Alberta
The Deadline for the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre Dream Home lottery is Sunday
The Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre Dream Home Lottery ticket deadline is Sunday, April 7. Please take a moment to see and share these reasons for supporting our most vulnerable kids. Most importantly.. click on this link to visit the lottery website.
10 Children Supported in one week. In this week alone, we have seen & supported 10 kids here at the Centre.
These children have been impacted by child abuse in some capacity: sexual abuse, physical, neglect, witness to domestic violence, sexual exploitation and emotional abuse.
9 Quilting Groups who make it possible to give our littles the comfort of their very own quilt.
When a child first visits our Centre they are often afraid, confused, and sad. After the interview, or other support they receive, it is incredible to witness the change in them. They stand a little taller, and leave knowing that today is the start of their healthy future.
Thanks to some amazing groups of ladies we are also fortunate enough to give a child a quilt afterwards, wrapping themselves with the comfort knowing it is going to be ok. These ladies stop by every couple months to bring us these hand-made pieces which takes many many hours, days and weeks to make.
8 New Communities Supported this Month.
In the month of March, we have supported children and their families impacted by child abuse from 8 new communities throughout Central Alberta.
Since opening, we have served 61 communities.
Although we are located in Red Deer, we support more than half of our cases from surrounding communities: Sylvan Lake, Alix, Lacombe, Bashaw – your community.
7 Core Staff at the CACAC
The CACAC is comprised of a group driven by courage to end the cycle of abuse. What many do not know is that we are a small team, only made up of 7 core staff just as of this month!
We wouldn’t be able to do this alone though, it is through our collaboration with our 7 partners that makes it possible: RCMP, Central Region Children’s Services, AHS, Alberta Education, Alberta Justice, Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre, and RDC.
It is also through YOU that we are able to support the children of Central Alberta. We rely on the support and advocacy of the community and we need your help.
To support the CACAC and the vulnerable children of Central Alberta, please buy your Dream Home Lottery ticket before it’s too late. All proceeds go directly to supporting children and their families impacted by child abuse.
6 Years since Bill 25: The Children First Act – Alberta Children’s Charter was enacted.
#DidYouKnow: The Children First Act was passed 6 years ago here in Alberta, allowing pertinent information to be shared among service providers – if deemed beneficial to the child or for the provision of services.
This is what allows all of our partners to work together at ‘triage’. They are able to share important case information which expedites the process – and in-turn propels healing & recovery for the child.
Although this act allows for government agencies to collaborate and work together here at the CACAC, we still rely on the community for the majority of funding.
5 Operating Child Advocacy Centres in Alberta
We are proud to be apart of the 5 open & operating CACs in Alberta – operating for a full 16 months! Other CACs in Alberta include: Zebra Child Protection Centre Calgary & Area Child Advocacy Centre Lloydminster Sexual Assault Services Caribou Child & Youth Centre .
All of these Centres collaborate on best practices & support one another in order to best support the children of Alberta affected by Child Abuse.
4 X more likely for child abuse survivors to report self-harm or suicidal ideations.
This staggering statistic is another reason why support throughout and after the initial process is so crucial. For the survivor, it doesn’t just end at the potential court hearing, or even at the forensic interview – healing is a life-long journey.
Through our partnership with Alberta Health Services, we now have our Mental Health Therapist here onsite at the CACAC – providing the much needed support and therapy for both the child and their family to end the cycle of abuse.
3 | 1 in 3 Canadians report to have experienced some form of child abuse in their youth.
We have shared this stat with you before, but let it sink in. In Canada, 33% of our population has been affected by child abuse.
This is someone you most likely know and would never expect. This is someone that is homeless struggling with addiction because they have no other way to cope and didn’t receive the crucial support. This may be your neighbor, your cousin, your best friend, your niece.
Many times, the story is not shared or reported until a much older age where the survivor has been struggling internally for years.
Help support the 1 in 3 Canadians that are survivors of abuse.
2 or more partners have collaborated on 87% of cases
Out of the 483 (as of March 27) children we have supported, 87% of the cases were through collaborative efforts between 2 or more of our service partners. We work with Alberta Health Services, Central Region Children’s Services, Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre, and the RCMP.
Through this collaboration, more information is shared – reducing the time for a child to receive proper support.
Your Dream Home Ticket helps support these collaborative measures in-turn, supports the 483 seen at the Centre and the many more we will support.
For $35 you can influence positive outcomes in the lives of abused children living in Central Alberta communities.
1 Ticket can change the life of a child
Your $35 ticket doesn’t just give you the chance to win an amazing house, cars or other prizes – it changes the life of the children that we support at the Centre.
All of the proceeds from the Dream Home Lottery support the most vulnerable children of Central Alberta – those impacted by child abuse. This abuse ranges from physical, to sexual, to being a witness of domestic violence, peer-to-peer abuse and unfortunately much more.
Your $35 is a donation and helps give back the promise and possibility of a healthy future to those that need it most.
Please buy your ticket before its too late, and support the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre and our mission to end the cycle of child abuse.
Tickets:
www.cacaclottery.ca
1-833-475-4402
57 Larratt Close – open Sunday until 5pm.
Alberta
Former senior financial advisor charged with embezzling millions from Red Deer area residents
News release from Alberta RCMP
Former senior financial advisor charged for misappropriating nearly $5 million from clients
On April 4, 2024, the RCMP’s Provincial Financial Crime Team charged a Calgary resident for fraud-related offences after embezzling millions of dollars from his clients while serving as a senior financial advisor.
Following a thorough investigation, the accused is alleged to have fraudulently withdrawn funds from client accounts and deposited them into bank accounts he personally controlled. A total of sixteen victims were identified in the Red Deer area and suffered a combined loss of nearly $5 million.
Marc St. Pierre, 52, a resident of Calgary, was arrested and charged with:
- Fraud over $5,000 contrary to section 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code; and,
- Theft over $5,000 contrary to section 344(a) of the Criminal Code.
St. Pierre is scheduled to appear in Red Deer Provincial Court on May 14, 2024.
“The ability for financial advisors to leverage their position to conduct frauds and investment scams represents a significant risk to the integrity of Alberta’s financial institutions. The investigation serves as an important reminder for all banking clients to regularly check their accounts for any suspicious activity and to report it to their bank’s fraud prevention team.”
- Sgt. John Lamming, Provincial Financial Crime Team
The Provincial Financial Crime Team is a specialized unit that conducts investigations relating to multi-jurisdictional serious fraud, investments scams and corruption.
Alberta
Political parties will be part of municipal elections in Edmonton and Calgary pilot projects
Strengthening Alberta’s local elections
Alberta’s government is introducing legislation to ensure Albertans can rely on transparent, free and fair elections, and municipally-elected officials have clearer accountability measures.
In a democratic society, Albertans expect their local elections to be free and fair, and their elected officials to be held to account by clear rules that govern their local councils. The Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act proposes amendments to the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) and the Municipal Government Act (MGA) to add greater transparency to local election processes and ensure local councils and elected officials continue to remain accountable to the citizens who elected them.
“Our government is committed to strengthening Albertans’ trust in their local governments and the democratic process that elects local leaders. The changes we are making increase transparency for Alberta voters and provide surety their votes will be counted accurately. We know how important local democracy is to Albertans, and we will work with local authorities to protect and enhance the integrity of local elections.”
Local Authorities Election Act
Albertans expect free and fair elections and that’s why it’s important we strengthen the rules that govern local elections. To strengthen public trust in local elections, Alberta’s government will eliminate the use of electronic tabulators and other automated voting machines. All Albertans should be able to trust the methods and results of local elections; requiring all ballots to be counted by hand, clarifying rules and streamlining processes for scrutineers will provide voters greater assurance in the integrity of the results.
All eligible Albertans should be able to vote in local elections without impediment. Alberta’s government will limit the barriers for eligible voters to cast a ballot by expanding the use of special ballots. Currently, special ballots can only be requested for very specific reasons, including physical disability, absence from the municipality, or for municipal election workers. By expanding the use of special ballots, the government is encouraging more voter participation.
Amendments in the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act would increase transparency in local elections by enabling political parties at the local level. Political parties would be enabled in a pilot project for Edmonton and Calgary. The act will not require candidates to join a political party in order to run for a local or municipal office, but will create the opportunity to do so.
In addition, proposed changes to the Local Authorities Election Act would allow municipalities the option to require criminal record checks for local candidates, thus increasing transparency and trust in candidates who may go on to become elected officials.
Municipal Government Act
The role of an elected official is one with tremendous responsibility and expectations. Changes proposed to the Municipal Government Act (MGA) will strengthen the accountability of locally elected officials and councils. These include requiring mandatory orientation training for councillors, allowing elected officials to recuse themselves for real or perceived conflicts of interest without third-party review and requiring a councillor’s seat to become vacant upon disqualification.
If passed, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act will also unlock new tools to build affordable and attainable housing across Alberta. Proposed amendments under the MGA would also create more options for municipalities to accelerate housing developments in their communities. Options include:
- Exempting non-profit, subsidized affordable housing from both municipal and education property taxes;
- Requiring municipalities to offer digital participation for public hearings about planning and development, and restricting municipalities from holding extra public hearings that are not already required by legislation; and
- Enabling municipalities to offer multi-year residential property tax exemptions.
Municipal Affairs will engage municipalities and other partners over the coming months to hear perspectives and gather feedback to help develop regulations.
Quick facts
- The LAEA establishes the framework for the conduct of elections in Alberta municipalities, school divisions, irrigation districts and Metis Settlements.
- The MGA establishes the rules governing the conduct of local elected officials once on council, as well as the overall administration and operation of municipal authorities in Alberta, including any policy those authorities may wish to implement.
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