Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Nov. 4, 2011
Solicitor General Honours B.C.'s Crime Prevention Heroes
BURNABY - Local crime prevention leaders from around the province are being honoured today at the annual Solicitor General Community Safety and Crime Prevention Awards.
The highest honour of the day, the Anthony J. Hulme Award, went to Balwant Sanghera for his long-time commitment to making his community of Richmond a diverse, supportive and safer place to live.
Sanghera is a recognized force in Richmond community-building and a tireless activist for multiculturalism. He is past president and director of the Richmond Multicultural Concerns Society that provides language, settlement and advocacy supports to new immigrants. He is a founding member and chairperson of the South Asian Community Coalition Against Youth Violence, an organization that strives to raise awareness about the devastation of crime, violence and gangs. He is also active in the East Richmond Community Association and president of the Punjabi Language Education Association (PLEA).
Other recipients this year include:
Quotes:
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Shirley Bond -
"Preventing crime in our communities is something that starts with all of us. The dedication of the men, women and young people we're honouring today is all the proof we need of that. I can only hope that during BC Crime Prevention Week, they inspire more British Columbians to consider how they can participate and do their part to make our communities safer."
Linda Reid, MLA for Richmond East -
"The Anthony J. Hulme Award recognizes crime prevention pioneers - those who have made an extraordinary contribution to their community's vibrancy and connectivity. With his boundless commitment and sense of leadership, Mr. Sanghera is an exemplary British Columbian and a role model to all of us."
Quick Facts:
The Solicitor General's awards recognize excellence and leadership in crime prevention and community safety among children or youth, service clubs, media, businesses, local governments, community policing and individual, dedicated volunteers.
- Award recipients are selected by the Provincial Safe Communities Working Group, which is comprised of representatives from government, police and community organizations.
A backgrounder follows.
Contact:
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
250 356-6961
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect
BACKGROUNDER
For Immediate Release
2011PSSG0135-001416
Nov. 4, 2011
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
2011 Award Recipients
Kenneth M. Lemckert Community Policing Award - recognizes an individual or
community group that has provided exemplary leadership in the area of
community policing.
Auxiliary Constable Cindy von Kampen - Comox Valley RCMP - Courtenay
Aux. Const. Cindy von Kampen spearheaded many strategic crime prevention
partnerships in the community of Courtenay and has been the president of
the Comox Valley Citizens on Patrol (COPS) program since 2007. She manages
a group of 58 volunteers who average more than 15,000 hours each year and
she is responsible for overseeing the Speedwatch and Stolen Auto Recovery
System program. Since graduating from the RCMP Auxiliary Constable program
in 2008, von Kampen consistently exceeds her 160 mandatory volunteer hours
through events like Project Pride, which is aimed at educating elementary
school students on the history of Canada, and Dock Watch, which provides
boating safety education. She also makes herself available to speak on
topics such as bullying and staying safe, issues that directly involve
seniors, fraud, counterfeit currency and shoplifting.
Sgt. Mike Novakowski - Abbotsford Police, Youth Squad - Abbotsford
After a series of gang-related homicides in 2008 and 2009, Sgt. Mike
Novakowksi developed and implemented several programs to promote positive
life choices to youth, their parents and the community. These campaigns
included a series of posters, videos, radio commercials and school
presentations to thousands of Abbotsford students from elementary school
right through to secondary school. Novakowski also generated provincial
anti-gang awareness through campaigns that involved speaking to more than
3,000 parents and using a seized Hummer as a rolling crime-prevention
billboard.
Wael T. Audi Youth Policing Award - honours police officers who have
demonstrated outstanding commitment to working with youth in their
communities.
Const. Davin Turner and Const. Mark Zawadsky - Abbotsford Police -
Abbotsford
Through their work with the Abbotsford Police Department's Youth Squad,
Const. Davin Turner and Const. Mark Zawadsky have been instrumental in
uniting their community and eliminating a serious youth rivalry that
threatened the safety of Abbotsford School District. They implemented a
conflict intervention strategy in 2009 involving youth, family, friends,
police, the Abbotsford Restorative Justice Action Association, the
Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Crown counsel and Abbotsford
Community Services to address the conflict. Over a period of many months,
the intervention was successful in engaging the youth to focus on their
educational goals and put the conflict behind them. Turner and Zawadsky's
proactive approach represents the highest form of service to youth in the
community of Abbotsford.
Const. Richard Lavallee - Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver
In his position as Aboriginal liaison for the Vancouver Police Department,
Const. Richard Lavallee has been a police liaison for the urban Aboriginal
population since 2005. He serves as the primary contact for multiple
Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal agencies in Vancouver and works closely with
community partners to provide healthy activities for at-risk Aboriginal
youth. Const. Lavallee has developed trusting relationships with youth in
the Broadway Youth Resource Centre Breakfast Club, the Urban Native Youth
Association, Aboriginal Youth First and the Eastside Aboriginal Space for
Youth and has become a positive role model in many of their lives, among
them former gang members.
Crime Prevention & Community Safety Award - Community Organization -
recognizes exemplary leadership through developing innovative projects,
key activities or initiatives to promote safe communities.
WISH Drop-in Centre Society - WISH Peer Safety Patrol (PSP) Program -
Vancouver
The WISH Drop-in Centre Society's Peer Safety Patrol Program (PSP) is
aimed at reducing violence against women involved in street-based sex work
by training and hiring them to join the safety patrol team and provide
support services to their peers. The women are trained in life skills,
self-care, anti-violence, self defence, situational de-escalation,
communications, report-taking and safe needle collection. This innovative
program not only provides skills to women; it provides support to sex
workers and has a positive impact on neighbouring residents and
businesses.
Ridge Meadows Youth and Justice Advocacy Association (RMYJAA) - Maple
Ridge
Since September 1994, the Ridge Meadows Youth and Justice Advocacy
Association has been assisting 12- to 17-year-old youth in conflict with
the law. The association works with the community, RCMP and Crown counsel
to help youth recognize the harm of their actions, accept responsibility
and be accountable for their offences. Through its restorative resolution
program, the association promotes responsibility, reliability, and
resiliency through creative education, intervention, and prevention. In
the Association's 17 years of service, it has received more than 1,900
referrals and was the first association of its kind to receive direct
referral from Crown counsel.
Vancouver School Board - Youth Empowered and Safe (YES), Vancouver
Starting in 2007, the Youth Empowered and Safe (YES) project has brought
together community and school resources to address key risk factors for
youth, identify gaps in youth services and develop strategies in response.
The YES project helped to establish a Community Assessment and Action
Network with police, the City of Vancouver, community agencies and the
school district. YES also collaborated with Vancouver School Board
Multicultural Liaison Workers and Settlement Workers in developing and
translating parent presentations and the booklet, Steering Kids Away From
Gangs: What Parents Need to Know, in six languages.
As well, YES increased access for grades five to seven students to the
Respect, Safety and Violence Prevention Program and developed successful
student mentorship programs and groups for vulnerable youth transitioning
from elementary school to high school.
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.
Pat Kelln - New Westminster
Pat Kelln has worked tirelessly since 1999 to aid women who have
experienced domestic violence. In 2003, Pat started the Shoe Memorial on
Dec. 6 to commemorate the Montréal Massacre and female victims of
violence. The annual event leaves a lasting impression, spreading
awareness through the display of hundreds of pairs of women's shoes at the
Vancouver Art Gallery steps. For each pair of shoes, there is a name and a
date of a woman who lost her life due to violence.
Kelln has also participated in a safety audit of the New Westminster
Police communications centre, authored a legal resource manual for
advocates working on violence against women issues and presented at
several workshops on domestic violence. She is a past director of the BC
Crime Prevention Association and the BC Coalition for the Elimination of
the Abuse of Seniors as well as a co-ordinator and facilitator of
Disability 101.
Debby Hamilton and Sgt. Robb Daly - Vernon
Since 2009, Sgt. Robb Daly of the Vernon RCMP and Debby Hamilton,
executive director of Vernon Women's Transition House Society, have been
instrumental in the development of the North Okanagan Integrated Case
Assessment Team (ICAT). ICAT is a wrap-around process that increases
safety to victims and holds offenders accountable for their actions. It
also encourages information sharing between local justice, health and
community service agencies to pinpoint risk factors that can lead to
serious harm for victims of domestic violence. They promote this model
through workshops to regional and provincial audiences and have each
contributed countless volunteer hours collaborating with communities and
sharing their expertise.
Carolyn Sinclair - Surrey
Carolyn Sinclair is a passionate advocate for those impacted by disaster,
crime or trauma. She has been the executive director of Police Victim
Services of British Columbia since 2000 and executive director of the BC
Crime Prevention Association since 2009. She is also the managing director
of the Justice Access Society for Maintaining Independence and
Empowerment, deputy director of New Westminster Emergency Social Services,
instructor of Forensic Anthropology at the University of the Fraser
Valley, instructor of Emergency Management at the Justice Institute of
British Columbia and a member of the Provincial Disaster Psychosocial
Services Initiative.
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.
Jordan Choo and Jaci Benson - Rutland Senior Secondary, Kelowna
As graduating students in 2010 from Rutland Senior Secondary, Jordan Choo
and Jaci Benson produced three public service announcements for
Crimestoppers and the Kelowna RCMP on cyber-bullying, graffiti and drug
prevention awareness. Jaci and Jordan displayed professional
organizational skills and commitment to the project and brought together
10 other students to assist in acting and production. Both Jordan and Jaci
are now enrolled in Capilano University's Motion Picture Arts Degree
program.
Local Government Award - recognizes outstanding leadership in the area of
promoting and implementing crime prevention and community safety
strategies within their community.
City of Surrey
The City of Surrey has made community safety an essential priority to
building health and prosperity among its citizens. In 2007, Surrey
implemented a Crime Reduction Strategy that was developed in collaboration
with the RCMP, over 50 community groups, members of the public and all
levels of government. The comprehensive plan is designed to create
innovative, community-based solutions to crime reduction and safety. The
work of the last four years has resulted in many new partnerships,
holistic problem-solving approaches, and progress in addressing the root
causes of crime in Surrey. A comprehensive three year Progress Report
(2006 - 2010 achievements) has been completed and is available online at
http://www.surrey.ca/files/CRS_Progress_Report_2007-2010_FINAL.pdf.
Media Award - honours an individual's commitment for actively promoting
crime prevention and community safety programs either by audio, visual,
and/or written methods.
British Columbia Association of Broadcasters
The British Columbia Association of Broadcasters (BCAB) represents private
television and radio broadcasters of the province and its members are
proud to promote and contribute to community-building programs. Through
their annual Humanitarian Award, the BCAB provides one charitable
organization a year with a full 52-week advertising schedule, with
significant television and radio airtime free of charge, exposing millions
of people to the organization's cause. In 2010, the BCAB's Humanitarian
Award winner was the Children of the Street Society for their Predator
Watch campaign to combat online sexual exploitation of children and youth.
Corporate Award - honours an organization for outstanding contributions
towards crime prevention and community safety strategies.
ADT Security Canada - Burnaby
Since 1991, ADT has been offering help to victims of domestic violence
across Canada. ADT has taken the initiative to fight domestic violence
through its business by creating the Domestic Violence Emergency Response
System (DVERS). Operating in 38 communities across Canada, DVERS provides
families at high risk of domestic violence with monitored security at no
charge. DVERS is co-ordinated at the local level by social service
agencies, local law enforcement and ADT representatives.
Volunteer Award - honours an individual's commitment to their community
through outstanding contribution towards crime prevention and community
safety.
Ken Ryan - Burnaby
Ken Ryan began volunteering in 1995 with the Burnaby police and currently
sits on the Community Policing Advisory Committee. In 1996, he became a
Block Watch co-ordinator and helped to double the active blocks in that
community over the last 15 years. He sits on Burnaby's Anti Graffiti
Committee and works with youth from eight different elementary schools as
director of the Lochdale Community School Association. He also works on
youth programs within Burnaby as a member of Optimist International.
Gordon and Kathleen Jones - Vancouver
Gordon and Kathleen Jones have volunteered with the Vancouver Speed
Voluntary Watch program since 1996 and 1997 respectively. Since then, they
have contributed more than 4,500 volunteer hours each, conducting speed
watch setups with the program almost every weekend. They have organized
and conducted special training sessions for the Vancouver Police Speed
Watch members and given community police office Speed Watch workshops
sponsored by ICBC for more than six years. Gordon and Kathleen developed
the Site Record - Traffic Analysis Report form for the Vancouver Police
Department Speed Watch team.
They also helped revise the Speed Watch Operational Guide and produced the
quarterly newsletter for the program. They inspire cooperation and
encouragement among the members of the Vancouver Police Traffic Division
and are committed to making a difference in their community.
Bill McElroy - Sooke
Bill McElroy has been a dedicated community volunteer for over 41 years
and assisted with over 20 non-profit groups, most of which focus on
children and families. Since 1998, McElroy has been focused on the issue
of youth sexual exploitation through Save the Children Canada, the Out
from the Shadows program and the International Centre to Combat
Exploitation of Children. He is a past chair of the Capital Region Action
Team for Sexually Exploited Youth and the treasurer of the Victoria Family
Court and Youth Justice Committee where he works to promote crime
prevention and raise awareness about youth and justice.
Lynn Krag - New Westminster
Since 2001, Lynn Krag has volunteered hundreds of hours in the Victim
Services program at the New Westminster Police Service. She also
volunteers with Citizens' Crime Watch Patrol and at community events. Krag
is trained in the areas of Crime-Free Multi-housing, Block Watch,
Emergency Social Services, Speed Watch, home security and stolen auto
recovery, among others.
Contact:
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
250 356-6961
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect
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