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Community Safety and Crime Prevention Awards recipients’ biographies

Dave Dickson, Williams Lake

Winner of the Award of Distinction for more than two decades of work, Dickson has played an integral role in several community safety and crime prevention initiatives in his community. As the manager of community safety for the City of Williams Lake, he is responsible for multiple community safety programs and the management of the RCMP-based victim services team. Dickson is known for his positive relationships and strong partnerships. His notable work includes implementing a situation table, enacting a well-being and community safety strategic plan, and working towards introducing an Indigenous court in Williams Lake.

Gloria Joseph, Lillooet

Winner of the Services to Victims Award, Joseph has advocated for victims’ rights within her community for 40 years. While working as a social worker, she identified a gap in services and support for women, children and victims of violence and started a support group for women experiencing or who had experienced sexual abuse. Although maintaining support for her advocacy was often difficult, Joseph persevered, helping develop the victim services program in Lillooet. She later began working with the Lillooet Friendship Centre and is an integral part of the program and community.

Catherine Bargen, Vancouver

Winner of the Restorative Justice Memorial Award, Bargen began her career 20 years ago at the Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre in Edmonton. She has been instrumental in bringing together victim service programs and restorative justice groups in British Columbia. In 2019, she led a national listening project that documented victims’ experiences of restorative justice across the country. Bargen has also provided training and facilitation across Canada and internationally, and co-authored one of the first training manuals on implementing restorative justice in schools.

Chantal Sears, White Rock

Winner of the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Award, Sears has led numerous initiatives to help educate her local community about crime prevention. She began policing with the Langley Detachment in 2004 and is a leading member of the Community Response Team, dedicating over 15 years in the field of crime prevention, tackling neighbourhood issues and drug enforcement. Sears has been instrumental in developing and implementing countless programs designed to combat bullying, and educate youth on the safe use of social media and the dangers of substance abuse.

South Asian Community Resource Office (SACRO), Abbotsford

Winner of the Youth Leadership Award, SACRO, which is part of Archway Community Services, provides culturally relevant crime prevention programming for South Asian youth who are at risk of or involved in criminal and gang activity in the community. Since 2009, it has provided services in English and Punjabi for over 350 individual South Asian youth and families, with programs such as school engagement support, mentoring and clinical counselling. It also supports youth affected by gang activity, assisting them with completing their high school education, obtaining and maintaining employment, and restoring healthy relationships.