$100,000 for Victim Support Services in North Bay
September 20, 2023Province supporting victims and survivors of intimate partner violence/domestic violence, human trafficking and child exploitation
NORTH BAY– Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government is investing $100,000 to the North Bay Police Service through the Victim Support Grant program(VSG) to help support victims and survivors of intimate partner violence/domestic violence, human trafficking, and child exploitation.
The North Bay Police Service will work with Victim Services of Nipissing District to enhance capacity to support the needs of victims and survivors of intimate partner/domestic violence, human trafficking, and child exploitation through their Nipissing Victim Support Project. The project will include a Northern Ontario training symposium on gender-based violence, an online child exploitation awareness campaign as well as tools, victim support kits, and trauma-informed training.
“Victims and survivors of crime depend on access to immediate and ongoing supports to ensure their safety and help them rebuild their lives,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “The Victim Support Grant is part of our government’s plan to combat violent crime on our streets and ensure that victims are not left behind.”
“I want to commend Ontario’s provincial government for this important investment that will support victims and survivors of crime,” said North Bay Police Service Chief Scott Tod. “The Victim Support Grant will help us at the North Bay Police Service and our partners at Victim Services of Nipissing District support victims and survivors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, and child exploitation within our community. These crimes cause profound, lasting impacts in the lives of victims and survivors. We as police will always do our part to support victims and survivors and bring criminals to justice. This investment by Ontario’s provincial government will be a tremendous help in accomplishing that goal.”
“Victim Services of Nipissing District is pleased to partner with the North Bay Police Services on this project to enhance gender-based violence (GBV) victim supports in our community. Working in collaboration with our policing partners increases our capacity to support members of our community who have experienced GBV.” – Kathleen Jodouin, Executive Director, Victim Services of Nipissing District.
The VSG is part of Ontario’s Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy and complements the province’s $307 million Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy, 2020-2025 and Combating Human Trafficking Act, 2021.
QUICK FACT
- All municipal and First Nation police services as well as the Ontario Provincial Police are eligible to apply for funding through the VSG program.
- The VSG can be used for a variety of projects and initiatives, including specialized training for law enforcement, culturally responsive education, and awareness campaigns, and purchasing technology and equipment to enhance police investigations and provide survivors with the option to complete interviews remotely.
- Of the 45 projects being funded across the province, 19 will focus on intimate partner violence and domestic violence, five on human trafficking, three on child exploitation, and 18 that will focus on all three areas.
- The Ontario government is investing over $2 million in the Partner Assault Response (PAR) program to help break the cycle of intimate partner violence and keep communities safe. The PAR program provides specialized group education and counselling for people charged with intimate partner violence offences and offers support to current partners of those in the program. This two-year investment is in addition to the more than $2 million given to PAR providers in 2022.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES