“We used to have over 80 volunteers on the list and now we’re down to around 50 volunteers, so we’re very thin on our volunteer numbers (and) … for our vast reach, we need a lot of volunteers, ” she said.

After the awards were handed out, to close the ceremony, Det.-Sgt. Tanya Tremble, OPP Central Region, spoke about a project called Reach Out, which encourages victims of crime to seek support and never go unnoticed.

A common message at Thursday’s event was how services for victims have improved in recent years.

“Our support services have come a long way. Where they’ll be in five to 10 years is hard to predict, but in the last couple of years, we’ve seen vast improvements in the crime victim support system, and I see it getting better over the years,” Eaton said. .

More information about North Simcoe Victim Services can be found here.