North gets victim service program

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Saskatchewan Justice will provide $60,000 in annual funding to start up a program that will assist victims of crime in the Churchill River region.

Athabasca MLA, Buckley Belanger, made the announcement at the Beauval Arena on April 21. More than 20 people were present to hear Belanger say the provincial government will also kick in $5,200 to help with start-up costs.

Tom Opekokew represented the Canoe Narrows First Nation. Ile-a-la-Crosse Mayor Max Morin and RCMP representatives also attended.

"As with other police-affiliated victim services programs in Saskatchewan, it is a cooperative, community effort," Belanger said. "But this program will deliver services in a unique way to meet the specific needs of the area and its residents."

Four Cree or Dene speakers will be hired as part-time civilian police assistants in Pinehouse, Ile-a-la-Crosse, English River and Canoe Narrows. They will work in cooperation with the RCMP to provide information, support and referral services to victims of crime. The service assists victims immediately after the crime and throughout the justice process.

Speakers at the announcement ceremony noted the justice system in the province is moving away from dealing with only the accused and is now paying more attention to crime victims and their families.

This is the 16th such program initiated by the province. More than 80 per cent of the more than 600 communities in Saskatchewan now have access to a victim services program.