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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release November 2, 2009 |
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
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CRIME PREVENTION LEADERS CELEBRATED
VICTORIA – Suman and Manjit Virk have received B.C.’s highest honour in community safety and crime prevention for their outstanding contribution and extraordinary dedication to making communities better places to live, announced Solicitor General Kash Heed today in presenting the Anthony J. Hulme Award of Distinction.
“The Virks are the very embodiment of this lifetime achievement award,” said Heed. “They have drawn valuable lessons from their devastating personal tragedy that they share with young people in order to fight the scourge of bullying, and promote restorative justice to make British Columbia communities safer.”
Following the tragic murder of their 14-year-old daughter Reena in 1997, the Virks have spoken to kids in schools and at community events to prevent others from becoming victims of bullying and violence. They have also played a significant role in the promotion of restorative justice as a chance to reform youth who have become part of the criminal justice system.
The 11th Annual Solicitor General Crime Prevention and Community Safety Awards recognize excellence in children or youth leadership, media, local government leadership, crime prevention and community safety, and dedicated volunteers. Fourteen societies, groups, police officers and volunteers were recognized today at the Vancouver Public Library for their varied and innovative achievements in safety and crime prevention.
This year’s recipients include:
· A Burnaby resident who mobilized the community to deal with local criminal and social issues that made a real difference to the neighbourhood’s appearance and safety.
· A Vancouver police officer who developed a car restoration program to prevent at-risk kids from making choices that lead to a life of crime.
· One of the first volunteers for the Langley Block Watch program who has dedicated over 8,500 hours to date.
“Each of the men and women we recognize with these awards have shown by their commitment and enthusiasm that crime is not a fact of life – it is something that can be prevented,” said Heed. “All British Columbians benefit from their invaluable contribution and my hope is that others will be inspired to help make their communities better places to live.”
The winners of the awards are selected by a panel comprised of representatives from government, police and community organizations.
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A backgrounder follows.
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Contact:
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Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General 250 356-6961 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
BACKGROUNDER
November 2, 2009 Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
2009 SOLICITOR GENERAL COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION AWARDS RECIPIENTS
The Anthony J. Hulme Award of Distinction – honours extraordinary lifetime contribution and commitment to crime prevention and community safety.
Manjit and Suman Virk – Victoria
On Nov. 14, 1997, 14-year-old Reena Virk was swarmed, beaten, and drowned in the Gorge waterway in Victoria, B.C. Reena’s parents have shown bravery and generosity of spirit by sharing their story with young people in schools and community events in an effort to prevent similar tragedies. In addition, they demonstrated the incredible power of forgiveness as they participated in a restorative justice process.
In 2009, the Virks developed a DVD about what they call “the tragedy.” Manjit Virk has also published a book titled Reena: A Father's Story. The Virks continue to work with the community and youth to provide the fundamental message that bullying can only end if teens speak out before things get out of control.
Kenneth M. Lemckert Community Policing Award - recognizes an individual or community group that has provided exemplary leadership in the area of community policing.
Don Ford – Smithers
On Aug. 22, 1968, Don Ford was sworn into the first RCMP auxiliary constable training program in Smithers, B.C. Over the years, he has served in the communities of Prince George, Smithers and Quesnel. Many programs have benefited from Ford’s dedicated service, support and leadership including Search and Rescue, Neighbourhood Watch, Block Watch, Speed Watch and the Police Ski Patrol.
Ford remains active in the auxiliary constable program and is proud to have served 42 years in the program, making him the longest serving member in B.C. Ford's dedication to promoting community safety is an outstanding example of extraordinary service to the citizens of B.C.
Wael T. Audi Youth Policing Award - honours police officers who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to working with youth in their communities.
Sgt. Tim Houchen – Vancouver Police Department – Vancouver
Sgt. Tim Houchen believes that investing in young people will contribute to the creation of a better and safer society. Houchen noticed that by the time police get involved with a youth it was often too late to dissuade them from a life of crime. He decided to take action by developing the NASKARZ (Never Again Steal Cars) program.
Houchen’s vision began with the idea of restoring a rusty 1935 Ford with the help of youth from the downtown eastside. He has dedicated countless volunteer hours to the NASKARZ Program and has built lasting relationships with youths who are at risk. Houchen, along with the rest of the NASKARZ team, has greatly contributed to a reduction in car thefts committed by youth.
Crime Prevention & Community Safety Award – Community/Group/Organization -
recognizes exemplary leadership through developing innovative projects, key activities or initiatives to promote safe communities.
Surrey Board of Education – Surrey
The Surrey Board of Education has made crime prevention a priority by supporting innovative and successful educational and intervention programs in schools and the community. Beginning in 2004, with the introduction of a comprehensive safe schools policy and regulation, the board generously supported the implementation of several programs, including the Alternative to Suspension program, Wraparound Surrey, First Step and Straight Talk.
The Surrey Board of Education and its safe schools department are models of leadership and innovation, and are recognized for creating safe and healthy schools for all Surrey students.
Crime Prevention & Community Safety Award – Individual – honours exemplary leadership in the area of crime prevention and community safety and contributions to the development of innovative projects, key activities or initiatives to promote safe communities.
Carrie Chattell - Surrey
Carrie Chattell is the crime prevention programs co-ordinator for the Cloverdale/Port Kells district office of the Surrey RCMP. Chattell identified the need to thoroughly train citizens in a variety of crime prevention techniques and developed a six week course titled Protecting Yourself. This course provides training in personal safety, home security, community policing, preventing auto crime and fraud, and internet safety.
Chattel has also implemented several other crime prevention strategies at the community policing station. She is an innovative thinker who is dedicated to creating safer communities through education and collaborative efforts between the community and the police.
Diane Gillis – Burnaby
In 2005, Diane Gillis, a Burnaby resident who was concerned about prostitution, drugs, and crime in her neighbourhood, took action by founding the Kingsway Imperial Neighbourhood Association (KINA) with other local residents and business owners to help mobilize the community to address local criminal and social issues. Working with the city of Burnaby, the local RCMP, and other organizations, KINA advocates for services that address the many challenges related to the sex trade and illegal drug use. They also advocate for the development of positive alternative activities for local youth.
Children or Youth Leadership Award – honours positive role models for children or youth in their community and encourages their active participation in crime prevention and community safety projects.
Leave OUT Violence (LOVE) British Columbia – Vancouver
In 1993, LOVE was founded by Montreal native Twinkle Rudberg after the murder of her husband at the hands of a 14-year-old youth. The youth was purse snatching while under the influence of drugs as part of a gang initiation. Realizing that the youth was also a victim of the gang, Rudberg was inspired to help transform the situation through positive social action. LOVE is now an award winning grassroots organization with an office in Vancouver that encourages youth to become community leaders, and find their personal value and voice through photography, radio, video and film skills learned in the program. The group aims to end all types of violence by educating the next generation to do better and practice compassion.
McCreary Centre Society - Aboriginal Next Steps II (ANSII) – Vancouver
Sherry Simon designed the current ANS II program to nurture the creative potential of aboriginal youth. Young people in 10 communities across the province participated in workshops to discuss youth health and to identify protective factors and solutions for crime prevention and substance use. Their ideas and message were then shared with their schools and communities, which inspired others to turn their ideas into action by developing youth-led community projects.
Highlights of this project include producing international award winning claymation films, creating a youth council to work with the school board to help reduce the number of youth dropping out of school, designing conferences and camps to build bridges between youth and local elders, and helping to ease younger students' transition to high school. These programs have touched the lives of over 500 youth and are helping to support B.C.'s emerging leaders.
Local Government Award – recognizes outstanding leadership in the area of promoting and implementing crime prevention and community safety strategies within their community.
City of Kamloops – Kamloops
In 2006, the City of Kamloops experienced challenges including the prevalence of drug abuse, street prostitution, crack houses, a high incidence of property crime, and complaints of public disorder. City staff worked with local businesses, public service organizations and the RCMP to develop community-based strategies to address these problems.
This collaborative approach has been instrumental in reducing the number of crack houses, sex trade workers and the amount of drug use on the street. In addition, the rate of property crime or theft is down by 50 per cent compared to the previous year.
Service Club Award – recognizes outstanding contributions towards crime prevention and
community safety services.
Kamloops Blazers Hockey Club – Kamloops
Four years ago the Kamloops Blazers Hockey Club developed an initiative with the Kamloops RCMP to provide education and drug awareness for students in the area. The EDGE (Educate, Develop, Goals, Excel) initiative teamed young, aspiring junior hockey players with RCMP members to speak to sixth graders about the importance of being drug-aware, making good choices and having goals in life.
This program not only reaches out to and teaches youth audiences in school, but the youth presenters also learn a great deal about developing skills as leaders, mentors, and positive role models. The program provides 30 presentations a year, reaching over 700 students, and has been used as a model for programs in other areas based on the positive impact it has made on the schools and community.
Volunteer Award – honours an individual’s commitment to their community through outstanding contribution towards crime prevention and community safety.
Gordon Giles – Kamloops
Gord Giles began his auxiliary policing career in 1986 and dedicated over 17,000 hours to the auxiliary programs in Williams Lake, Tumbler Ridge, and Kamloops before retiring in 2009. He was responsible for the day-to-day functions of a group of 40 volunteers and spent at least 25 hours a week training and coordinating the volunteer teams. Many of the 17 volunteer programs currently operating would not exist without Giles’ help.
Shirley Walker – Mill Bay
Shirley Walker is a retired school teacher, long time resident of Mill Bay, and is well known within the communities of the Cowichan Valley. Walker started a Block Watch program in Mill Bay about 10 years ago with help from the South Cowichan Community Policing Advisory Society. The program has now grown to include 16 neighbourhoods. Walker has established a group email list that includes hundreds of recipients that RCMP use to update communities on crime trends.
Walker’s work has helped to promote safety and awareness in many communities. In order to improve road safety in Mill Bay, she donated 150 ‘slow down’ signs for use on roads deemed dangerous by concerned residents.
Edward Pearce – Chilliwack
Edward Pearce has been a valued and dedicated volunteer with the Chilliwack community policing society for the past 13 years. He began as a Speed Watch volunteer 10 years ago and has worked his way up to coordinating 25 volunteers. With his help, the program has checked over 60,000 vehicles and has logged over 1,400 hours of service, making this one of the most productive Speed Watch programs in B.C. Pearce has consistently dedicated almost 40 hours a week to the community policing office and also contributes his time to programs such as Block Watch.
Margaret “Mary” Dumbleton – Langley
In 1992, Margaret “Mary” Dumbleton became a volunteer for the Block Watch program in Langley. She was one of the first volunteers and has since worked tirelessly organizing and assisting at public meetings, delivering flyers and newsletters door-to-door in her community. She has also represented community police programs at public events, and helped the RCMP detachment with routine duties in the community.
Dumbleton spends an average of 14 hours a week volunteering and has dedicated over 8,500 hours to date. She is also a willing volunteer and spokesperson for the community police section, an active member of the Langley crime prevention society, and a volunteer for the Canadian Blood Services. Dumbleton retired from her position with Block Watch on her 85th birthday, but continues her volunteer work.
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Contact:
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Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General 250 356-6961 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
