Making Waves for Victims

A Toronto police canoe team is taking on Lake Ontario, as a tribute to the struggle of victims of crime and to help fund the program that provides support for those victims.  The team will be paddling from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Sunnyside Beach in Toronto, July 21, with a goal to raise $10,000 for Victim Services Toronto. The non-profit organization partners with the police to provide immediate on-site crisis counselling and referral services for victims of domestic abuse and other crimes and to those who have lost a loved one. “Now it’s time for us to lend our support to these vital programs and services. It’s time to give back and do our part,” said Make Waves For Victims team member Insp. Joanna Beaven. The team is comprised of S/Insp. Heinz Kuck, Insp. Beaven, S/Sgt Peter Henry and Consts. Joel Landry, Jason Ngo, Marc Kalteis, John Bayes, Jazen Brautigam – all of 53 Division. Victim Services Toronto is represented by Tracey Finlay and the team is anchored by former Canadian National Dragon Boat Team champion Peter Buday. They expect to make the 51.5-kilometre journey in under five hours – a new record – by relaying team members every 45 minutes. S/Insp. Heinz Kuck, who leads the team, said the team is united behind the cause because of the strength and courage of the victims they have seen as police officers and Victim Services staff. “Emotional and physical pain is part of the human experience,” Kuck said. “We have all known its wrath in one form or another. Sometimes it presents itself physically, like the aftermath of an assault or accident. At other times it’s emotionally – from abuse by act, words, gesture – worse still, with the sudden loss of a child or parent. No one escapes some kind of pain in their life.” Kuck said Victim Services Toronto gives people a place to turn to seek out accessible services and programs that offer respite from their circumstances. “Sudden trauma or tragedy can be devastating.  When these victims have nowhere else to turn, who provides accessible services and programs? Who offers a respite in the storm of physical and/or emotional trauma? Who offers support borne of raw experience and tempered by disciplined training?  The answer to that question is the fine team at Victim Services Toronto.” Victim Services Toronto relies heavily on donations to provide assistance to 20,000 people each year. The team is now training to be ready for their crossing, with the help of Outrigger Performance Advantage owner Peter Buday, a champion in sprint kayaking and dragon boat racing. Kuck said the team will be spreading the word about the crossing through visits to schools, malls and community centers, to engage in indoor paddle machine races with the community. They will also be fundraising through community BBQs, car washes, and youth sporting events. He said that, beyond fundraising, he hopes to make Victim Services Toronto a household name because of the dedicated efforts of all their staff. To donate, visit makewaves.myevent.com