Yukoners recognized for crime prevention and community safety during 2024 Minister of Justice Community Safety Awards

2024 Minister of Justice Community Safety Awards Recipients

Lifetime Contribution: Eileen Wally

Ms. Wally has worked for Carcross/Tagish First Nation for many years, mostly in the Health and Wellness Department and she recently retired from sitting on the Carcross/Tagish First Nation Executive Council.

She has always looked out for Carcross/Tagish First Nation Citizens throughout her life and even after retirement, she still goes out and drives around, looking after others.

In the four years sitting on the Executive Council, Ms. Wally would give updates about what was happening on the ground with Citizens.

She dedicated decades to keeping Citizens’ healthy of mind and body, sometimes by having conversations with them, calling the RCMP to intervene or simply by driving them home to make sure they are safe.

She kept the youth engaged with their community and made sure they had someone to count on.

Yukon Policing Award: Constable Gregory Beauchamp

Officer Gregory Beauchamp exemplifies excellence in his role as an RCMP officer, serving as a positive influence for younger individuals. As an RCMP officer, he goes beyond merely fulfilling his duties: he actively ensures the safety and welfare of citizens. His commitment extends to proactive engagement with the community, addressing concerns before they escalate and fostering a secure environment. His dedication to the Carmacks community is widely recognized and has earned the trust and respect of the community.

His presence provides reassurance and residents feel secure knowing that he is readily available to respond to all situations, day and night. Officer Beauchamp approaches each community member with care and compassion.

He has consistently gone above and beyond to connect with community members, always taking the time to listen to concerns and work collaboratively to resolve issues.

His approach is not only professional but compassionate, making him a trusted and valued figure in his community. This connection is particularly valuable in a rural community like Carmacks, where personal relationships matter deeply.

Beyond being an RCMP officer, Officer Beauchamp is a pure-hearted individual who gives quality time and care to the Carmacks community.

First Responder: Justin Johnston

Justin Johnston is the Primary Care Paramedic Specialist Superintendent who, for more than a year, has independently implemented, operated and improved the Yukon Emergency Medical Services' Paramedic Response Unit.

He is a solo responder, attending to non-emergent medical needs of Yukoners who are healthcare-avoidant, house-bound, street-entrenched, living with substance use or have complex healthcare needs. He works with vulnerable people and their care teams to provide services, build community connections and promote individual and community safety. Approaching every client with kindness, calmness, compassion and an understanding that he must first build trust to provide the best care possible, Mr. Johnston displays endless patience for the people under his care.

In a profession most known for rapid action and brief interactions, his approach is unique and highlights his capacity to care for the whole person, not only their physical wounds. His decision to work a later shift ensures that he can be available when other services may not be and vulnerable people have access to someone from their support network after-hours. This highlights Justin's responsiveness to client needs, awareness of service gaps and willingness to sacrifice his own time to meet community demands.

Finally, Mr. Johnston’s work promotes community safety by relieving systemic stress on ambulance crews and the emergency department. When meeting clients in the community, proactively addressing concerns and working to understand their needs, Mr. Johnston’s efforts have reduced the frequency of non-urgent calls and subsequent emergency room visits. His work helps redistribute valuable resources so that all Yukoners can be better served in their times of need.

Mentor for Youth: Meesha Wittkopf

Ms. Wittkopf revitalized the White River First Nation's Community Garden in Beaver Creek during the summer of 2022.

She planted cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, potatoes and a variety of leafy greens to support locals’ access to fresh vegetables. She was so inspired by community support that during the summer of 2023, she was able to secure funding to employ local youth at the garden, thereby providing them with an active and safe outdoors activity.

In 2024, Ms. Wittkopf won the Arctic Inspiration Prize for her Youth Coalition 4 Food Security North project to engage young leaders from the Yukon, NWT and Nunavut to enhance food security initiatives in their home communities through paid and volunteer opportunities.

Cultural Empowerment for Safety Award: Victor Henry

The Cultural Empowerment for Safety Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated leadership in using Indigenous knowledge and traditions to enhance community well-being. The recipient of this award promotes participation in cultural activities and ensures access to resources that support cultural expression.

Victor Henry is a Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Elder who dedicates his time to mentoring youth and supporting the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in and Dawson communities. He is an exceptionally knowledgeable Elder and is generous in sharing his knowledge.

Mr. Henry is ensuring that important cultural practices are passed on to Youth by mentoring young men in becoming firekeepers and gunkak dancers. His dedication immersing Youth in Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in culture grounds them, focuses their energy and attention on healthy, positive pursuits and provides Youth with a sense of security and pride in themselves and their culture.

Mr. Henry is the eyes, ears and heart of the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in and Dawson communities. He reports community safety issues and often contributes to solving them. Mr. Henry will make sure that the steps to the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Main Administration building are cleared from snow every winter morning. He also shovels the walks and steps of other Elders in Dawson.

Mr. Henry leans in and assists at every community gathering, event and celebration. He is such a constant supportive presence at the rink, that, in 2017, the hockey tournament was named after him. He is a constant positive presence around town and always comes prepared with a joke or good-natured prank. Mr. Henry is committed to and engrained in the fabric of the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in and Dawson community.

Exceptional Program: Calista MacLeod and Natasha Dunmall

In the fall of 2022, the Government of Yukon partnered with RCMP to pilot the Yukon Distracted Driver Diversion Program.

It is an initiative designed to offer a restorative justice alternative for some selected drivers. This program focuses on a driver taking ownership of their offence and being given an opportunity to participate in a preventative educational training program. Speed and distracted driving have been identified as key risk factors in road collisions influencing the risk of a road crash.

Since its inception in the Yukon, approximately 250 distracted driving offenders have successfully attended this program. The overall feedback from attendees has expressed how they have been positively impacted by participating in this diversion program and consider it a valuable learning opportunity. The interest in the Yukon Distracted Driver Diversion program has been building through western Canada with growing interest from other RCMP detachments. This was made possible by the hard work and dedication of Ms. Macleod and Ms. Dunmall.

Exceptional Program: Group – Moccasin Mobile Outreach

The Council of Yukon First Nations’s Moccasin Mobile Outreach program is a Yukon First Nation-led, harm reduction and community safety program that operates out of a transport van in the downtown core of Whitehorse.

The program started in February 2024 and is currently operating four nights a week from 8 pm to 2 am. The van distributes food, beverages, hygiene supplies and harm reduction supplies such as safe use kits, Naloxone and drug testing kits. Staff also conduct foot patrols in high traffic areas. The outreach staff work closely with other local supports and services to assist vulnerable individuals when and where they need it most.

The name Moccasin Mobile was deliberately chosen to reflect the nature of the program. “Walking softly” is a term used often in First Nations communities and they strive for their approach to be gentle and welcoming, culturally representative and embodying the harm reduction approach of meeting people where they are.

Since its inception, the Moccasin Mobile Outreach program has had a total of 4,420 interactions with individuals and distributed over 10,000 food items, more than 2,000 hygiene items, almost 2,500 outerwear items – and almost 800 harm reduction supplies. It is a one-of-a-kind outreach program in Whitehorse's city centre to support our community in healing and reconnection.

Leadership Award: Kimberly Smarch

Ms. Smarch, as the Director of Implementation and Negotiations as well as the Acting Director of Justice and Acting Director of Executive for well over a decade has led the negotiations team on behalf of Teslin Tlingit Citizens to draw down federal programming to better administrate for Teslin Tlingit Citizens.

She has successfully negotiated an Administration of Justice Agreement with the federal and territorial governments, which allows Teslin Tlingit Council to occupy Tlingit jurisdiction within the First Nation’s traditional territory.

She also oversees the Community Safety Program, which allows for safety officers to patrol and ensure community members of the Teslin Tlingit traditional territory are safe. She continues to negotiate financial transfer agreements and justice agreements. Ms. Smarch is a true trailblazer for all Yukon First Nations; she is a strong Tlingit woman and continues to fight for her people.

Volunteer Award: Forest Pearson

Mr. Pearson is a champion for the safety of active transportation users throughout the Yukon.

He has spearheaded the Whitehorse Urban Cycling Coalition's work to make Whitehorse a safer place for cyclists for over a decade. He's been at the centre of their advocacy for better and more accessible cycling infrastructure and legal frameworks. His contributions to making the Yukon a safer place for all active transportation users is clear.

Mr. Pearson has worked to help educate engineers and planners on the need for safe cycling infrastructure. He's spent countless hours attending government consultations, organizing meetings, speaking to the media and meeting with consultants to ensure new road projects are safe for all users.

He is also dedicated to infrastructure accessible for all ages and abilities. Creating routes for all ages and abilities is critical to achieving "Vision Zero" – the goal of reducing traffic violence to zero – and reducing the severity and frequency of injuries to road users caused by motor vehicles.

Services to Victims: Mandy Jack

Mandy Jack has made outstanding contributions to victim services and community advocacy in the Yukon.

For nearly four years, Ms. Jack has been a steadfast pillar at Victim Services, offering unwavering support to victims of crime across diverse Yukon communities. Her commitment and compassion have empowered countless individuals to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system with confidence and resilience. Her dedication has extended to collaborating closely with the Family Information Liaison Unit program, demonstrating her proactive approach to supporting victims of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. This initiative shows her deep empathy and understanding of the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations, reflecting her role as a crucial advocate within our community.

Beyond her direct service efforts, Ms. Jack’s leadership is evident through her active involvement on several boards throughout the years, including the Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre and Yukon's Restorative Justice Committee.

Her strategic insights and advocacy on these platforms have significantly contributed to shaping policies and initiatives that promote justice, equality and safety for all Yukon residents. Her impact extends as a part-time consultant, where she plays a pivotal role in enhancing community safety program initiatives and providing invaluable recommendations. Her expertise and dedication in this capacity further illustrate her commitment to advancing holistic approaches to community safety and victim support.

Ms. Jack exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional community safety advocate: compassion, dedication and proactive leadership. Her unwavering commitment to supporting victims, particularly within underserved communities and among marginalized groups, sets a benchmark for community service and advocacy in the Yukon.