By Sheldon Spackman

Front Line Service Providers Awards

Frontline efforts in addressing domestic violence and bullying honoured

Nov 4, 2020 | 4:19 PM

A trio of central Albertans have been recognized for their extraordinary efforts in helping individuals and families impacted by domestic violence and bullying.

On Wednesday, the 16^th Annual Front Line Service Providers Awards were held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and hosted by the Outreach Centre in Red Deer. November is Family Violence Prevention Month in Alberta.

Tamara Oakes is a case manager with the Outreach Centre’s Red Deer Housing Team, and was one of two people recognized with a Front Line Service Providers Award.

After being in the field for more than 10 years serving Red Deer’s vulnerable population and focusing on housing stability, Oakes says building relationships is a big part of her job.

“Creating a safer environment for my clients, getting them off the street, out of shelters and into their own homes,” she explains. “I work with the most vulnerable, so clients that are in shelters, couch surfing, to clients that are facing domestic violence. It feels good to be recognized for sure.”

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Leevan Nguyen of Children’s Services was also recognized with a Front Line Service Providers Award and is currently working as a supervisor that manages and supports his team through a variety of case files which include domestic violence abuse.

Meanwhile, Charlie Turnbull, program manager for the Outreach Centre, was honoured with the Patrick Dillon Leadership Award.

As the award suggests, the humbled Turnbull speculates that it’s his leadership qualities that garnered the recognition.

“I’m helpful with anything that needs to be done. I go around to make sure that all the staff are taken care of, that their needs are met, and our clients,” he points out. “Without the housing program, without having houses, it’s hard to maintain any sort of normal day to day living, so we really stress to having them (clients) housed. With our domestic violence programs, we’re there to prevent domestic violence and offer safe places for their children to be.”

Barb Barber, Executive Director at the Outreach Centre, says it’s important to celebrate the successes and good work being done by the roughly 20 different organizations working to address family violence and bullying in the community each year – noting help is out there and people don’t have to suffer alone.

“Central Alberta has a high rate of family violence and so much of it happens without the neighbor knowing or without your family knowing or being aware,” says Barber. “Family violence or domestic violence doesn’t pick and choose what class or what socio-economic status people have or anything like that. It can happen to anybody and anywhere, and people just have to understand that it can affect anybody from the most-wealthiest, to the most vulnerable.”

Barber says anyone can help by simply being compassionate and empathetic towards others.

“Sometimes we just need to not be afraid to ask people if they’re O.K. and if they need help,” remarks Barber. “It’s the line of, ‘People don’t care how much you know, they just need to know that you care’. Sometimes just knowing that there’s somebody out there that cares can make all the difference for somebody that’s needing help.”

Rayann Toner, Executive Director at Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter, says she’s extremely proud of the unsung heroes that bear witness to the horrors of domestic violence every day.

“I think that we have a tremendous amount of leadership and mentors in our community and I think that the award really highlights those achievements,” she exclaims. “Sometimes it can feel like an uphill battle, but there are many people in the trenches really dedicated to fighting this huge pandemic itself on violence in the family and intimate partner violence and I think that’s something to be commended. There’s lots of hope here in central Alberta.”