CCVT Awards

The Trevor Bartram Award

Trevor Bartram was a founding member of the Centre and remained an integral part of its life throughout the years. As the founding member and legal advisor, Trevor undertook the tedious and unglamorous tasks that developing organization require. He wrote (and rewrote) the agency's bylaws, negotiated leases, contracts and other related agreements. He served as the secretary, Chair of International Committee and member of Fundraising Committee. He was a jack-of-all-trades.

Over the years, Trevor contributed much to the organization and befriended newcomers and included his many new friends into his active social life. He traveled to Africa, Latin America & Europe attending international conferences on behalf of CCVT.

The Trevor Bartram Award is given to individuals who have made a significant achievement in organizational development, particularly in setting up new community based organizations, consistent with the human rights mandate of CCVT. Experience in developing programs and policies, structures and success with funding initiatives.

2007 Recipient: Douglas Lehrer, Barrister and Solicitor

Douglas Lehrer has been affiliated with CCVT since the mid 80's and has activiely particiapted in diverse activities at CCVT. He has been an enthusiastic member of the Legal Committee, Fundraising Committee and the Board of Directors for many years. He has contributed greatly to the development of the "CCVT Medical Legal Documentation of Torture Survivors Resource Binder", which has been instrumental in the training of newly recruited lawyers and doctors at CCVT and continues to be an important training tool. Over the past 20 years as a lawyer, Mr. Lehrer has helped hundreds of refugees and newcomers, many of them were torutre survivors. He continues to allocate a significant amount of time on a regular basis within his busy schedule to assist CCVT staff on legal issues and questions concerning our clients. CCVT is thankful to Mr. Lehrer for his commitment and for his continued availability as a legal resource person to the staff. He has also contributed to the promotion of CCVT's work among colleagues and as a result many of them have joined the CCVT network.

Amina Malko Award

Amina was one of the first CCVT staff to be hired and was Office Manager for over 5 years until she moved to OCASI. Amina was an extremely hard working, tireless and committed staff member. Her particular interest was in improving the lives of refugee women and she did indeed have a positive impact through her dedication and perseverance. She advocated on behalf of women refugees, worked for policy changes at the local, national and international level and was a key member in organizing Refugee Rights Day.

Amina undertook to organize a conference "African Women in the Community" with CCVT funding and support, in an effort to have women's voices expressed directly.

The Amina Malko Award will be given to a woman with refugee experience who has significant experience in policy, advocacy and settlement service for newcomers.

2007 Recipient: Dr. Joan Simalchik

Dr. Simalchik is a professor at University of Toronto Missassauga campus, Coordinator of the Study of Women and Gender Program and former Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture. Dr. Simalchik was the first full-time staff person hired as a coordinator at the Canadian Centre for the Investigation and Prevention of Torture (CCIPT was the former name of CCVT) in 1986. She played a crucial role in the early years of the centre and her contribution to the organization was paramount:

• Ensuring that the strategic planning of the organization would include input from relevant communities
• Obtaining funding and diversifying funding sources
• Public Education component was added to the mandate
• CCVT developed an international profile
• Organization secured charitable status
• Developing the initial structure of the centre which incorporated volunteer service and coordinated professional services from the legal and medical network; subsequently she led the addition of programs such as settlement services, ESL, support groups, day care and art therapy

Dr. Simalchik's passion for refugee dates back to the times of t he dictatorship in Chile when she was a young activist. She co-founded the Toronto Action for Chile and also served as the head of Canadian Committee for Solidarity with Democratic Chile from 1977-1983, strongly opposing and denoucing the human rights violations in that country.

Purpose of the Awards:

To recognize the valuable contributions individuals make to build an equitable and just society.

To recognize those who have made a sustained and innovative contribution in the community, demonstrating leadership, initiative, perseverance and originality.

Who is eligible?

Nominees must be residents of Canada. Self-nomination is not accepted. No person shall be awarded posthumously unless death occurs after his or her name has been selected by the advisory council. CCVT staff and Board members are not eligible.

How were recipients selected?

Recipients were selected by a committee that was set up by the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture.

2006: Dr. Wendell Block and Sister Lois Anne Bordowitz

2005: Raul Berdichevsky and Jill Blakeney

2004: Fred Franklin and Madina Wasuge

2003: Miranda Pinto and Consuelo Rubio

2002: Geraldine Sadoway and Tom Clark