Distinguished community advocates and researchers Dr. Yaya de Andrade and Joan Simalchik
On February 27, 2025, VCST hosted distinguished community advocates and researchers Dr. Yaya de Andrade and Joan Simalchik from Toronto to speak about their perspectives on working with survivors of torture developed over 30 years of advocacy work.
As a psychologist, Yaya has been working with VCST board member Ken Agar-Newman since co-founding the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture, while Joan is the founding executive director of the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture and distinguished researcher and professor emirata from the University of Toronto. Our stakeholders and community partners packed the boardroom at Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society to join the discussion about vicarious trauma, intersectionality and the Canadian Model of Care.
Joan’s presentation walked us through the history of immigration to Canada and the role of public advocacy to develop and improve the country’s immigration system. Yaya turned the discussion to the intersectional realities of immigrants and refugees, and working with people who have experienced complex trauma. Participants noted that the presentations were a welcoming mix of storytelling, group discussion and eye-opening facts about Canadian history.
Thank you to all who participated from VICCIR, the Victoria Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre, Victoria Sexual Assault Centre, Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society, and Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria. A huge thanks goes to the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society for hosting the gathering!
