Program

Education:

Over the last years, the NS VAWIR Committee has focused primarily on building capacity within the Committee, and the community at large, by providing education and training about justice system processes and issues. Presentations to the Committee have included:

• North Vancouver Legal Services (February 2008)
• Court Watch Program of the Family Court and Youth Justice Committee (November 2007    and October 2006)
• North Shore Community Corrections (October 2007)
• North Shore Family Preservation Program, Elizabeth Fry Society (June 2007)
• North Vancouver Family Duty Counsel (June 2007)
• North Vancouver Crown Counsel (April 2007)
• North Vancouver RCMP Violence in Relationships Coordinator (February 2007)
• West Vancouver Police Department Victim Services (February 2007)
• West Coast Legal Education and Action Fund (December 2006)
• Victim Services/Community Programs Division, Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General   (December 2006)
• Domestic Violence Programs of VGH and Providence Health Care, Vancouver Coastal    Health (June 2006)

Systemic Response:

The NS VAWIR Committee further works to collectively understand and address the systemic nature of violence against women. It does so partly by staying in touch with changes in government and justice system policy and legislation and making recommendations for change when appropriate. The Committee liaises with other community response networks and violence against women prevention organizations to increase its efforts in systemic change.

The Committee welcomes new and returning members from the community. It meets 4-6 times per year for two hours at a time. While it can be difficult for non-profit agencies to consistently send the same staff member to each meeting due to time constraints, a second or alternate representative is encouraged, including a management team member or board member. Members are requested to share information from Committee meetings throughout their respective agencies to facilitate coordination at all levels of the community.