Police Victim Services of British Columbia

Police Victim Services of British Columbia (PVSBC) is a non-profit association dedicated to serving the needs of police-based victim services programs. As the largest police-based victim services association in Canada, PVSBC provides leadership, support, advocacy and training to professionals working in the field of victim services. We are placing British Columbia at the forefront of victim services.

Police Victim Services of British Columbia:
  •  Acts as a resource to police-based victim services programs
  •  Liaises with government ministries on victim’s issues
  •  Develops training and resource materials
  •  Partners with other organizations involved with crime prevention and victim services.
  •  Hosts an annual training symposium
  •  Promotes public awareness
  •  Publishes, a quarterly newsletter PVSBC IMPACT

Our Mission:
Through dynamic proactive leadership, we create a greater awareness of victimization and support the provision of service excellence.

Our Purpose:
Providing leadership and working collaboratively to enhance services to victims of crime and trauma.

Our Vision:
We are dedicated to ensuring those impacted by crime and trauma are respected and supported.

Funding:
PVSBC operates with funding from the provincial government as well as through donations, corporate sponsorship, training symposiums and other fundraising activities.

Police Victim Services of British Columbia would like to acknowledge and thank British Columbia’s Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General for their ongoing support. Past accomplishments would not have been possible without their help.


An Overview of the History of Police Victim Services of British Columbia

During the 1980’s and 1990’s, there was increased pressure on government to formally recognize and support individuals in society who were victimized. Over the years, there has been significant increases in the number of programs and services for victims of crimes and their families funded by the government. These services include police-based victim services and community-based victims services. Police based victims services are operated in partnership with provincial government, local government, police forces and non profit agencies. Among police-based programs, issues emerged concerning program funding, the training of staff – both volunteers and paid, as well as the need to advocate “behind the scenes” for improvements to the services and rights of victims, witnesses and their families.

It was this need for a common, united voice, that the B.C. Association of Police-Affiliated Victim-Witness Services (BCAPAVWS) emerged. In 1985, the Association was incorporated and became a registered charity. The association underwent a formal named change in 1997 and is now known as Police Victim Services of British Columbia or PVSBC. As a provincial association, PVSBC provides feedback on legislations and service delivery issues as well as regional concerns to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, the RCMP and the BC Chiefs of Police.

Through the years, PVSBC has become well-known for its annual training symposium. Our symposium provides both basic and advanced training workshops to frontline police-based victim services staff and volunteers and other professionals within the criminal justice system. In 2005, we will celebrate 20 years of success.

Governance

Police Victim Services of British Columbia is a provincially registered society and federally registered charity. Members include police-based victim services programs, victim services volunteers, and members of the community.

Our Board of Directors is comprised of fifteen directors; with no fewer than seven directors elected from each of the police-based victim services regional sectors, one police representative from the RCMP and one police representative from a Municipal Police department. This mix of police and community interest on the Board provides for a balanced approach to working towards improvements to the services and rights of victims, witnesses and their families.

The bylaws of PVSBC stipulate that each director shall hold office for a term of two years with half of the directors retiring from office on alternate years. This provides for continuity of business for the organization and the opportunity for experienced directors to mentor those new to the board. A director can sit for no longer than three consecutive terms.

At the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the Annual General Meeting, the directors elect the Executive Committee comprised of president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer. In addition, the Past President also sits on the executive committee for continuity purposes, but may not vote.

Police Victim Services of British Columbia
Board of Directors
2008 - 2009

Executive Committee

Kim Gramlich
President
Delta Polce Victim Services

Vacant
Vice President

Vacant
Secretary

Directors

Inspector Rick Flewelling
RCMP Police Representative
Kelowna RCMP Detachment

Municipal Police Representative
Detective Terry Wilson
New Westminster Police Services

Pat Jeannotte-Bunse
Fraser Valley Regional Representative
Coquitlam RCMP Victim Services

Cheryl Kwaksistala
Island Regional Representative

Linda Lord
Kootenay Reginal Representative
Columbia Valley RCMP Victim Services

Jerrilyn Schembri
Northeast Regional Representative
Tumbler Ridge Victim Services

Sherry Pellegrino
North West Regional Representative
Terrace & District Victim Assistance

Vacant
Thompson/Okanagan Regional Representative
Revelstoke Police-based Victim Services

Vacant
Community Member
Burnaby RCMP Victim Services

Vacant
Lower Mainland Regional Representative

Office

Carolyn Sinclair
Executive Director

Annamaria Collopy
Provincial Program Manager




 

120-12414 – 82 Ave
Surrey BC   V3W 3E9
Phone: 604-501-2502 Fax: 604-501-2509 Toll-Free: 1-877-869-0720
info@policevictimservices.bc.ca