THUNDER BAY – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) are congratulating long-time staff member Sandra Brown for receiving the Attorney General’s Victim Services Awards of Distinction for her outstanding work in the Ralph Rowe Survivor’s Group. “Sandra is an invaluable member of the NAN community, and I congratulate her on all her hard work with the project,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin.
“Sandra dealt with any issue that came up related to the project, no matter how emotionally difficult it was. Sandra has been able to nurture a special bond with the survivors, and I know her hard work and dedication to the Ralph Rowe Survivors’ Group has helped bring healing to many people that would not have found it otherwise.”
The Victim Services Awards recognize the achievement of dedicated professionals and volunteers who are excellent role models for all Ontarians, and especially for others in the field of victim services. Awards are given to individual victims who, through courage and dedication, have forged a better future for themselves, their families and their communities, and to organizations that provide innovative services and supports to victims of crime.
Sandra was instrumental in obtaining and maintaining consistent funding for the Survivors’ Program. She also helped to organize the men’s healing group, and made sure they continued to meet on a regular basis. She was able to build many strong relationships with the survivors by gaining their trust through patience and kindness.
“Sandra’s kind personality and caring attitude towards people within the project is what made it run so smoothly,” said Men’s Support in Court Advisor Don Hewitt. “Sandra came onto the Survivors’ Project later than me, so she had a lot of work to catch up on, but she was able to build relationships with most of the survivors to the point where they would call her whenever they needed help. It’s her total commitment to the project that made her an impressive asset to the team.”