North Simcoe Victim Services (NSVS) provides assistance for victims of crime, tragic circumstance, or disaster; 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Offering emotional support and practical assistance, NSVS is a community-based charitable organization where specially-trained volunteers help with a victim’s immediate needs and provide referrals to existing community services if longer-term care is required.
NSVS started with a steering committee of four in 1997, and has since grown to become an organization the community can depend on when it comes to victim crisis services. The steering committee expanded to a Board in 1998, and after many hours of work and dedication to research, the organization was ready to train its first two classes volunteer crisis responders in the spring of 1999. The first 45 volunteers graduated with Commissioner Gwen Boniface present in June of that year, and began their first victim crisis services shifts on the July 1st Canada Day long weekend. For a detailed overview of the history of victim services in Canada, click here.
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North Simcoe Victim Services announces new executive director
February 3, 2020 – Orillia, ON
A dedicated volunteer and employee of North Simcoe Victim Services (NSVS) has been named the organization’s new executive director following an extensive search process by the NSVS Board of Directors.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Kim Hewitt as our new executive director,” said Catherine McCullough, Chair of NSVS Board of Directors.
Hewitt joined NSVS as a volunteer in 1999 upon graduating from the inaugural volunteer training program. Her leadership role with NSVS began when, as a volunteer, she offered to take on the task of scheduling volunteers to ensure all shifts were covered 24/7. This led to her being hired as the organization’s volunteer coordinator, a position she held until assuming the role of acting executive director. Hewitt served as acting executive director since June 2019 when Frances Yarbrough resigned from the position to accept a new opportunity in Alberta.
Growing up on a farm in Oro-Medonte, Hewitt has always understood responsibility, teamwork and the need to work hard. She studied Business Administration during her post-secondary education, giving her the skills to succeed as manager and bookkeeper for her family’s businesses. Since joining NSVS, Hewitt has not only completed numerous specialized training courses related to victim services, but has also organized and led workshops for NSVS volunteers.
“Our organization’s strength comes from our outstanding team of crisis response volunteers and the support they receive from our leadership team. Kim not only understands the value of the work done by our volunteers, she has proven to have the leadership skills to help guide NSVS as we continue to grow and serve the needs of our community,” said McCullough.
“I am honoured to be appointed executive director of Victim Services and I look forward to continuing to work with our partners and supporters,” said Hewitt. “I am confident that together we will continue to help improve lives by providing the kind of 24/7 services that I know are so essential.”
North Simcoe Victim Services provides assistance to victims of crime, tragic circumstances, and disaster; 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a community-based organization, specially-trained response volunteers offer emotional support and practical assistance to help with a victim’s immediate needs and provide referrals to other community services when longer-term care is required.
To commemorate our 20th Anniversary (1999 – 2019) we asked our volunteers and partners to reflect on their work with the organization over the past two decades.
To view other North Simcoe Victim Services videos, click here.
New video launched to commemorate Victims and Survivors of Crime Week 2019. Read the news story here.
