The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Helen Conway Ottenheimer, Minister of Justice and Public Safety:

Speaker, dedicating over 30 years to supporting people at their most vulnerable moment takes a person with incredible empathy, compassion and dedication. This is exactly what Anita Stanley has done as she ends her career with the Victim Services program and starts her retirement.

Starting her career in 1995 in youth corrections in Springdale, Anita moved into Victim Services in Clarenville in 1997 and hasn’t looked back. She came to St. John’s and has been manager of the program for the past 18 years. Overseeing 11 Victim Services offices across the province, Anita has supported an incredible staff who provide services to victims of crime in Newfoundland and Labrador. I would like to thank them for their hard work.

Speaker, the work done by Victim Services is often difficult and can take an emotional toll. Anita’s strong leadership, as well as her kindness and calming approach, has benefited the program and the staff to be able to support their many complex files.

We have been extremely lucky to have Anita serve the people of the province and we thank her for decades of work. I ask all members of this Honourable House to join me in congratulating Anita and wish her all the best in this next chapter of her life. Thank you, Speaker.