The History of GVPVS
On October 24, 1983 the Esquimalt Police Department started a Victim Services Program, run solely by Cst. Grant Smith of their Community Services Section. The success of this program, as well as the results of a Federal survey on victim of crime in 1982, prompted Cst. Doug Holmes of the Victoria Police Department to organize a group of people within the community who recognized the need to ensure that victims of crime would not be forgotten or mislead in the criminal justice system.
On February 29, 1984 the first meeting of the Victim Services Program was held in the conference room of the Victoria Police Department. Seeds of the regional service were planted, and we owe much to the founding members for their vision and dedication. December 7, 1984 Greater Victoria Victim Services was registered as a non-profit society in the Province of British Columbia with representation from each RCMP and municipal police agency in the Region.
In 1990 the Ministry of Attorney General and Solicitor General (now called the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor general) engaged GVPVS in a contract to provide victim services in the Capital Region with matching funds from the Capital Regional District.
Originally named Greater Victoria Victim Services, in 2001 the organization changed its name to Greater Victoria Police Victim Services (GVPVS) Society. In 2004 CBF Esquimalt Military Police became partners with representation on the GVPVS Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is now comprised of 7 community-at-large members and one representative from each of the 7 police agencies in the Region.
