The London Beat London, Ontario’s stream of consciousness
Tomorrow at the Sam Katz room at Cherryhill Library, Mersija Nuric of the London Intercommunity Health Centre will be presented the 2018 Brian Young Award. Established in honour of retired London Police Service Inspector Brian Young, the award recognizes individuals who work to end abuse and neglect of older adults.
June 15th is also World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2018 – a day designated to raise awareness of elder abuse and the need for all of us to take responsibility in preventing elder abuse.
The award will be presented to Mersija by retired Inspector Brian Young himself, along with Detective Superintendent Bill Merrylees of the London Police Service. The award is given annually to an individual or group who:
1. Supports a collaborative community based approach
2. Engages in proactive strategies
3. Works toward creating an atmosphere which removes barriers faced by older adults
4. Increases awareness regarding abuse
“We’re very proud to honour Inspector Young’s professional legacy with this award program,” says Detective Superintendent Merrylees. “Elder abuse continues to be an issue in our community, and we want to recognize people who are not only drawing attention to it, but working hard to create change. Congratulations to Mersija for this well-deserved honour.”
Mersija is a social service worker who has been involved with the Seniors Wraparound Program at the London Intercommunity Health Centre for the past decade. She works with individuals over 55, that areexperiencing significant challenges. Those challenges can include physical and mental health, social isolation, housing, financial, and difficult family relationships.
Mersija is recognized for her ability to establish a positive rapport with her clients, supporting them as they move forward with an effective plan to improve their life circumstances. This often includes working with and supporting family members.
More Information:
Brian Young was hired by the London Police Service in 1970. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1983 and was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division, Break and Enter Section and Fraud Section. In 1989, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and was transferred to Court Services in the Support Services Division. Brian then served as a Staff Sergeant in the Corporate Services Division, Uniformed Division Patrol and Criminal Investigation Division Fraud Section.
In 2000, Brian was promoted to the rank of Inspector and assigned to the Corporate Planning Branch. He led the Court and Communications Branch, Patrol Operations Branch, Community Policing Branch and Professional Standards Branch. He retired as the Inspector of the Criminal Investigation Division on July 27, 2008.
Project SENIOR and the Multi-Disciplinary Action Team were founded by Brian in 2000. His vision for the committee was to develop a community-based and senior-driven inter-linking community response network to assist abused and neglected older adults in London and Middlesex County. Under his leadership the committee established the Seniors Helpline at the London Distress Centre. He set the foundation for the coordinated response to abuse of older adults, which has now become the Elder Abuse London Middlesex Committee (host agency for this award ceremony).
