Court Advocate program wins CUTA honours

The TTC Employee Support and Court Advocate Program has won the Canadian Urban Transit Association’s Leadership Award for Safety and Security.

General Counsel Brian Leck accepted the award on behalf of the TTC at the association’s annual conference in Winnipeg last month.

The work of TTC Court Advocates has been vital in obtaining justice for Operators who have been assaulted on the job. Over the five years since the program began, Court Advocates have assisted more than 2,000 employees. In that time, the number of assaults on staff has been reduced from 345 victims in 2010 to 180 victims in 2014.

If an employee is assaulted or victimized on the job, Court Advocates, Ken Tedford and Michelle Love, will help employees to understand their rights and role within the judicial system. They will also provide support, act as a resource to employees who are victims of violent crime and answer any questions or concerns about the court process.

Over the last six years, the TTC has implemented a number of initiatives to address assaults against Operators. With support from the TTC’s unions, the TTC lobbied strongly for Bill S-221, which became law last March. Transit Operators across Canada now have legal protection, which means stiffer sentences for people who threaten, assault or attack an Operator in the performance of his or her duty.

If any employee has been a victim of a violent crime, or if anyone has any questions about the Employee Support and Court Advocate Program, please contact a Court Advocate in the Legal Department at 416-393-6501, or e-mail courtadvocate@ttc.ca.

If you have been victimized, please obtain the following information, if possible, so the Court Advocates can better assist you:

• Date and time of incident.
• Accused’s name if possible.
• Name of attending Route/Station Supervisor.
• Police and/or Special Constable’s badge number.
• Location of incident.
• Injuries sustained.
• Your name.
• Your cellphone number.
• Your home phone number.
• Your division or work location.