Victoria Family Court & Youth Justice Committee - 2024 Annual Report (cover letter + report)

Contents

1. Territorial Acknowledgement
2. Supporting Documents
3. VFCYJC Membership 2024
4. Three-Year Strategic Plan
5. Chair’s Report – Marie-Terese Little
6. Vice-Chair’s Report – Kimberley Guiry
7. VFCYJC Year in Review
8. 2024 Budget and Year-End Financials
9. Sub-Committees

• Capital Region Action Team
• Communications
• Priorities & Grants

20. Appendix: Documents, Motions, Minutes & Agendas
21. Code of Conduct
22. Restorative Justice Victoria
23. Resource Listing

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Territorial Acknowledgement

The Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee meets on the unceded Coast Salish territory of the Lekwungen-speaking and WSÁNEĆ nations. We acknowledge and thank the Lekwungen-speaking peoples, also known as the Songhees, Esquimalt and Beecher Bay First Nations communities, for allowing us to live on their lands.

The VFCYJC further acknowledges that the Capital Region spans the traditional territories of Coast and Straits Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth peoples and that, by virtue of being represented by all 13 municipalities, our committee is responsible to help build respectful and enduring relationships with our First Nations neighbours.

Supporting Documents
An archive of Annual Reports from the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee (VFCYJC) and regularly updated documents, resources and links to relevant organizations in the Greater Victoria region can be found at victoriafamilycourt.ca. Agendas and minutes are filed on the CRD website.

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2024 VFCYJC Membership

• Marie-Térèse Little, Chair; Mayor, District of Metchosin
• Adam Flint, Vice-Chair; Citizen Representative, Town of View Royal
• Kimberley Guiry, Vice-Chair; Councillor, City of Langford
• Cynthia Day, Past Chair; Councillor, City of Colwood
• Jeff Bateman, Communications Sub-Committee Chair; Councillor, District of Sooke
• Marcie McLean, Priorities Sub-Committee Chair; Councillor, District of Highlands
• Esther Paterson, Treasurer; Councillor, District of Oak Bay
• Ken Armour, Councillor, Town of Esquimalt
• Don Brown, Councillor, Town of View Royal
• Sara Duncan, Councillor, Town of Sidney
• Krista Loughton, Councillor, City of Victoria
• Jack McClintock, Councillor, District of North Saanich
• Mena Westhaver, Councillor, District of Saanich

Alternates:

• Kim Jordison, Councillor, City of Colwood
• Terri O’Keefe, Councillor, Town of Sidney
• Jim Rondeau, District of Central Saanich
• Rose Stanton, Youth and Family Matters Chair; Councillor, District of Highlands
• Celia Stock, Councillor, District of North Saanich

School District Representatives:

• Karin Kwan, Trustee, School District #61
• Christine Lervold, School District #62
• Teri Vanwell, Trustee, School District #63
• Nola Silzer, Trustee, School District (alternate)

CRD Appointees:

• Cheryl Chators, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria
• Andrew Holeton, Alliance to End Homelessness in Greater Victoria
• Bill McElroy, Capital Region Action Team on Sexually Exploited Youth
• Samantha Rappaport, Brown, Henderson, Melbye

VFCYJC Secretary: Marnie Essery

Capital Regional District Liaison: Steve Carey, Senior Manager, Legal Services & Risk Management; Sharon Orr, Corporate Services

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Three-Year Strategic Plan 2023–2026

Mission

To facilitate connections between municipal and First Nations governments, school districts, service providers, and the broader community in order to educate and advocate on the challenges and shortfalls facing youth and families who may come into contact with the justice system.

Vision

Families and youth have access to timely and appropriate supports within their communities so that they may achieve their full potential.

Goals

1. Increase awareness of the issues facing families and youth involved with the justice system while raising the profile of the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee.
   a) Identify gaps in services.
   b) Support youth initiatives.

2. Pursue and promote meaningful reconciliation with the Indigenous community.
   a) Committee members participate in Cultural Competency Training.
   b) Acknowledge and reduce the over-representation of Indigenous people in the justice system.

3. Advocate for policies and initiatives that improve outcomes for families and youth who may come in contact with the justice system.
   a) Give a platform to youth / amplify youth voices.

4. Support equity of access to resources across the region.
   a) Help other organizations leverage their resources in support of families and youth.

5. Facilitate collaboration between community service providers and governance bodies in the interest of better supporting youth and families.

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Chair’s Report — Marie-Térèse Little

Another eventful year has quickly passed as the VFCYJC continues its work as a still relatively recently delegated commission of the Capital Regional District.

Supporting front-line service agencies via our grant program and overall annual budget is one of the Committee’s main purposes. We were delighted this year to extend funding to the Victoria Youth Empowerment Society, the Umbrella Society and the Human Nature Counselling Society in support of their work with vulnerable young people in Greater Victoria.

It was a pleasure to welcome a series of guest speakers at our regular meetings and to host our second, now annual, VFCJC Open House at Victoria City Hall. Our members again valued this opportunity to connect with representatives from nearly two dozen service agencies in the region. We plan to meet-and-greet again in 2025.

We continued our multi-year campaign to secure stable funding for the Pacific Centre Family Resource Association’s counsellor Mia Golden in her work with the Mobile Youth Services Team. We wrote advocacy letters to the Premier and the Minister of Public Safety. We funded a persuasive business case study authored by Royal Roads University’s Dr. Rebeccah Nelems. And we prepared a Times Colonist editorial that, we believe, offered compelling arguments in support of MYST’s critical work.

The Committee also tracked unfolding issues relating to the School Police Liaison Officer program through meeting discussions and a regularly updated backgrounder. A panel session with representatives from MYST and the Saanich and Victoria police departments pointed out the rising tide of gang recruitment and sexploitation and argued that caring, compassionate police officers in school settings is critical.

On a sad note, we all grieved the sudden death of our Adam Flint, a CRD appointee and long-term member of the VFCYJC. His keen spirit, collaborative skills, good grace and kind heart are deeply missed. It was an honour to join his many friends and family members at a memorial service that demonstrated he was a loved and special man.

I’ll close by saying I’m deeply grateful to be in this position as we strive to make a meaningful difference for youth and families in Greater Victoria. Sincerest of thanks to my VFCYJC colleagues and I look forward to another year of meaningful work ahead.

Respectfully submitted,
Marie-Térèse Little, PhD
Chair, Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee
Mayor of the District of Metchosin and CRD Vice-Chair

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Vice-Chair’s Report — Kimberley Guiry

2024 marked another year of steadfast commitment to education and advocacy for the needs of youth and families in the region by the VFCYJC. Under the strong leadership of Chair Little and Vice Chair Flint, the committee benefitted from the extensive knowledge, collaboration, and dedication of its members.

In May, we faced an immense loss with the sudden passing of Vice Chair Adam Flint. A long-standing and valued member, Adam’s contributions to the VFCYJC and the broader community were significant and deeply appreciated. In his absence, I have assumed the role of Vice Chair to support Chair Little, and I am grateful for the committee’s trust and support in this position.

Throughout the past year, transitioning from committee member to Vice Chair, I have been continually inspired by the committee’s unwavering dedication and collaborative spirit. The emotional challenges of our work are ever-present, yet our members consistently create an environment conducive to listening, learning, support, and connection to advance our mission.

I was particularly impressed by our advocacy for a sustainable future for the Mobile Youth Service Team (MYST) and our thorough examination of how different implementations of the School Liaison Officer program impacted youth across all three school districts. With each guest speaker and delegation, committee members diligently sought opportunities to support agencies through education, advocacy, and connection.

As we look forward to the upcoming year, we anticipate unforeseen challenges, especially for the youth and families we are dedicated to serving. However, I am confident that the committee will continue to leverage our privileges to amplify our advocacy efforts and strive for meaningful change.

Sincerely,
Kimberley Guiry
Vice-Chair, Victoria Family Court & Youth Justice Committee
Councillor, City of Langford

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2024 Year-in-Review

January

• Annual General Meeting: Members welcomed back Marie-Terese Little (Metchosin), Adam Flint (View Royal) and Esther Patterson (Oak Bay) in re-elections as Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer respectively for 2024.
• Returnee Sub-Committee chairs: Marcie McLean (Priorities/Grants), Bill McElroy (Capital Region Action Team) and Jeff Bateman (Communications/Website) with Highlands Councillor Rose Stanton stepping up to lead Youth and Family Matters.
• The 2023 Annual Report was received and approved. Guest speaker Seth Recalma from the Moose Hide Campaign presented.
• The Committee voted unanimously to offer $5k to the Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST) to help fund a business case cost/benefit analysis that would justify stable, long-term support and increased funding from the Province.
• Planning for an encore open house for front-line service providers later in the year.

The Committee voted unanimously to fund the Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST) for a business case cost/benefit analysis that would justify stable, long-term support and increased funding from the Province.

February

• Guest presenters: Caleigh Owen (staff family lawyer, UVic The Law Centre) and Megan Klymchuk (recent graduate) discussed issues in the family justice system, including challenges with the 2019 Early Resolution & Case Management model and gaps in Provincial Court of BC procedures (fillable PDF forms, plain-language guidelines, sample forms).
• Chair Little presented the 2024 VFCYJC Orientation.
• Youth & Family Matters Chair Rose Stanton shared BC Adolescent Health Survey results (based on 38,500 students aged 12–19).
• Members were encouraged to listen to a Victoria PD True Blue Podcast on MYST and read a related memo by Const. Gord Magee.

April

• Chair Little welcomed three new CRD appointees: Cheryl Chaytors (Director of Intervention Programs, BGC South Vancouver Island), Andrew Holeton (Director of Community Engagement & Impact, Alliance to End Homelessness in Greater Victoria) and Samantha Rapaport (Family Lawyer, Brown Henderson Melbye).
• Roundtable topics included the School Police Liaison Officer program updates (SD #61 FAQ; comments from Victoria PD Chief Del Manak) and planning for the VFCYJC Open House (Wed. May 22, Victoria City Hall).
• Committee learned about a new Lantzville treatment facility for Indigenous youth offering culturally relevant detox and treatment services.

May

• 2024 Open House: Representatives from 20 Greater Victoria agencies and 15 VFCYJC members attended. Discussion focused on potential VFCYJC role in School Police Liaison Officer program conversations and a solutions-oriented panel.
• MYST’s Mia Golden and Gord Magee updated members on predatory activities targeting vulnerable youth, including online pedophilia.
• A VFCYJC-funded business case study rationalizing MYST team expansion and stable funding will be presented to the BC Association of Chiefs of Police.
• Grant awarded to the Victoria Youth Empowerment Society: $5,500 towards its 2024 Summer Opportunities Program.
• Sad news: sudden passing of Vice-Chair Adam Flint.

June

• Guest: The Hon. Grace Lore, Minister of Children and Family Development; presentation: Youth Justice Services: Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE). SAJE supports youth aging out of care with navigators, income assistance, housing and mental health support for 10,000 eligible BC teens/young adults.
• Committee motions: continued advocacy for MYST funding; unanimous motion recommending revisions to sections 152 and 153 of the Criminal Code to more effectively stop online sexual exploitation and grooming of children and youth.
• Motion text (see Appendix): recommendations to amend S.152 and S.153 and to increase sentencing minimums for sexual offences against children and youth.

September

• Panel on issues impacting vulnerable youth: Saanich Police Inspector Damian Kowalewich, Victoria/Esquimalt Police Deputy Chief Constable Jamie McRae, and MYST’s Mia Golden and Gord Magee. Topics: rising gang recruitment, sextortion, and the School Police Liaison Officer program as a critical intervention.
• Committee moved to prepare an op-ed commending Les Leyne columns and supporting MYST after a disappointing funding update from Minister Farnworth.
• Langford Councillor Kimberley Guiry elected as VFCYJC Vice Chair.
• Grants awarded: Human-Nature Counselling Society ($5,500 for 2024 New Roots) and Umbrella Society ($4,746 for Navigating Substance Use and Mental Health for Students).

October

• Times Colonist published VFCYJC Op Ed supporting MYST: “The most vulnerable youth are about to lose their most valuable support team.” (Signed by Chair Little; written by Communications Subcommittee.)
• Guest Cathy Peters (Be Amazing campaign) presented on organized crime, gang recruitment and human trafficking threats to youth. Suggested next steps included funding/training for law enforcement, a provincial public awareness campaign, and a BC human trafficking task force.

November

• Victoria Youth Empowerment Society Operations Director Kisae Petersen hosted a tour of the 533 Yates Street drop-in centre and presented outcomes from the VFCYJC grant (YES Summer Opportunities Program). YES provides basic needs, navigator services, workshops, hot lunches, and a food pantry.
• Capital Region Action Team reported on Westshore developments impacting MYST funding after Westshore RCMP withdrew support for Regional Integrated Units.
• Treasurer Esther Patterson presented and received approval for the 2025 draft budget.
• Motion to circulate the MYST Policy Report (Sept. 26) to provincial decision-makers approved.
• Chair Little welcomed pending 2025 appointees Misty Olsen (Colwood) and Sarah Riddell (Central Saanich).
• Special thanks to VFCYJC secretary Marnie Essery and CRD’s Sharon Orr for minutes and agendas.

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Financial Statement

2024 Budget and Year-End

Submitted by Treasurer Esther Paterson

Notes:

• Balance carry forward is an estimate at time of budgeting August 2024, will be updated to actual for final budget approval in March 2025.
• Grants in Lieu of Taxes is an estimate based on 2024 and will be updated to actual for final budget approval in March 2025.
• Format subject to change.
• Fiscal year is January to December in alignment with all CRD services.

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VFCYJC Sub-Committees

We ask that members join one of the sub-committees to assist in developing materials to bring forward to the main committee. Meetings may be held via email, at any appropriate venue, and chairs may incur expenses up to $200 to facilitate meetings without advance approval. Chairs are encouraged to present a motion to the main committee for extraordinary expenses. Our goal is to make it easier for volunteers to meet while still maintaining fiscal accountability. The practice has been to try to reserve funding for work that supports youth and families while also supporting those who give freely of their time and expertise.

Capital Region Action Team (CRAT)

Advocates with expertise to address issues related to sexual exploitation, grooming, pimping, coercion, youth sex work and pornography.
2024: Bill McElroy (Chair)

Communications

Supports outgoing communications, website content, advocacy efforts, agenda creation, and maintenance of the Facebook and X accounts.
2024: Jeff Bateman (Chair), Christine Lervold, Krista Loughton, Marcie McLean, Esther Paterson.

Court Watch

Coordinates Indigenous and regular Court House visits to observe and report on the circumstances for youth and families. Inactive.

Priorities/Grants

Reviews completed applications in conjunction with existing VFCYJC policies and makes a recommendation in the form of a proposed motion together with their rationale to the main committee for their consideration at a regular meeting.
2024: Marcie McLean (Chair), Sara Duncan, Marie-Terese Little, Esther Paterson, Rose Stanton.

Youth & Family Matters

Brings information to the main committee on Family Matters, Youth Matters and monitors the circumstances that youth and families encounter during separation, divorce, and custody arrangements as well as documenting hot button issues for youth and encourages youth involvement.
2024: Rose Stanton (Chair)

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Capital Region Action Team — 2024 Report (Submitted by Bill McElroy)

2024 was a challenging year for CRAT. Clearly, we have not recovered from COVID, as there has been significant turnover in representatives from agencies that work with youth, meaning that attendance at CRAT meetings has been less than ideal. We only met three times in 2024. There will be an increased effort to recruit new members to CRAT by contacting youth serving agencies and have them delegate a representative to CRAT. Additionally, exploitation and luring of youth has shifted to the internet, as more youth use social media, particularly during COVID.

Last year was the 25th anniversary of CRAT. One of the projects created by CRAT back in 1998 was the Mobile Youth Support Team (MYST). MYST consisted of a police officer and 3 or 4 youth workers, to support youth who were vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Over the years, the youth workers were reduced until there were none. The police officer was hired on an integrated basis, that is, each of the 13 municipalities contributed toward the salary of the MYST Officer. During 2024, a youth worker from Pacific Centre Family Services joined the team and things began to improve, until the funding for that position ran out, and it looked as if the MYST team would be back to one. By reducing the hours of the youth worker, the position continued until the end of 2024, even though it was on a part-time basis.

This is a critical position for sexually exploited youth, as MYST works “where the rubber hits the road.”

Of greater concern, we found out late in November that the District of Central Saanich had decided to withdraw from all the Integrated Police services, including MYST, effective at the end of 2024, with no consultation with affected groups. As we tried to find out details of the impact of this decision, the West Shore RCMP announced it too was withdrawing from all the integrated units, including MYST, effective the end of 2025. Although the core municipalities of Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Victoria and Saanich have said they will continue funding the MYST position, will the taxpayers of those municipalities be willing to pay for a regional service? How will this work in reality? Will MYST be able to cross municipal boundaries to prevent the sexual exploitation of youth? Will a youth who lives in Oak Bay, but hangs around in Victoria, goes to a party in Central Saanich, buys drugs in Colwood and/or is taken by a groomer to Langford be helped by MYST? Or will the team have to stop at the borders of non-member municipalities? If so, this will be a giant step backwards, as MYST is the only preventative agency working to prevent the sexual exploitation of youth within the Capital Region. In fact, MYST is one of the few such agencies in all of Canada.

CRAT has moved forward with our plans for a graphic novel about youth sexual exploitation. It has now been completed under budget. We received legacy funding several years ago for this project and it is a relief to see it come to fruition. It will be handed out after presentations and give our youth attendees a meaningful, reader-friendly point of reference they can access in future.

We are unable to include a financial statement with this report, as our financial records are maintained by the Municipality of Oak Bay, and they have had a change in personnel. Unfortunately to date I have not had a chance to make contact and meet with its new Director of Financial Services.

Submitted by Bill McElroy
Chair, Capital Region Action Team
CRD Citizen Appointee to the VFCYJC

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Communications — 2024 Report (Jeff Bateman)

The Communications Sub-Committee is responsible for website content creation, agenda development, advocacy letter-writing, the annual report and updates to the VFCYJC’s Facebook and X accounts.

In 2024, I was joined in this work by members Christine Lervold, Krista Loughton, Marcie McLean, Esther Paterson. Adam Flint, a long-term sub-committee member, former chair and VFCYJC webmaster, continued as a vital participant until his sad and sudden passing in the spring. His bright spirit, positivity, good cheer and skills are profoundly missed by us all at the VFCYJC.

The sub-committee supported the VFCYJC in its continuing advocacy on behalf of Greater Victoria’s Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST). Of particular note, our team came together in October to collectively write a Victoria Times Colonist editorial not long after the Province declined to renew MYST funding. Its closing line sums our position up neatly: “Trusted relationships built through this specialized and high-functioning team cannot be lost due to an interruption of service.”

The VFCYJC website continued to be routinely updated with fresh content arising from regular meetings. It remains the go-to source for grant applications, links to resources and reports, and key documents related to the committee’s work. The website was hacked in the summer and all credit to Victoria’s Honeycomb Webworks for getting it back online in short order.

On other fronts, we organized a panel discussion featuring members of MYST and the Saanich and Victoria police departments that focused on youth issues in Greater Victoria, including the School Police Liaison Officer program; we hosted a second annual open house at Victoria City Hall in June that allowed our members to meet with representatives from front-line service agencies; and we maintained a social media presence for a small audience of followers. Thanks again to VFCYJC Secretary Marnie Essery for regularly forwarding links for posting on Facebook and X.

Communications plays a role at VFCYJC Steering Committee meetings in developing agendas for upcoming regular meetings. These agendas are drafted on-screen during the meetings and forwarded to Ms. Essery and the CRD’s Sharon Orr for final preparation. Agendas and minutes are now routinely posted on the CRD website at a dedicated VFCYJC page.

In 2023, Communications took responsibility for booking speakers for regular meetings, thus renewing a VFCYJC tradition that ended when the pandemic broke out. Last year our featured guests were the Honourable Grace Lore, Minister of Children and Family Development; anti-human trafficking advocate Cathy Peters; and representatives from the Moose Hide Campaign and the University of Victoria’s The Law Centre.

Thanks and much appreciation to my colleagues for their good work, support and initiatives.

Sincerely,
Jeff Bateman
Chair, Communications Sub-Committee
Councillor, District of Sooke

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Priorities and Grants

(Details of grant applications, reviews and award decisions are included in the Appendix / Motions section below.)

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Appendix

Agendas and Minutes 2024

Eight regularly scheduled meetings. All documentation posted on the CRD website.

Documents and Related Links:

• Panel Discussion Notes: Greater Victoria Youth Issues and Youth-At-Risk ~ Mia Golden, Youth and Family Counsellor, Mobile Youth Services Team; Constable Gord Magee, MYST/Victoria Police Department; Inspector Damian Kowalewich, Saanich Police Department; Deputy Chief Constable Jamie McRae, Victoria Police Department, Sept. 27, 2024
• School Police Liaison Officer program backgrounder ~ prepared by the VFCYJC Communications Sub-Committee; latest update: Sept. 27, 2024
• Proposal to Increase Strategic Support and Budget for the Mobile Youth Services Team: Critical Status Report and Recommendations ~ Dr. Rebeccah Nelems, Sept. 26, 2024
• Youth Justice Services: Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment ~ presentation by the Hon. Grace Lore, Minister of Children and Family Development (June 2024)
• 2023 BC Adolescent Health Survey ~ released by the McCreary Centre Society, 2024

Motions Requiring Action (verbatim)

• January 25, 2024
  Future Contracted Services for Youth and Family Information Projects
  MOVED by K. Guiry, SECONDED by S. Duncan
  The Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee spend up to $5,000.00 for a contractor to help MYST to create a business plan, if wanted.
  CARRIED

• May 23, 2024
  School Police Liaison Officer Program Panel Discussion
  MOVED by J. Bateman, SECONDED by M. McLean
  That the Victoria Family Court & Youth Justice Committee invite Nicole Duncan, Chair School District 61; Del Manak, Victoria Police Department; Dean Duthie, Saanich Police Department; Grace Lore, Minister of Children and Family Development; and the Mobile Youth Services Team to the June 27, 2024, Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee meeting.
  CARRIED

• Youth Empowerment Society Grant Application
  MOVED by M. McLean, SECONDED by E. Paterson,
  That the Victoria Family Court & Youth Justice Committee approve the grant funding request of $5,500.00 from the Victoria Youth Empowerment Society towards their 2024 Summer Opportunities Program.
  CARRIED

• June 27, 2024
  Advocacy Action Regarding Pedophilia and Online Grooming of Youth
  MOVED by K. Loughton, SECONDED by M. McLean
  That the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee requests that the Committee Chair, Mayor Marie-Terese Little, write to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Mike Farnworth, and all of the MPs, MLAs, Police Chiefs and Police Boards, Superintendent Todd Preston, Westshore Detachment RCMP, BC Attorney General, Nikki Sharma, and Minister of Justice and Federal Attorney General Arif Virani, and Municipal Councils in the CRD, to encourage support to stop the online sexual exploitation and grooming of children and youth.
  The following list of legislative changes are recommended but are not exhaustive to fight against online sexual offenses against children and youth:

  1. Add minor amendments to S.152 of the Criminal Code to specify online activity. The language does mention “indirectly” but the Crown often misses it and thus the language needs to be clear.
  2. Change to S.153 of the Criminal Code by replacing language regarding the person being in a position of trust or authority to be “any person.”
  3. When children and youth are victims of sexual offences the sentencing is typically the minimum recommended. There should be an increase to the minimum or a recommendation that sentencing should lean to the maximum.
     CARRIED

  Mobile Youth Services Team Funding Request
  MOVED by K. Loughton, SECONDED by T. Vanwell
  That the Victoria Family Court & Youth Justice Committee recommends the Governance Committee recommends to the Capital Regional District Board that the CRD Board Chair send an advocacy letter to the Province to encourage renewed support for the Pacific Centre Family Services Association’s Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST) and its Crime Reduction and Exploitation Diversion (CRED) program, with consistent and sustainable funding for the MYST youth counsellor position in the very near future due to the critical and urgent work with vulnerable youth and their families within the CRD.
  CARRIED

• September 26, 2024
  Human Nature Counselling Society
  MOVED by M. McLean, SECONDED by C. Day
  That the Victoria Family Court & Youth Justice Committee support the Human Nature Counselling Society’s grant request for the amount of $5,500.00 for their 2024 New Roots program.
  CARRIED

  Umbrella Society
  MOVED by M. McLean, SECONDED by K. Loughton
  That Victoria Family Court & Youth Justice Committee support the Umbrella Society’s request of $4,746.00 to be applied to their 2024 project titled: Umbrella 101-Navigating Substance Use and Mental Health for Students
  CARRIED

  Times Colonist Op Ed
  MOVED by K. Loughton, SECONDED by K. Guiry
  That the VFCYJC directs the Communications subcommittee to write an op ed for the Times Colonist regarding continued and sustained funding for M.Y.S.T.
  CARRIED

• November 27, 2024
  Distribution of MYST Business Case Report
  MOVED by M. McLean, SECONDED by E. Paterson
  "That Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee (VFC&YJC) directs the Chair to send a cover letter signed by the chair together with the Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST) Business Case Report (Report) dated September 2024 addressed to VFC&YJC prepared by Dr. Rebecca Nelems to each municipal Council within the Capital Regional District (CRD), the JDF Electoral Area(s), and the CRD Board for informational purposes as well as for their consideration of support for the Report's proposed plan(s) and its recommendations", and further, to please copy their letter(s) to:

  *Premier of BC David Eby,
  *Attorney General & Deputy Premier: Honourable Niki Sharma,
  *Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General: Honourable Gary Begg,
  *Minister of Health: Honourable Josie Osbourne,
  *Minister of Children and Family Development: Honourable Grace Lore,
  *Ministers of Education and Child Care: Honourable Lisa Beare,
  *Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: Honourable Christine Boyle,
  *Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction: Honourable Sheila Malcolmson,
  *Minister of State for Child Care and Children and Youth with Support needs: Honourable Jodie Wickens,
  *Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services: Honourable Terry Yung,
  *Victoria Family Court & Youth Justice Committee/Commission (for our records)

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Code of Conduct

(Full code of conduct text included in the Committee’s documentation on the CRD website.)

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Restorative Justice Victoria

While Restorative Justice Victoria (RJV) is not a VFCYJC Sub-Committee, most restorative justice organizations in BC began with involvement of a Youth Justice Committee and we are particularly proud to support the one operating in the Greater Victoria region.

Each organization is unique in response to the needs identified in our communities. The VFCYJC was a contributor to RJV’s evolution in Victoria – funding the production of video presentations, supporting youth-led initiatives, and facilitating volunteer education through the provision of resource materials.

Restorative Justice Victoria is very much a success story, overcoming the differences in the provision of police services to become an organization of accomplished, skilled volunteers who can be relied on to support better outcomes for all participants who access this ‘accountable option’ after a crime.

RJV’s volunteers are asked to provide these better outcomes for increasingly complex cases throughout the CRD even while RJV funding remains critically insecure. No less than 15 resolutions about restorative justice were sent to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities between 1999 and 2018 calling on the provincial government to support restorative justice. While 11 of these resolutions were carried by the UBCM membership, substantial action is still required.

Learn about RJV’s referral process at rjvictoria.com/referring-agencies.

“Skilled volunteers are welcome. As a small non-profit organization, RJV is only able to accomplish all that we do with the help of our volunteers. Whether you volunteer on cases, in the office, or at a fundraiser, you are part of a compassionate and dedicated group that is supporting justice in our community.”

Keep track of RJV activities in its monthly email newsletter, available by request.

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Resource Listing

• Anxiety BC — www.anxietybc.com
• BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services — www.bcmhsus.ca
• BC School Centered Mental Health Coalition — www.bcscmhcoalition.ca
• Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance — www.caddra.ca
• Capital Region Action Team — www.crat.ca
• Chatterblock (Parenting Resources) — www.chatterblock.com
• Disability Resource Centre — www.drcvictoria.com
• Families for Addiction Recovery — www.farcanada.org
• First Call BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition — www.firstcallbc.org
• Foundry (Health & Wellness Resources for Youth) — www.foundrybc.ca
• Indigenous Perspectives Society — www.ipsociety.ca
• Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. — www.ictinc.ca
• Island Sexual Health — 250-812-9374
• Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre — www.keltymentalhealth.ca
• Kids Help Phone — www.kidshelpphone.ca
• Ku’uus Aboriginal Crisis Services — 1-800-588-8717
• Mobile Youth Services Team (M.YST) — www.pacificcentrefamilyservices.org/crimereduction-exploitation-diversion
• Need2 Suicide Prevention Information and Support — www.need2.ca
• Office Representative for Children and Youth — www.rcybc.ca
• Restorative Justice Victoria — www.rjvictoria.com
• Trans Lifeline — 1-877-330-6366
• Two-Spirit, Trans, Queer & Allied Youth Drop-in and Family Support — 250-475-7624
• Vancouver Island Crisis Line — www.vicrisis.ca
• Youth in BC - Crisis Intervention Services — www.youthinbc.com
• Youthspace — Online chat for youth/young adults to age 30 (6–11 p.m. daily). Texting support 778-783-8565

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