Help for victims of crime

Photo: Contributed

The South Okanagan Victim Assistance Society, SOVAS, will hold workshops this week in recognition of National Victims of Crime Awareness Week.

The workshops in Penticton and Keremeos, will be led Dr. Linda Coates ,who has received international attention for her work on the connection between violence and language in diverse settings.

“Basically how we respond to a victim of violence can influence their healing process,” said Amberlee Erdmann, resource development coordinator at SOVAS. “So the whole point of the workshops is to educate people on how to respond to victims of violence in a positive way.”

The week,  itself, acknowledges all the victims and families affected by crime and gives recognition to volunteers and service providers who support them.

The free workshops are tied to the theme of the 2013 week, which is “We all have a role.”

In her two hour presentations, Coates will focus on the  importance of language used when responding to victims.

The Keremeos language workshop will be held on April 24 in the Keremeos Health Centre multipurpose room, 700 Third Street.

There will be networking from 6 to 7 p.m. and a lecture and discussion from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Penticton language workshop is April 25 in the demo lab in the Centre of Excellence at Okanagan college, 583 Duncan Ave.

It will include networking from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by the lecture and discussion from 7 to 9 p.m.