Algonquin College to launch Victimology Research Centre during Victims and Survivors of Crime Week
Posted on Monday, November 23rd, 2020
OTTAWA – Algonquin College’s Victimology Research Centre, a first of its kind in Canada, is marking its official launch during Victims and Survivors of Crime Week (Nov. 22 – 28).
The Centre’s launch corresponds with the November 24th panel discussion, Community Responses to Homicide, in partnership with the Ottawa Police Service on homicide trends in the nation’s capital over the past five years. The launch will also feature the premier of the documentary After Candace: The Art of Healing, and the unveiling of new research on survivors of violence across Canada, completed by the Centre with support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
“The work we are doing in conjunction with our partners is truly unique in the field of victimology in Canada,” said Dr. Benjamin Roebuck, Research Chair & Professor of Victimology at Algonquin College. “The launch of the Centre helps formalize the research we have been conducting for the past several years. Our partnerships and projects have grown so much since we started, we thought it timely to highlight our initiatives during Victims and Survivors of Crime Week.”
The Victimology Research Centre, which forms part of Algonquin’s Office of Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, works in partnership with non-profit organizations and local, provincial, and federal government stakeholders to study victimization, resilience, and experiences survivors have with the criminal justice system and service providers. The Centre has also been a valuable resource for Algonquin’s Victimology, Police Foundations and Community and Justice Services students, who perform a central role working on its various research projects.
Highlights of Algonquin College’s Victimology Research Centre’s current and past projects include:
Resilience and Survivors of Violent Crime (to be released Nov. 2020)
This multi-year study collected 435 online surveys and 71 follow-up interviews from survivors of violence across all provinces and territories in Canada. This research has explored how responses to violence may lead to various personal changes including post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth.
These findings will support the development of strength-based training modules for victim service providers and provide resources on resilience for the Victim Justice Network to disseminate through their website.
COVID-19 and System Responses to Homelessness
In partnership with The Alliance to End Homelessness (Ottawa), this one-year study will shed light on barriers and gaps in the sector, and highlight innovations when staying home is not an option.
Male Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Canada
At the request of the Office for the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, this paper researches the experiences of male survivors of IPV in Canada between 2010 and 2020.
After Candace: The Art of Healing is a full-length documentary that follows the healing journey of Cliff and Wilma Derksen, who are survivors of their daughter’s homicide. The film was shot on location in Winnipeg, Canada, using art pieces created by Cliff that were strategically placed around the city in areas of significance to their story. With funding from the Algonquin College Innovation Fund (ACIF), workshop materials were created so that this film could be included in Algonquin curricula, shared with service providers, and screened at events such as the Justice Department’s Victims and Survivors of Crime Week.
Victim Services and Vicarious Resilience
Three-year study involving a nationwide online survey and focus groups with the aim to better understand the experiences of victim service workers.
Chris Lackner
Communications Officer
Algonquin College
Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 2091
lacknec@algonquincollege.com
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