Making A Difference – Our Community Victoria

VICTORIA:BRITISH COLUMBIA

The Victoria team is a regional team providing services to the City of Victoria and the communities of Esquimalt, Oak Bay, Saanich, Central Saanich, North Saanich, Colwood, Langford, Sooke, and Metchosin.

The Victoria Women's Sexual Assault Centre's service region extends to Port Renfrew and Shawnigan Lake to the west, and includes the Gulf Islands of Saltspring, Pender, Mayne and Saturna. The area is served by the Victoria, Oak Bay, Saanich, and Central Saanich Police, the Military Police and the RCMP.

The team works to ensure that there are collaborative processes in place to meet the needs of the multiple agencies and services in this large region.

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EVENTS FOLLOW UP:

November 1-2, 2011: Vancouver, BC
“For Her Own Good” Conference

Hosted by: the BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre’s Sexual Assault Service, Aboriginal Health, and Woman Abuse Response Programs.

An alarming number of girls and women from diverse backgrounds and communities are impacted by abuse, sexual assault, and other forms of violence while facing a variety of other social and health challenges. This conference, "For Her Own Good", brought together approximately 150 front-line workers, health care workers, clinicians, researchers, decision-makers and other stakeholders for lively dialogue, debate and reflection on pressing concerns for women's safety and health.

The purpose of this conference was to:

■	explore whether policies, legislation, systems, services and providers are meeting the diverse needs of girls and women impacted by violence and abuse,
■	share examples of emerging promising practices and research.

The presentations and dialogue explored how social and health care systems and services that are designed 'for her own good" may actually further harm or marginalize women when they try to access support. Examples of research, policy and practice that demonstrate ways to mitigate harms and respond effectively to women's safety and health needs were also showcased. Download Conference Presentations.

TEAM MEMBERS:

■	Stephanie Capyk Manager of Client Services – Victoria Women's Sexual Assault Centre
■	Catherine Charlton Victim Services Worker – Victoria Women's Sexual Assault Centre
■	Janet Calnan Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner – Vancouver Island Health Authority
■	Christine Lowe Deputy Regional Crown Counsel – Ministry of Attorney General
■	Catherine Murray Crown Counsel – Ministry of the Attorney General
■	Constable Sue Law Victoria Police Departmentn
■	Ruth Cottingham Detective – Central Saanich Police Department
■	Ross Poulton Staff Sergeant – Saanich Police Department
■	S/Sgt. Ray Carfantan Westshore RCMP Major Crimes Unit
■	Detective Tim Henderson Oak Bay Police
■	Karen Wickham Victim Services Worker – Victoria Women's Sexual Assault Centre
■	Staff Sergeant Ian Lawson RCMP Westshore
■	Corporal Charlene Beck RCMP Vancouver Island
■	Constable Beth Chipperfield RCMP West Shore
■	Det. Ondine Easson Central Saanich Police Department
■	Det./Sgt. Todd Wellman Victoria Police Department

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CONTACT:

■	Stephanie Capyk