Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Koala Place Child and Youth Advocacy Centre held their Annual General Meeting on June 23rd 2016.

Koala Place ensures a highly confidential environment and provides children, youth and the non-offending family members a safe and neutral setting to disclose their stories. Partner organizations such as Police Services, Child Protection Services, Medical Services, Mental Health Professionals, Health Services, Prosecution and Victim Services collaborate to provide expert, integrated and wrap-around services to victims or witnesses of physical abuse, sexual abuse or maltreatment.

This past year, Guy Lauzon, Member of Parliament for Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry, on behalf of Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Peter MacKay, announced funding of $160,000 allocated over a period of two years (ending March 2017). Despite the optics of the generous support, the allocation actually represented a reduction of nearly 50% to the initial funding from Justice Canada-Victims Fund. Koala Place has always been cognizant the Department of Justice was not a long term funder, restricted to providing support for start-up initiatives with phasing-out funding, however the significant reduction for Koala Place was sooner than expected.

With this announcement, Koala Place determinedly increased efforts in many areas: fundraising, grant applications, and making its presence known to the Ministries. Success with grant monies and donations have been respectful, nevertheless sustainability remains an undeniable concern. Planning a financial future continues to be a board priority.

In this past year, the centre supported over 278 children, youth and families through forensic interviews, mediation, family meetings and youth groups.

The accomplishments over the past year have been guided by the visionary leadership of the Board of Directors, unwavering compassion and dedication of staff (Elyse Lauzon-Alguire, Executive Director; Suzanne Villeneuve-Fitch, Executive Assistant; and Jen Baker, Accounting Clerk), volunteers, willingness of community partners to collaborate, generosity of donors and the support of funders.

The following board members have been elected to lead the organization for the 2016-2017 fiscal year:

-Patrick Finucan, Chair

-Shawna Spowart, Inspector, Cornwall Community Police Service – Koala Place Vice-Chair

-Rachel Daigneault, Executive Director, The Children's Aid Society of S.D. & G. – Koala Place Secretary

-Claude Legault, Treasurer

-Chief Dan Parkinson, Cornwall Community Police Service

-Ray Houde, Executive Director, Counselling & Support Services of S.D. & G.

-Diane Plourde, Executive Director, Victim Services of S.D.G. & A.

-Interim Detachment Commander Mike Mulhearn, Ontario Provincial Police

-Chief Jerry Swamp, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service

-Diane Hume, Retired Detective, Ontario Provincial Police

-Carole Cardinal, Probation Manager, Youth Justice Ministry of Children and Youth Services

-Dan O'Rourke, Executive Director, Laurencrest Youth Services Inc.

-Fr. Claude Thibault, Priest and Survivor of Sexual Abuse

-Suzanne Farag, Staff Lawyer, Legal Aid Ontario

Community Resource Individuals:

-Sheila Tallon, Manager, Victim/Witness Assistance Program

-Patti Gauley, Director, Health Promotion & Prevention, Eastern Ontario Health Unit

-Robert Hawkins, Probation Officer, Youth Justice Services Ministry of Children and Youth Services