Celebrating Caring Response and Victim Support • 1999 – 2019
We look forward to celebrating our milestones and evolution over the past two decades, as we recognize our outstanding team of volunteers and community partners.
20th Anniversary Fundraiser – 120 x 20 Crisis Response Kits
Click here to learn about how you can support our volunteers by helping us provide essential Crisis Response Kits.
The Honourable Gwen Boniface salutes NSVS 20th Anniversary in Senate
On October 25, 2018, Senator Gwen Boniface made a statement to the Senate Chamber congratulating North Simcoe Victim Services on its 20th Anniversary and two decades of service to the community. Listen here and read the full statement here. Thank you for your support, Senator Boniface!
20th Anniversary Kick-off & Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Bayside Restaurant, Barnfield Point Recreation Centre, 500 Atherley Road, Orillia
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special Annual General Meeting to launch our 20th Anniversary. Read the news release here and download the 2017-2018 Annual Report here.
Highlights of our History
Date | Event |
1987 | Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General conducts three pilot projects in Ontario to test a new method for assisting police officers to meet their concerns about victims of crime – Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Services (VCARS) was operated in Algoma District, Brant County and Frontenac County. |
1997 | Steering Committee for North Simcoe Victim Crisis Services is established with three community members and one police officer – Pat Hehn, Marg LeBarr, Traci Mascola, and Sgt. John Bateman |
1998 – 1999 | A formal Board of Directors is formed, an office established within the Orillia OPP Detachment and funding proposal submitted to the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General |
February 1999 | North Simcoe Victim Crisis Services is incorporated |
June 1999 | First two classes of volunteers graduated |
August 2000 | Pat Hehn hired as Executive Director and Kim Robins as Volunteer Coordinator |
2001 | Over 250 calls completed and over 600 clients served. |
March 2005 | Retired NSVS volunteer, Carol Ivey, established the Victim Crisis Service Endowment Fund to be administered by The Community Foundation of Orillia and Area. |
April 2005 | Volunteer Deborah and Borden Henson sponsored a “Gourment Dinner” at their restaurant, raising $4,000 |
April 2009 | NSVS received Order of Orillia from City of Orillia |
October 2011 | Offices move into OPP Detachment portable |
February 2012 | Received $4,000 Community Capacity grant to purchase computers |
October 2013 | “Amazing Race” fundraiser raises $11,000 |
July 2014 | Frances Yarbrough hired as Executive Director |
2014 | Orillia Community Action Network (O-CAN) is formed to address public safety and community well-being issues; Orillia Situation Table formed to mobilize services; and Partner Agency Working Group formed. |
April 2015 | Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Services (VCARS) is changed to Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario (VCAO) |
November 2015 | Client Services Coordinator Linda White retires |
2015 | New logo, vision and mission statement is created, along with new website and strategic priorities. |
2015 | Communications plan developed to support strategic priorities; communications specialist hired to assist. |
2016 | Funding program for victims of Human Trafficking |
2017, 2018 | Recognition events held with funding from Department of Justice to commemorate Victims and Survivors of Crime Week. |