Department of Justice

MINISTER McLELLAN ANNOUNCES FUNDS FOR
EDMONTON CONFERENCE TO HELP VICTIMS OF CRIME

OTTAWA, March 19, 2001 - Today, the Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announced that the Federal Government will provide $95,900 to support a victim assistance conference to be held in Edmonton as part of a federal initiative to improve support to victims of crime.

"We are committed to funding organizations and programs that will improve support to victims of crime and enhance their role in the criminal justice system," said Minister McLellan. "By funding this conference, we will help those who work with victims to raise awareness, share best practices and create innovative approaches to meet the needs of victims."

Journey to New Frontiers is the 27^th annual conference of the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). The conference will be held from August 19^th to 24^th, and is being hosted by the Edmonton Police Service's Victim Service Unit in partnership with other local and provincial organisations who work with victims of crime.

"We're very pleased that the federal government was able to help us in such a generous way. This funding will certainly ensure the success of this year's NOVA conference - and we're aiming for the biggest and best conference ever," said Edmonton Police Sergeant and conference chair, Randy Wickins. "There are delegates and presenters' from across North America and as far away as Russia, Europe, Australia and Africa interested in attending the conference," he added.

Founded in 1975, and based in Washington D.C., NOVA is the oldest national group of its kind in the worldwide victims' movement. NOVA's mission is to promote rights and services for victims of crime and crisis everywhere. The annual NOVA conference has only been held in Canada on one previous occasion in 1981. This year's NOVA conference will provide an opportunity for Canada to showcase a range of victim-related initiatives in workshops and plenary sessions. Canadian participants will also benefit from workshops lead by international experts. Over 2,000 victim advocates, service providers and those working in the criminal justice system are expected to attend.

Support for the conference is being provided through the Victims Fund administered by the Department of Justice's Policy Centre for Victims Issues, and will mostly be used to help promote the conference. Through the Victim Fund, $10 million in grants and contributions is available over the next five years for initiatives that raise awareness of victims' needs, as well as services and programs available to them. Resources will also be made available to programs ensuring victims of crime and their families better understand their role in the criminal justice system as well as to projects that assist in the development of policy and legislation that takes into consideration the perspectives of victims.

To find out more about the centre and Victims Fund, visit http://canada.justice.gc.ca and select the Victims of Crime icon.

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Ref:

Farah Mohamed
Minister McLellan's Office
(613) 992-4621

Catherine Kane
Victims Policy Centre
(613) 957-4690