About Us

Victim Services Lanark County (formerly VCARS) is a community-based program working in partnership with police, emergency services, child protection (CAS), Victim Witness Assistance Program and local agencies. We are a 24 / 7 agency that provides immediate, confidential, crisis intervention services, practical assistance, information, referrals and emotional support to persons affected by crime, tragedy and / or disaster.

Volunteers and staff provide assistance to individuals, families, friends, witnesses and/ or groups at the request of emergency services personnel, community services and self-referrals in order to meet an individual's unique needs; to help lessen the trauma of the experience and to help people cope with the longer term impact of what has occurred.

Crisis assistance is provided by staff and by volunteers who are carefully selected, screened and specially trained to work in their community. Victim Services Lanark County are committed to treating individuals with courtesy, compassion, dignity and respect.

Victim Services Lanark County is a non-profit organization funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, and part of the Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario program (VCAO). While there are several Victim Service Organizations in Ontario working under the same set of standards, we are all unique to the locations that we serve.

Victim Services Lanark County (VCARS) launched in 2005.

Our team consists of a Board of Directors, an Executive Director, a Client Services Coordinators, a Client Support Worker, Team Leaders and a large group of wonderful, committed volunteers. We are proud of our role in the community and hope to support Lanark County for many years to come.

For more information about volunteering, please check out our Volunteer page!