BOYLE — For many Albertans, conversations about crime centre around statistics; how often crime occurs in your community, and what types of offenses are being committed, as well as the perpetrators; how long of a sentence was given, when will they be back on the streets?
Less often the focus of conversations around crime are the people directly impacted. But Melody Littell, director of operations for the Eastern Alberta Regional Victim Serving Society (EARVSS), wants to bring more awareness to the experience of victims of everyday crime and the services available through the recently remodelled victim services program.
“Most people don’t ever hear about victim services unless they’ve had to deal with us, which is sad,” said Littell.
“I would love awareness that we are here, versus I knock on your door and that’s how you learn about me, because we are more than that; we provide so much more than that.”
Littell was joined by assistant director of operations for the EARVSS northern subregion Shyan Hrynyk for presentations to both Boyle and Athabasca County councillors in late February to provide officials with an update on services since the provincial overhaul in late 2024.
“We’re here and we’re going to stay,” Littell told Boyle councillors on Feb. 19. “We are best serving this community by being able to be there in the aftermath of the event, as close to the event as possible, and to be there for people while they navigate the justice system, because it’s not easy to navigate.”
Prior to October 2024, victim services units in police detachments across the province were overseen by 62 individual boards that determined the scope of services provided within the area.
Under the new structure, the province is divided into four service delivery regions aligning with the four RCMP districts; Eastern, Western, Central and South. Littell’s eastern region, divided into two sub-areas, spans as far north as the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to as far south as Consort and Coronation.
The pair noted typical services such as court navigation and personalized resource referrals for victims after criminal charges for sexual assault, homicide, robbery and more have been filed are still standard across the province.
Indirect victims, including witnesses, may qualify for court support on a case by case basis, providing the direct victim is being served and resources are available.
Individuals police believe may be at risk for intimate partner or family violence qualify for supports, even if no charges have been laid. Services are also available during ongoing investigations for incidents like fires or vehicle collisions before a matter is deemed criminal or not.
Units also offer resources to family members in the case of an non-criminal unexpected death such as suicide or as a result of a collision.
But between the extreme ends of the spectrum like death and sexual assault, Littell said she and her staff have supports and resources for individuals impacted by everything in between.
“It’s the other crimes that don’t have that kind of awareness that we also catch,” said Littell. Have questions about where to turn after being assaulted by a neighbour? Having your vehicle stolen? Your matter’s next court date? Littell said victim services can help find those answers.
Certain services offered in different units around the province in the past, however, are no longer available after the remodel. Individuals involved in general disputes or civil matters, those needing transportation to court dates, or people seeking resources for homelessness or substance abuse can no longer turn to their local victims services unit.
Littell said matters under the Mental Health Act and those involving child abuse and neglect are also ineligible for support, but emphasized what her and Hrynyk call the “no wrong door approach.”
“Not everything that comes to us may be eligible for us to support, but we will make sure we get you to the person that can,” said Littell.
“We will never pick up the phone and say there’s nothing for you, it will be our best to find what community nearest has a program for them,” said Hrynyk.
With offices in Athabasca, Boyle, Barrhead, Westlock, and Wabasca, as well as Lakeland communities like Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, and Bonnyville, EARVSS north subregion covers a large zone, but Littell said almost every community has a navigator in detachment or awaiting security clearance.
Staffing for each community is based on over time crime trends for each area; Wabasca’s detachment has two full-time equivalent navigators, while Athabasca has three. Boyle and Barrhead both have one FTE, Westlock has one-and-a-half, and Cold Lake and Lac La Biche have four each.
While certain officials like Rural Muncipalities of Alberta president Paul McLauchlin from Ponoka have flagged the new FTE dispersion as unfair to some communities, local politicians are seeing the benefits.
“From what we’re hearing at RMA, the regional system isn’t working for everybody, but it is working here,” said Athabasca County Coun. Camille Wallach.
From October to December, Littell and team saw six new referrals and are supporting eleven files moving through the justice system out of Boyle. In Athabasca, EARVSS has seen 29 referrals for support with 40 active files in the courts.
Most common, Littell said, are property crime such as theft, persons crime like domestic violence, and sudden deaths.
Littell said the unit is also seeking both volunteer advocates to respond to calls for service, as well as board members to help advocate for the society.
EARVSS has a regional office in St. Paul and can be reached by calling 1-587-487-2505 or your local RCMP detachment. To learn more about victim services supports and eligibility and volunteer opportunities visit www.earvss.ca.
