Volunteers with North Simcoe Victim Services (NSVS) are worth their weight in gold.
They show up for people often experiencing the worst day of their lives and guide them through the crisis with care and compassion.
From Day 1, NSVS volunteers been working hand in hand with the Orillia OPP to help victims of crime, violence and tragedy.
Beth (last name withheld for security) has been a volunteer since 2021.
"I like being there when people need you to help out and make things a little easier and I like to give back to the community," she said.
It's a very important area of volunteer work, she explained.
"We make a big difference to people on their worst days," Beth said.
"The training is very in depth, which helps you when you go out your first few times. Plus, they always put you with someone who has experience. We always go in twos. We never go alone," Beth said, adding: "The people that I work with are awesome."
The NSVS recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a well-attended dinner and reception at the Barnfield Point Recreation Centre in Orillia.
Over the past 25 years, the non-profit service has managed 8,766 cries for help. Demand for their service has increased by 35 per cent in recent years, said Catherine McCullough, the NSVS board co-chair alongside Brett Boniface.
Despite that rise in calls, the organization has fewer volunteers now than it did prior to the COVID pandemic.
"It's a shocking increase," said Kim Kneeshaw, the current executive director, who has been with the organization since it started in 1999. "It just shows the demand for service."
In 1999, NSVS started by working out of a converted closet at the old Orillia OPP detachment building on Peter Street and had an average of 11 calls per month.
Now, they have a new office in the new Orillia OPP detachment in west Orillia and they are averaging 71 calls a month. Last October, there were 97 calls.
The explanation for the increase can partly be attributed to a wider boundary of service. Originally, they served the City of Orillia and some outlaying areas. Now they take in all of Oro-Medonte, Ramara, Severn and Orillia.
"But mostly I would attribute it to the pandemic," said Kneeshaw. "Our volume really increased over the course of the pandemic and it's maintained that higher level."
The Ontario government recently announced intimate partner violence has become an epidemic in the province. Perhaps not surprisingly, the No. 1 call to NSVS is for intimate partner violence, followed by sexual assault.
"From the beginning it's always been our highest request for service. I think it's just more recognized now and it's getting more attention given to it," Kneeshaw said.
What's better today than in the past is that there is less stigma attached to being a victim and there are more supports, said Kneeshaw.
"The stigma of being a victim has been removed and it's not looked down upon anymore," Kneeshaw said.
In addition, she said NSVS is more well known in the community and the police often refer people to them, although NSVS is a victim consent service.
"We never go where we are not asked for," said Kneeshaw.
Orillia OPP Detachment Commander Insp. Coyer Yateman said NSVS is vital to the community.
"There's a wealth of experience within the group of volunteers and they work extremely well with the OPP detachment and the members," said Yateman.
"It's evident in the 851 calls last year. It's unfortunate we have to have the service, but it's reassuring to know that this group is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"It's extremely helpful to the officers. Our officers don't hesitate to make that phone call and are relieved when they see support coming so the victims get the support they require," he said.
It allows officers to concentrate on the incidents and allows victim services to support the victims, Yateman said.
It's also helpful that NSVS continues to help victims days, weeks and months after the incident through its programs, he added.
"It boosts the health of the individual and the overall community."
Pat Hehn, the founder and original executive director, said the organization has been successful in training 447 volunteers to date.
"It's a very extensive training that they go through and that training stays with them for the rest of their lives," she said.
For example, one of the volunteers didn't attend the recent celebration because she was using her training to help a friend in need.
Training involves 60 hours of online and class work. Educators include community professionals and people with lived experience who talk about domestic violence, sexual assault, suicide and other tragedies.
"It helps the volunteers feel more knowledgeable and gives them a comfort level to talk about things," said Kneeshaw.
"Suicide is very difficult to talk about, but if you've had some education around it and you've heard from a family member of someone who has committed suicide, it gives you a comfort level to go out and speak and know the better questions to ask," explained Kneeshaw.
Challenges include the need for more volunteers. Pre-pandemic, NSVS had approximately 75. That went down to 25 during the pandemic. Since the fall of 2021, they have run five courses but still have less than 50 volunteers at present.
"We are still fighting to get our volunteer numbers back up. We are absolutely a volunteer-driven organization and the demand for services is very high."
The next round of volunteer training begins the end of August.
North Simcoe Victim Services is located in the Orillia OPP Detachment at 1 University Ave. in Orillia. For more information call 705-325-5578 or visit the website: https://www.ns-vs.com/
