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Victim Assistance in an Isolated Community: Mackenzie, B.C.

Mackenzie is located approximately eight hundred miles from the lower mainland in the upper northern region of British Columbia. The population of Mackenzie is about 6000; however, there are three outlying Native communities totaling about 680 people. Victim Services in Mackenzie works with the RCMP to provide assistance to people who live in town, as well as the outlying areas. Mackenzie is a unique community, where the majority of the population relies on forestry. Even though Mackenzie is a small community, there is a fair amount of violence occurring here and in the surrounding area.

Victim Services in Mackenzie is a police-based program; however, because it is the only Victim Services program in our town, the coordinator and volunteers also provide assistance that would otherwise be covered by a specialized program or a Crown-based program.

The Mackenzie Victim Assistance program provides a great deal of assistance to people experiencing any difficulty, including referral to any other agency that may be better able to assist during the crisis, either within the community or elsewhere. Information is provided regarding the police investigation, the court system, and how to cope with the crisis situation. Support is provided during the crisis period, the police investigation and the court system. Support, information, assistance and referral are provided not only to victims of criminal activity, but also to any person experiencing difficulty coping with a stressful situation.

Victim Services in Mackenzie has also been involved in a preventative approach to stopping violence in our community. Many presentations have been given to the local elementary schools, community groups and the local college regarding what our program does, and the effects of crime on victims. The Victim Service program has also set up the teen violence in relationships program, and made various presentations to the young adults in the local high school.

We have encountered several important issues affecting the provision of services in a northern region. Some of these issues include: depression, extreme isolation, lack of professional services and difficulty receiving funding for more services in our area.

Our winter season usually lasts eight months, with the average amount of sunlight totaling four hours in February. With these facts, depression and difficulty dealing with isolation become a concern. Agencies involved with human relations in our area usually are extremely busy, due to the isolation and the lack of resources. The nearest Crown Counsel is located in Prince George, a two-hour drive from our community. Due to the amount of area they must cover, Crown lawyers are often unable to meet with victims and witnesses. As a result, many survivors and witnesses of crime end up taking the stand in a court room without even speaking to the Crown lawyer.

As with Crown Counsel, the nearest Legal Aid office is located in Prince George, and the lawyers with this organization are also extremely busy. In order to speak with a lawyer the client is usually required to phone long distance or to travel to Prince George, which are costly for the client and sometimes not an option.

Mackenzie doe not have a transition home for women who are survivors of violence in relationships, and furthermore does not have a psychologist or psychiatrist. In order to receive these types of services as well, the individual would need to be in Prince George.

Although living and working in a small, isolated community can be difficult at times, the networking between community organizations is quite good. There is quite a bit of information sharing between organizations, and referrals in each agency are a large part of the daily work of each organization. For all of the difficulties that are a part of life in the north, the amount of community networking that occurs helps to compensate for the difficulty.

Nikki Young, Coordinator
Mackenzie Victim Services
Box 280
Mackenzie, B.C. V0J 2C0
Phone: 997-3288
Fax: 997-3240