The Community
Press Telling Your Story
Volume 115, Issue 2
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
$1 Including GST
A fond farewell to Cannady after 15 years of service
Flagstaff County firefighters from nine FRESS stations throughout the region, along with RCMP and Flagstaff County Peace Officer Skyler Zelinski gathered in Killam last Tuesday, July 5, to honour retiring Flagstaff County Emergency Services Coordinator Kim Cannady on his last day of work. Firefighters greeted Cannady with lights and a salute as he officially signed off duty for the last time. See story Page 15.
Flagstaff County Council votes to consider continuing support for Flagstaff Victim Services in 2023 budget Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Flagstaff Victim Services Unit (VSU) Coordinator Noreen Metz made a presentation to Flagstaff County Council during the June 22 regular meeting, asking that Council consider renewing its financial support for the local VSU organization. Accompanying her were VSU Advocate Kelly Freadrich and Killam RCMP Constable Jake Rains. Flagstaff County Council approved funding in the amount of $10,400 per year for 2020 through 2022 in December 2019. The group also received support through MOST funding in 2021, in the amount of $10,000. Metz provided Council with a history of the local VSU, saying it started locally in 2007, moving to the Detachment in 2014, where it operates today. “We are part of this beautiful collaboration of specialized services within our county,” Metz said. VSU, she says, is an organization of “specially trained staff and volunteers that help people who have been victims or crime or tragedy. “Under the guidance and direction of the RCMP, and our Victims Services Board of Directors, we provide victims and their families with support, information, and referrals.” Flagstaff VSU advocates provide immediate onscene support, or work by phone or in-person to pro-
vide any followup support. They also help and guide clients through the entire court process. Volunteer advocates are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “We have not missed a single call,” says Metz. In her formal letter of request for funding, Metz said, “We know that Volunteer Advocates are an important part of the first responders team that are not as publicly recognized as the RCMP, firefighters, and EMTs are. “They are the silent, unknown, first responder, whose role often requires this anonymity for the safety and confidentiality of their victims, and in certain circumstances, for their own safety as well.” Metz advised Council that VSUs are not funded by public tax dollars, and the funds they do receive can only be used for Victims of Crime programming that directly assists those individuals. Until a few year s ago, VSU funding came from a 15 per cent surcharge placed on provincial and federal criminal fines. Now not only is the surcharge no longer mandatory, the funds collected through this surcharge are now used to fund other programs, leaving the provincial VSU organizations sharing a smaller slice of the funding available. Flagstaff VSU raises funds through the Red Serge Ball, normally held every other year before COVID, as well as their annual Charity Check Stop, where they also raise funds for Christmas Sharing and the Food Bank. Volunteers also work casinos to raise funds.
Metz told Council that the funding provided by Flagstaff County allows Flagstaff VSU to pay the volunteer advocates for their time. “We would like to be able to offer an honorarium similar to what various volunteer first responders receive.” Additional funding will be used for advocate training. Due to the extensive role played by VSU advocates, each volunteer requires specific training before taking on any clients. This includes advanced first aid, sexual assault first aid, mental health first aid, grief training, court proceedings and court presentation training, and much more. In 2021, Flagstaff VSU had 272 new files opened, helping more than 300 people. Metz also advised Council that the Provincial VSU Board has recognized Flagstaff VSU as one of the top VSUs in the province. “We hold ourselves to that high standard each time we receive a call.” Metz closed her presentation with, “We ask that you kindly consider our proposal, and help us ensure we can retain skilled advocates to serve the entire County by recognizing their service and commitment to our communities.” As part of the presentation, Metz included a quote from an RCMP officer, who said, “VSU gives us the ability to focus solely on completing investigations, while the advocates provide support for the families on probably the worst day of their lives.”