Interior Savings supports Remote Testimony project

Oak Centre staff receive a cheque from Tim Hendren, Branch Manager – Vernon Interior Savings.

The generosity of Interior Savings, and their Community Investment Fund, has made a remote testimony project possible for Oak Child and Youth Advocacy Centre. This is an important step in an attempt to reduce the psychological trauma that victims may face by physically entering a courtroom, encountering the accused, or reliving their traumatic experience. Creating a space within Oak Centre means clients can have access to a comfortable, family-friendly and secure setting, while being supported by the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre’s multi-disciplinary team of professionals.

The remote testimony project in Vernon follows those already completed in Kelowna and Vancouver; with others in development in Prince George, Kamloops and Cowichan Valley. Similar projects are already available in other provinces.

With Interior Saving’s $12,000 grant, Oak Centre has purchased a SMART Board and Meeting Owl conferencing camera and microphone, and is improving the chosen space and network systems. The next phase will be training staff to use the equipment, as well as testing the software with the courthouse. We look forward to offering remote testimony later this year.