30 Years of Foothills Regional Victim Services
30 years of Victim Services
On March 23, 1993, we were officially incorporated as High River and District Victim Services. Today is our 30th anniversary!
At the time, very few resources have been available to assist victims of crime and trauma. Individuals who have been victimized may not have, or do not wish to burden, friends or family, leaving no one else to turn to.
Due to increasing demands for victim support, High River Victim Services initially expanded in 1996 to include the Okotoks and Turner Valley RCMP detachments, before another expansion in 2005 to include the Nanton RCMP detachment. Foothills Regional Victim services currently offers support across the Foothills County area.
It is our belief that with early intervention and support, the impact of problems associated with crime and tragedy can be greatly reduced. We provide 24/7 on call assistance to victims requiring immediate crisis intervention, emotional support and practical assistance. Program staff and volunteers are asked to provide immediate help and support by RCMP members and by the staff of other community agencies, of whom we have formed bonds with because we are all local to the very community we reside in.
We are grateful to:
the RCMP detachments of High River, Okotoks, Nanton, Turner/Diamond Valley
our funders, the Victims of Crime Grant, past funders of AHS and the Alberta Law Foundation
the FCSS locations and community supports within Foothills County
our volunteers and staff who have always been an integral part of our program
our Program Manager of nearly 18 years Kerri Wilkinson and her endless dedication to providing support not only to victims, but to all of us involved within our unit
As we face an uncertain future, we can look back with pride and honour knowing that we have and will continue to provide the unique support and information that victims of crime and trauma need.
Charity Checkstop 2022
Thank you, Okotoks!
This year’s charity checkstop was held on December 8 from 2-4pm outside the Okotoks rec centre.
Donations went towards Rowan House Emergency Shelter, Okotoks Food Bank Association, and us here at Foothills Regional Victim Services!
We are grateful to the Town of Okotoks and those in our wonderful community for their support!
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2022
September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day that coincides with Orange Shirt Day, recognizes the tragic legacy of residential schools, the missing children, the families left behind and the survivors of these institutions. Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. We encourage all Canadians to wear orange to honour the thousands of survivors of residential schools.
September 30 Events:
High River:
FCSS High River
Awareness packages with Orange Shirt cookie
251 9 Ave SW – 1:30 – 2:30 pm
Museum of the Highwood
The History of Treaty 7 – Jared Tailfeathers
406 1st St SW – 1:00 pm
Okotoks:
Okotoks Art Gallery
Blackfoot ceremony for residential school survivors
53 North Railway Street – 10:00 am
Okotoks Art Gallery/Okotoks Museum & Archives
Various exhibits
49 North Railway Street – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Calgary:
USAY and CIF Reconciliation Society
Pokaiks Commemorative Walk & IndigiTRAILS – Remembering Our Children
Prince’s Island Park (at the stage) – 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Siksika Health Services & Calgary Hitmen
Every Child Matters Traditional Powwow
Scotiabank Saddledome – 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:00 pm)
Rowan House Podcast Featuring FRVS
Program Manager Kerri Wilkinson of FRVS has been featured in Rowan House’s podcast!
To listen for free, visit: https://rowanhousesociety.buzzsprout.com/ or with your own streaming service such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.
To kick off Season 3, we go back to the beginning. How does someone typically find out about Rowan House and make the decision to come into the shelter or connect with an Outreach Support Worker? Well, in many cases, the answer may be with support and resource referral from Foothills Regional Victim Services. In this episode, long-time program manager, Kerri Wilkinson joins me to talk about the role they play in helping families begin their journey to hope and healing.
Casino – November 29 & 30
Feeling lucky??
You’ve got two nights to find out at our casino event!
We are still looking for volunteers – if interested please email foothillsvictimservices@gmail.com
Nov 29
- 2 people for the 7:00pm to 3:30am shift
- 5 people for the 11:00pm to 3:30am shift
Nov 30
- 3 people for the 7:00pm to 3:30am shift
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2021
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30, 2021 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities.
Orange Shirt Day
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day are both on September 30. Orange Shirt Day was created out of the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. She had her new orange shirt taken away from her on her first day of school. Orange Shirt Day has since become an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not. Everyone is still encouraged to wear orange shirts on this day in commemoration.
For more information, visit the Canadian Heritage website.
World Suicide Prevention Day 2021
This is a day to remember those we’ve lost to suicide and raise awareness about how suicide can be prevented.
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s Centre for Suicide Prevention has written an article that explains how to:
- identify a person thinking about suicide
- reach out and have a conversation
- connect them to help
- create a safety plan with them
- support them as they move forward
