vol 3/#3

November/December 1990

Law Foundation of B.C. modernizes
JI Library
by Paul Dampier

The Law Foundation of British
Columbia recently approved a
$34,000 grant application from
the Justice Institute to modernize
its library. Librarian April Haddad explains that the funds will
enable the JI Library to go completely "on-line." The circulation
system will be computerized,
making the specialized collection
accessible 24 hours a day, seven
days a week from anywhere in
the province. "Libraries have
embraced modern technology in
remarkable ways with the result
that they remain an invaluable
source of information. The Law
Foundation grant means that the
Jl's Library is now completely updated by way of its several operational systems. Borrowers will
notice the difference immediately."
Gone is the manual way of
keeping track of items. Instead,
the circulation system will be on
a computer and borrowers will
know immediately whether a
book is in or when it is due back.
For the Library staff, many of
their functions such as book ordering, serials management,
production of overdue notices,
and the keeping of statistics will
be completely automated. "All
these service improvements mean

Alec Robertson, Q.C., Chairman of the Law Foundation of
B.C., symbolically signs out the first book using the new
computerized catalogue.

the Library staff will be in a position to be much more helpful to
library users," says Haddad. "We
will be able to assist users in
their research to an extent not
possible in our former situation.
Each staff member will have a
computer terminal as part of our
networked circulation system and
this will provide immediate access to data bases and other
library collections."

An important criterion for the
Law Foundation's support was
that the Library be accessible to
its clients and to other libraries
at any time. During office hours
the collection can be accessed by
direct phone contact to the
Library and now also by computer modem. After hours, the
computer modem takes over. As
well, a fax machine now enables
continued next page

Fire Academy • Police Academy • Corrections Academy • Finance and Administration Division • Courts Academy
Educational Services Division • Emergency Health Services Academy • Provincial Emergency Program Academy

Law Foundation ... con'tfrom page 1

Orange
Datsun wreaks
havoc in
JI parking lot

Ubr,j.;y staff Glenda Wray, Carol Breeden, Coral Dorosh (from
letftj, Jo&n McLennan (far right), and Librarian April Haddad
($tmfed}; with Paul Dampier, Program Director, Instructional
~wioas; Aleo: Roberison, Q.C., Chairman of the Law Foundation
of B.C.; JI President Larry Goble (left to right).

info!"mation to be received or sent
immediately and at all hours.
This is the second time the
Law Foundation has supported
the JI Library. In 1979 it granted
$11,000 to support the legal collection. President Larry Goble expressed the Justice Institute's
appreciation to Mr. Alec
Robertson, Q.C., Chairman of the
Law Foundation of B.C. (and

lawyer with Davis and Company)
at a recent cheque presentation
ceremony. "Without this continued support by the Law F;oundation the JI's Library would not
be the first class resource in
which we all take great pride,"
President Goble said.
Paul Dampier is Program
Director, Instructional Services,
Educational Services Division. 0

Media Centre production wins
Certificate of Merit
by Paul Dampier

The Media Centre's video production, Electrical Safety for Fire
Fighters, was recently recognized
by the Pacific Instructional media
Association (PIMA) with a Certificate of Merit. The award was
part of PIMA's biannual Media
Festival held in November. The
production was adjudicated using
the following criteria: Did the
video appropriately address the
target audience? Did it meet its
stated objectives? Were the
resources available for production
(budget, equipment, personnel)
used to best advantage?
The production, which was a
joint venture of the JI's Fire
Academy and the Open Learning
Agency, was taped by the Media
Centre team of Curt Hunter, Will
2

Mah (producer) and Bob Walker.
The Fire Academy's Len Garis
directed the production. (See the
earlier article on this production
in the March 1990JI News.)
PIMA is a provincial association which promotes the effective
use of instructional media. This
includes video, film, slide-tape
and multi image, audio, print and
still, and interactive computer
and covers both "hardware and
software." PIMA's membership is
made up primarily from within
the educational sector and also involves persons from business and
industry and government.

Paul Dampier is Program
Director, Instructional Services,
Educational Services Division. 0

October 25. 0230 hours. All is
quiet in the JI parking lot.
Suddenly, an orange Datsun
enters the lot directly in front
of Lawrence Hall. It is
travelling at a high rate of
speed and, within moments,
collides with two unattended
cars.
The noise of the collision
wakes sleeping residents.
Dressed only in pyjamas, five of
them run out of their residence
and race through the parking lot
in hot pursuit of the car and its
occupants. By now, the driver
and passenger have abandoned
the Datsun. They head for the
bushes surrounding the parking
lot, only to be cornered by their
pursuers.
With any kind ofluck at all,
the culprits would have chosen a
different parking lot for their
early morning joy ride. But
these two had the misfortune of
cruising through a lot that
was directly in front of the sleeping quarters of Police Academy
recruits. They were even more
unfortunate in their choice of victims: one of the cars they hit
belonged to a Police Academy instructor, the other to a recruit.
The driver has been charged with
impaired driving, having a blood
alcohol reading of over 80 mgs,
and hit and run.
In writing up a report of the
incident, Cpl. Ed Illi noted that,
"Not only did they [the recruits]
take the approp:!'iate action
during pursuit, containment, and
arrest, they also showed excellent
restraint and calm rational
thought. They all reacted as
professional police officers,
regardless of their relatively
limited amount of training thus
far."
October 25. 0430 hours. Calm
has been restored. All is quiet in
the JI parking lot .. . 0

TheJINews Vo/31#2

Jailbirds plead for release

Fire Academy
graduate put
to the test
by Paul Smith

Mary Lester (left) - in an outfit any jailbird could envy and Robyn Towle (right) on their way to the Vancouver
Art Gallery lockup.

by Susan Huffman

On Tuesday, October 2, three
Justice Institute staff members,
Robyn Towle, Mary Lester and
Paul Erickson were "arrested"
for doing "not much of
anything'' on the job. They were
taken to jail at the Vancouver
Art Gallery where they made
phone calls to their friends and
families to raise bail money for
their release: "I have to raise
$500 or they won't let me out!!!,"
they pleaded. Staff who received
the jailbirds' calls were
tempted to leave them there,

but because this event - the
1990 Jail and Bail- was organized as a fundraiser for the
Canadian Cancer Society,
everyone was generous in their
support.
Another staff member, Dianne
Oberton, generously donated her
time on the afternoon of October
4 to assist the jailers with taking
photos of the convicts.

Susan Huffman is Supervisor,
Administrative Services in Police
Academy. 0

···SPOTLIGHT•••
On staff
Changes
Sandy Goelller-Johnson has
been hired as the new program assistant in Extension Programs to
replace Bev Karakochuk.
Sandy has recently completed a
two-year Arts and Science
diploma at Vancouver Community College. She spent six
years working at Legal Services
Society and prior to that she
worked for the Alberta Association of Registered Nurses.
Cheryl Redding has replaced
Monica Clayton as
Switchboard/Receptionist in
The JI News Vo/31#2

Blake Hall. Cheryl will share the
job with Louise Cater. Cheryl
recently moved to Vancouver
from Thunder Bay where she
worked as a Correctional Officer.
Dave Howard and Paul
Cooper have recently been hired
as Photo Arts Technicians in the
Media Centre. Dave will work
part time and Paul will be on call.

Conferences
Marje Burdine presented a
workshop at the national conference of Family Mediation
Canada in Halifax in October.
Marje is Co-ordinator of the
Centre for Conflict Resolution
Training, Extension Programs. 0

On November 1, Captain Dave
Underdown graduated from the
Fire Academy's Command Officer
CM-7 course. Less than two
weeks later, he had an opportunity to put his new training to
the test.
At 9 :32 on the morning of
November 12, Captain Underdown was on duty at the Kitimat
Fire Department when he
received a report of a tree on fire.
This was the beginning of a series
of electrical and natural gas fires
that occurred over the next few
minutes.
The first fire started in 14,400
volt electrical equipment and
involved hydro lines, poles, transformers and a tree. Approximately five minutes after that fire
began, another hydro line came
down and shorted out. This line
remained energized and arced,
grounding to the natural gas feed
line'buried 45-60 cm (18-24 inches)lunderground. The gas line
ruptured and the natural gas
caught fire.
At 9:45 a third fire started
when a section of aluminum eaves
trough fell from the roof and
landed with one end on the
natural gas meter and the other
on the ground. The natural gas
line was energized from the power
line a block away, and the energized gas meter and the eaves
trough completed a ground circuit. The arcing was so intense it
caused the natural gas line feeding the meter to rupture. Then,
the escaping natural gas ignited.
The fire resulting from the rupture of the gas line resembled
that of a blow torch.
·
To add to the difficulties, the
circuit breakers on the poles were
apparently frozen and, as a
result, they exploded too.
continued next page
3

Mentally
disordered
offender workshop
piloted

Corrections Academy
has new link with Victoria
headquarters
by John Laverock

by John Laverock

Corrections Academy has recently
delivered a new pilot program on
the topic of how to deal with mentally disordered offenders.
The recent trend throughout
North America has been to "mainstream" persons who for many
years have been institutionalized
in homes for the mentally retarded or mentally ill. As they try to
cope with life outside the institutions, some of t.""iese individuals become involved in criminal acts
which bring them into the justice
system. Eventually, they must be
housed in correctional facilities.
There hao been a growing need
to twin corrections staff to recognize and effectively handle these
offenders, many of whom can be
ouite unstable. The Corrections
Academy program highlighted
issues related to policies for
handling this special category of
offenders, and inter-jurisdictional
responsibilities, in a panel discussion which included the Director
of Forensic Services, the Branch
Psychologist and the Assistant
Deputy Minister. A series of
•Norkshops with greater emphasis
on skill training will be offered to
corrections staff from both adult
and youth centres in the new year.
John Laverock is Director of
Corrections Academy. 0

The Corrections Academy contract with the Corrections Branch
has now been placed in the hands
of the new Executive Director,
Support Services, Mr. Brian
Mason. Mason fills a new position in the Corrections head office
and will be responsible for overall
management of support services
including resource analysis,
program analysis, health services, religious services and staff
training. As manager of the
training contract between the
Branch and Corrections
Academy, he will work closely
with the Director of the Academy
and Academy staff.
Brian Mason has an extensive
background in Corrections, most

•

c

•

recently as the Director of Corrections in the Northwest Territories. Prior to that, he worked
with Alberta Correctional Services in community, institutional
and management positions. One
of the first assignments to be
taken on by Mason is the completion of a comprehensive training
review to determine the best possible distribution of available
training funds.
Brian Mason will be a member
of the Corrections Branch
Management Committee, as will
John Laverock, the Director of
the Academy.
John Laverock is Director of
Corrections Academy. 0

NOTES & NOTICES • • •

Exercise your right to know more
about the safety and health
hazards of materials in your
workplace by attending a WHMIS
program workshop. The following
sessions will be held in the North
Room, Cafeteria Building, on
January 9, 1991:
Session #1 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Employer's role and responsibility (directors, program directors, health and occupational

safety committees, BCGEU shop
stewards)
Session #2 11:00 am - 12:00 noon
Worker education (general
staff)
Session #3 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Application and question
period (fire, police, EHSA and corrections instructors; others who
are in contact with controlled
products; and those who wish additional information). 0

Graduate put to test... con'tfrom page3
Captain Underdown was the
first on the scene. Recognizing
what was happening and the
seriousness of the situation, he established Command and ordered
an evacuation of approximately
300 people out the back doors of
their homes.
Once B.C. Hydro arrived on
the scene and grounded the
system, the fire department was
given the all clear to shut off
the gas supply. Pacific Northern
4

Gas was then able to dig down to
the gas main and isolate the
break. The emergency was
cleared by approximately 12:45
pm.
At this time, it is not known
how far the natural gas system
was energized. It was a serious
situation with a potential of considerable harm and the possible
deaths of a number of emergency
response personnel. The training
Captain Underdown received at

the CM- 7 course helped him to
deal with the emergency in a safe
and professional manner.
All too often trainers wonder
what impact the programs they
deliver have on the students who
take them. Situations like this
really make all the trainers' efforts worthwhile ... and very
proud.
Paul Smith is Director of the
Fire Academy. 0
The JI News Vol 31#2

by Paul Harris

Sit back, put your feet up, relax,
tons, boxes and business forms.
education - in the form of
pour a glass of your favourite tipMoney received for our used
magazines and videos - to be
ple, and prepare to enter the
paper is divided equally - 50%
made available to those who wish
Green Zone with me.
goes to the Social Committee, and
to use them.
We have held the first meeting
50% goes to the cleaners, as they
Christmas is upon us, and 'tis
of the Green Committee, and
are the ones who have to handle
truly the season of gross excess
several projects are under
and waste. Don't forget to
way.
save your wrapping paper
Retreating somewhat
for next year, stay away
from an initial ideal of
from those plastic batterysaving the world, we
operated toys, and think
decided that the best way to
twice before tying into that
achieve that aim was to
turkey! I personally feel
look at our own immediate
that there is a lot of
actions and surroundings,
hysteria over the issue of
and perhaps try to save a
~----~-----.....
Christmas trees, and that
•
o • ew-~ ~cwaz~--;i;"-"~~"fct
~o
...,•
0 .•
few trees to begin with. In
• ••
••
there is nothing very
0
"o
·"' ••
"'•
•
,,o•
:o. • o •
o
• •.oo o•
fact, as research done by
detrimental done to the enAnne Langdon shows, we
vironment by buying a cut
have already done just that:
tree. After all, they are
we saved 81 trees during eight
the material and place new boxes
grown in large plantations, and
in the offices.
months last year through our ofwould not exist in the first place
We are investigating several
fice paper recycling program.
were it not for the great seasonal
This program can be improved,
other areas in which we might
demand.
and we intend to do that. Part of
help improve the environment.
We're not all Christians here at
These include the use ofrecycled
that improvement can only be
the JI, but we all have holidays
paper for all of our photocopy
achieved by the active participaand it's hard to escape a sense of
needs (and thus, for all of the
tion off all JI staff, and to that
the festive season. I wish all of
manuals we produce), the converend, a few facts about it:
you - believers of all faiths, and
sion of some JI vehicles to
Paperboard Industries, who
disbelievers too - a healthy and
propane, a look at the T.O.P syspick up our waste paper, pay us
happy holiday season, and a
tem to encourage more staff to
according to three categories:
productive and satisfying year in
use public transit (more on this in
Mixed waste (anything glossy,
1991.
a future issue), the use of refilled
carbon backed, cardboard, containing glue, staples, etc.) - nothing!
toner cartridges in the laser
Paul Harris chairs the new JI
printers, and some form of staff
Coloured paper - $45/metric
Green Committee. 0
ton. White paper - $75/metric
ton. One piece of glossy paper in
a box means we get paid nothing
for that box. Similarly, one piece
of coloured paper (such as a green
This is the last issue of The JI News for
JI memo), reduces the value of an
1990. Deadline for the next issue is
entire box of white paper to that
January 15, 1991.
of coloured paper. For this
reason, we will be looking at
having two recycling boxes in
Until then, thank you all for your
each office, one for coloured, and
contributions and support in 1990, and
one for white paper.
Paperboard Industries picks up
have a happy holiday season.
the paper, then takes it to a plant
where it is sorted, mulched and
Patricia McNeil/, editor
baled, whence it is trucked to a
mill where it is turned into
recycled goods, including paper,
ice cream packaging, milk car-

' • (t•
..
•

0

•

0 •

The JI News Vol 31#2

.

•

•

.

0

0

.

5

Strategic Plan accomplishments
by Larry Goble

It has not gone away, it is not on
the shelf - it is being implemented! Over the past year, all
of the 74 actions called for in the
first year of our Strategic Plan
were assigned to specific people,
together with information on
what was required to implement
the action within specific target
dates.
The results of the year's work
are contained in 2. recort that has
just been :presented to the Board
by the Executive Committee.
A1ong with the report, members
highlighted selected accomplishments as wen as actions not completed or changed. These
included:

changed to a JI academy/division accomplishment paper
• developing a five-year financial plan changed to developing financial trends and better
ways of sharing resources and
using existing dollars
• finding ways to evaluate the
overall effectiveness of JI
programs was moved forward
to year two
• finding ways to create more
opportunities for JI students
to be involved in JI planning
and institute-wide activities
was moved forward to year two
The Board accepted the report
and presentation, and comment-

ed specifically on the sense of corporate unity achieved over
the past year. They commended
the efforts of all who contributed
to it.
Plans for the year two actions
are now underway, and a one-day
Executive Committee meeting is
planned for February to review
any gaps from year one and confirm year two actions.
If you would like a copy of the
''Year One Strategic Plan Implementation Report," call
Sabrina Tong at local 245.

Larry Goble is President of the
Justice Institute. 0

Accomplishments
• strengthening of the JI corporate image
• increased communication with
senior levels of government
• improved financial situation
• increase in numbers of institute-wide programs and
services
• increase in new contracts and
programs
• increase i..11 number of partnerships with other organizations
• clarification of committee
mandates and more people actively involved
• more overall marketing and
promotion of the JI
• specific actions taken on
preparing for a new site and
facility
• greater recognition of staffand
student excellence
• new JI staff orientation package
• new technological advances
implemented
• made the strategic plan a
working reality

Actions not completed or
changed
• the idea of developing and
publishing ajustice and public
safety trends and issues paper
6

Did you know?
In the July 1989 issue of The JI News we ran some statistics on
the average number of telephone calls received by the Blake Hall
switchboard in a day, and the pieces of mail processed by Administrative Services staff during the period June 1988 - May
1989.
Switchboard and admin staff have now compiled figures for a
similar period this year. Here is how they compare:

1989
Number of incoming telephone
calls to switchboard in a
sample day:*

1990

600

300

Mail:
Letters
Flats (large envelopes)
Parcels

119,991
37,454
4,676

147,387
46,255
6,242

Total pieces of mail (June - May)

162,161

199,884

In 1989, the highest number ofletters sent in a month was
16,847; in 1990, the highest number was 26,932.
*The number of telephone calls to switchboard decreased in the
past year as a result of the installation of a more efficient direct
dial phone system. Many calls now go directly to individual
telephone lines instead of being routed through switchboard. 0

The JI News Vol 31#2

Police Academy "Academy Award"
by Phil Crosby-Jones

Each November, members of the
BC Chiefs of Police Association
and the BC Police Commission
gather at Government House in
Victoria as guests of the Lt. Governor and Solicitor General for
Police Honours Night.
This glittering formal function
provides an opportunity to recognize the outstanding contribution
of individual officers in the fields
of investigation, crime prevention,
acts of bravery, and lifesaving.
For the first time in the annals of
these awards, the Chiefs and
Police Commission decided to
strike a special award recognizing
the Justice Institute, Police
Academy.
On hand to receive the award
from the Honourable David Lam,
Lieutenant Governor, were Larry
Goble and Bob Hull resplendent
in matching tuxedos (fourth and
second from right, respectively, in
photo), Phil Crosby-Jones (third
from right), and chief constable
Bob Stewart (third from left) in
his capacity as Chairman of the
JI Board.
The Honours Night program
carried the tribute to the Academy shown at right.
Phil Crosby-Jones is Director of
the Police Academy. 0

The Justice Institute
of B.C.
is dedicated
to Improving the
quallty oi justice
and public safety
by developing
and delivering
training programs
and offering
educational services
to professionals
and the public.

The JI News Vol 31#2

JI

I&
OFB.C.
JUSTICE INSTITUTE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
POLICE ACADEMY
The Police Academy of the Justice Institute of British Columbia is recognized for
its outstanding contribution to the police community in British Columbia.
Widely recognized for consistent high standards in the development and delivery
of its recruit and in-service training programs as well as its community-police
relations programs, the Police Academy has developed and maintained the best police
training program in Canada. The Academy helps the municipal police forces maintain
a high degree of professionalism among the members of their forces by offering the
expertise of its staff to assist with recruiting, promotion, performance appraisal
systems and professional development programs. The Police Advance Certificate of
Education, a program developed by the Academy, further enchances the quality of the
municipal forces by encouraging the integration of police training and academic
studies.
The Police Officers' Physical Abilities Test, which has now been adopted by the
Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police as the minimum Canadian Standard for
entry to the police service, was researched and developed by the Police Academy.
The Police Academy has taken a vital role in encouraging the production and use
of Canadian made police training videos. The Academy created and coordinated the
National Police Video Awards to recognize excellence in audio visual training
productions and it compiled the first edition of a Canada wide police Roll Call
Training catalogue. The catalogue will facilitate and promote the use of Canadian
made police training videos throughout Canada as well as internationally.
In addition, the Police Academy publishes the widely acclaimed "Issues of
Interest", an analysis of case law decisions and various law related topics. -;I"his
publication receives wide circulation and is used as resource material by all major
police training centres in Canada, including the Canadian Police College.
The Director and staff of the Police Academy are commended for showing
dedication to and leadership in the field of police training and education.

7

Happy
Holidays
from

Professional Health
Programs moves to
Educational Services
Division

The JI News

PHP Cc-ordinator Sandy Barabe (second from left) demonstrates
equipment used in her programs

Professional Health Programs
(PHP) has been the only ongoing
JI fee-for service program not
part of Educational Services
Division. That has now changed.
At the October executive retreat,
it was decided that Professional
Health Program should transfer
from its administrative base in
Emergency Health Services to Extension Programs.
PHP's link to Emergency
Health Services Academy will
remain strong: Academy Director
Tony Williams will act as program advisor; and PHP Coordinator Sandy Barabe, and
Program Assistant Inara
N eimers, will retain their offices
in Lawrence Hall.
PHP's primary activity is to
provide Advanced Cardiac Life
Support (ACLS) courses to doctors, nurses and pre-hospital care
workers throughout the.province.
In addition to ACLS courses, PHP
maintains the central registration
office for the BC Advanced Cardiac Care Committee and offers
courses in first line trauma

management for physicians and
nurses. These courses are conducted on an "as needed" basis
and are tailored to the specific
needs of the community.
The move to Educational Services Division will confirm PHP
as an extension service providing
vital programs for continuing
professional development in the
health care field.
The official transfer took place
effective November 1. 0

The Extension
Programs schedule
of courses
covering the period
January - June 1991
is now available.
For copies, call

222-7224.
TheJ/News Vo/3/#2