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鈥淲e received some funding and I was thinking of different ways we could use it that would help us to support the community. What does the community need?鈥
Executive Director of the Battlefords Sexual Assault Centre, Amber Stewart, had seen the RCMP interview room. She noted it wasn鈥檛 overly inviting and was still located in a policing environment 鈥 and not everyone is comfortable being in an RCMP building. Mrs. Stewart had witnessed countless times when victims couldn鈥檛 go to the RCMP detachment because they had no one to watch their children.
鈥淚 thought maybe if we could cover costs for a new space, we could do something a little bit different to support the community. I phoned Jason (North Battleford Detachment Operations Officer) and he was 100 per cent in, immediately. I鈥檝e never had a project move more quickly; it鈥檚 a true partnership between us and the RCMP.鈥
聽鈥淲e鈥檙e really encouraged that this new space will break down some of the barriers between police and members of our community who may not always feel comfortable speaking with us,鈥 says S/Sgt. Jason Teniuk, 鈥淥ur hope is that this space will eliminate some of the discomfort if they鈥檙e in a place where they already feel comfortable.鈥
A new space; a new, welcoming feel
Stewart is hopeful the new space will encourage more people to make a police report after they鈥檝e been assaulted, 鈥淲e鈥檝e had times where clients come here and they鈥檝e been assaulted, but they don鈥檛 want to go to the RCMP. They鈥檙e scared, embarrassed, experiencing all sorts of emotions. To have the RCMP come here, and victims knowing they have the support here, will hopefully help people feel safe in sharing their story. Because our office is located in a house, it could seem like you鈥檙e simply going inside for coffee.鈥
鈥淚 commend BSAC for dreaming up this great idea and making it happen. They want to connect victims with supports immediately and the new interview space is going to make our job easier by creating an environment that people feel safe to speak with us in. We want to help victims and this is one more tool in our kit to help us be successful with that,鈥 says Insp. Tom Beck, Officer in Charge of North Battleford RCMP.
From January to September聽2020, there were聽3,711聽victims of Intimate Partner Violence reported to the Saskatchewan RCMP (encompassing the RCMP jurisdiction in the entire province). So far,聽2,529聽of these files resulted in charges.
Helping all family members
A counselor will be present when the RCMP comes to BSAC to use the interview space. Because BSAC is set up inside a residence, there is a welcoming waiting area with books and toys set up for children to use while being supervised by staff or a volunteer. 鈥淚t eliminates that barrier for moms 鈥 we are here to support you. There are also tools in that space which can assist with child forensic interviews. It鈥檚 a warm, safe environment,鈥 says Stewart.
聽鈥淚t can be difficult for victims to come forward 鈥 and that is an understatement. It can be scary speaking with a police officer, whether you鈥檝e interacted with one before or not,鈥 acknowledges S/Sgt. Teniuk. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want there to be barriers to victims of crime coming forward. BSAC has really kept the victim in mind with all aspects of this endeavour.鈥
Next steps鈥
鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited about the impact this will have on the community in being another resource for victims,鈥 says S/Sgt. Teniuk. 鈥淭his example of partnership and collaboration is at the core of community safety 鈥 we all have a common goal and that鈥檚 to help people.鈥
Stewart is hopeful other small communities will see how the space at BSAC works and how it came together easily, 鈥淢aybe this is something we can start building on in Saskatchewan. We鈥檙e excited to see where we go from here鈥hat鈥檚 next on the list.鈥
What does BSAC do?
BSAC provides free one on one counseling to anyone impacted by sexual or gender-based violence. This includes victims, family members, or those impacted by vicarious trauma. In addition, BSAC does age-appropriate prevention initiatives.
Prior to 2020, they did presentations to approximately 3500 youth from pre-K to high school. 鈥淥ur biggest push is prevention education,鈥 explains Stewart, 鈥淪pecifically finding programming for boys 鈥 there鈥檚 not a lot and the focus has always primarily been on educating girls. In one of our North Battleford schools, every male student from grade 8-12 has taken our Go Guys Program. We鈥檝e learned so much from them.鈥
The BSAC education programming focuses on consent, healthy relationships, expressing emotions in a healthy way, determining who is a trusted adult and boundaries.
聽鈥淭his fiscal year, we鈥檝e seen an increase in clients,鈥 says Stewart. Her five employees, including one counselor, are up to the task of helping those needing their assistance, no matter the numbers. 鈥淚 have a really good team,鈥 she stresses, 鈥渨hich makes things easier.鈥