Last Thursday evening, I attended the Attorney General’s Victim Services Awards of Distinction, where I had the privilege of acknowledging the exceptional work of Smiths Falls resident and award recipient Amber MacDonald. Amber has been the executive director of Victim Services Lanark County since 2015. Over the past eight years, she has worked tirelessly to establish the foundations for meaningful support in a well-respected, collaborative environment.

A strong and reliable advocate for the victims of crime and their families, Amber MacDonald works around the clock facilitating anti-human-trafficking workshops and providing free relevant training to hotel and motel staff. She helped establish the Lanark County Child and Youth Advocacy Centre in Carleton Place and was instrumental in implementing a forensic interview room to better serve victims of crime in a large service area.

When asked about her motivation to continue raising the bar in victim services, Amber replied, “The strength of our network is what allows us to give people back their voice ... to move someone from the worst day of their life to a place of empowerment and possibility.”

Today I stand before the House and echo the voices of all who have been impacted by the dedication shown by Amber MacDonald and victim services professionals across all our ridings. They deserve our utmost respect and our deepest gratitude for making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.