Submitted by Section Executive, Kelly Bradshaw
Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held: 5
December 9, 2015
Guest Speaker: Jacqueline Gaudet, Nanaimo Crown Counsel
Meeting Title/Topic: Impact of the Victims Bill of Rights in Criminal Proceedings
Synopsis: Jacqueline Gaudet, a senior Crown Attorney in Nanaimo, shared her knowledge and experience relating to the impact of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights on various aspects of criminal proceedings. Ms. Gaudet who spearheaded the creation of a Domestic Violence Court in Nanaimo, discussed the rights bestowed on victims by the Bill and other key changes brought about by the new legislation.
December 16, 2015
Guest Speaker: Kristin Hill - Criminal Provincial Instructor, Court Services
Meeting Title/Topic: YCJA - The View From the Registry
Synopsis: Kristin Hill provided a Power Point presentation outlining some of the issues that arise for Registry Staff in ensuring that matters relating to youth dispositions are properly recorded in the system. Ms. Hill has been with the Registry staff since 2002, and is the Criminal Provincial Instructor for Court Services. Ms. Hill outlined some of the changes that occurred with the enactment of the Youth Criminal Justice Act in 2003 and discussed the important role the Staff plays in ensuring that policies relating to disclosure of information for youths are strictly enforced. Ms. Hill also enumerated common errors that the Registry Staff encounter when receiving files from Court.
January 20, 2016
Guest Speaker: Trish Kumpf, Manager of Aboriginal Services, LSS and Gladue Report Writer Tricia Pantell, Native Court Worker
Meeting Title/Topic: Gladue Report update / Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action
Synopsis: Ms. Kumpf outlined some of the key issues arising from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and the Calls to Action, focussing on the recommendation that lawyers receive appropriate cultural competency training, including the history and legacy of residential schools, treaties and Aboriginal rights, indigenous law and Aboriginal-Crown relations. Trish Pantell, Native Court Worker for Nanaimo, outlined the reasources available to assist Aboriginal participants in the criminal justice system, focussing on cultural and traditional teachings to minimize criminal behaviour.
March 22, 2016
Guest Speaker:
Deborah Hollins, Nanaimo Family Life
Anne Taylor of the Haven Society
Meeting Title/Topic: Beyond Blame: Programs for Domestic Violence Cases
Synopsis: Deborah Hollins of Nanaimo Family Life and discussed the programming available in Nanaimo for accused persons charged with domestic violence offences. Ms. Hollins discussed the highly-regarded Beyond Blame program - a 16 week group program which focuses on the Responsibility of the Perpetrator and the safety of the Victim. Anne Taylor discussed the Haven Society's program Men Choose Respect - an 8 week group program that aims at targeting early intervention, ideally before there is violence in the relationship.
May 5, 2016
Guest Speaker: Cst. Chris Dufrane and Cst. Mihai Ilioi from the Nanaimo RCMP Projects Team
Meeting Title/Topic: Street Drugs - an Update by the RCMP
Synopsis: Cst. Mihai Ilioi discussed the psychological and physiological effects of drugs on the human body. Cst. Ilioi is a Certified Drug Recognition Evaluator and has been qualified as a dug expert in British Columbia. Cst. Ilioi discussed Homeostasis (the dynamic balance or steady state involving salt/water/sugar etc in our body) and the way in which various categories of drugs disrupt our natural homeostasis. Cst. Ilioi also provided statistics regarding drug-impaired driving notices, pointing out that in Nanaimo there has been a rise of prescription anti-depressants being found in a number of drug-impaired driving stops. Cst. Dufrane's presentation focused specifically on usage, pricing and packaging of street drugs in the Nanaimo area. He noted that Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and Heroin/Fentanyl were the most prolific drugs on our streets locally.
Comments and Observations of the Chair
This year our Section didn't hold as many meetings (5 as opposed to 6), but we were pleased that the attendance at the last two meetings was higher than average (16-18 attendees). Our aim was to have topics that were timely and interesting, and each member of the executive participated in choosing topics and inviting speakers. Our goal is to increase the number of meetings next year, and we hope to attract new members to the Section.