Prince George, BC – Local Victim Service Providers have planned a full week of events to mark National Victims of Crime Awareness Week…

The theme this year is ‘Stepping Forward With Safety: Combining Grassroots with Technology’.  To that end, RCMP Victim Services Coordinator, Krista Levar, says, some time will be spent looking at the history of victimization.  "Where we started from in terms of the problems we had and how Victim Services started to affect that and help make a positive change."

As well as technology’s role in assisting victims – there’s more online resources, but what’s the difference in dealing with people directly?  Are people being missed because they don’t have access?  Levar points out the flip side of that coin, too.  "There’s new forms of victimization that have come up because of technology – things like identity theft, cyber-stalking, texting."

Weighty topics that the city’s three local Service Providers – RCMP Victim Services, Community-based Victim Services (The Elizabeth Fry Society), and the Aboriginal Community-based Victim Services (the Native Healing Centre) – plan to examine during events scheduled this week.

Tomorrow, the groups will host an informal information session at Books & Company on 3rd Avenue between 2pm and 4pm.  Levar says the gathering is open to anyone who wants to talk about their experiences, or learn more about Victim Services, in a comfortable setting.  She says it’s often a huge step for victims to get up the courage to walk through the doors of the local RCMP detachment or into Elizabeth Fry, so service providers felt this was a good way to ‘reach out’ to the community.

On Tuesday, there will be a walk through Fort George Park and Levar says it’s for anyone and everyone who wants to ‘Step Forward and Stop Victimization’.  She adds, "We want to put our best foot forward and make our community a safer place."

Wednesday will feature a two-hour workshop on elder abuse at the Prince George Native Friendship Centre.  And Thursday features a full day workshop at the Friendship Centre entitled, "Take Back the Net".  It will feature guest speakers from Vancouver and the US.  Levar says there are approximately 12 seats left for each event.  Anyone interested in attending can call 250-564-4324 to register.

Thursday evening marks the 3rd Annual Celebration Gala honouring local Victim Service Providers.  It runs from 6pm until 9:30pm at the Coast Inn of the North.  There are still a few spots available for that event, as well.