Bardak critic named new John Howard Society exec
Former MLA Hawkins picks up the reins after group fires longtime executive director
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
One of the harshest critics of fired John Howard Society executive director Lydia Bardak has been hired to replace her - at least for the time being.
Former MLA Robert Hawkins was hired as the NWT branch's executive director this month after the society fired Bardak in mid-November, a move that surprised the legal community and social welfare advocates. Hawkins was a vocal critic of the downtown day shelter during his last term in office when the shelter was being run by the John Howard Society under Bardak.
The turmoil created by Bardak's firing forced the territorial government to step in to continue delivery of services she was responsible for, including co-ordination of the community justice committee and Fine Option Program.
Hawkins was in court the past two days watching and taking notes.
"You probably want to talk to Rick Alexander," was all he said when asked for comment. Alexander is president of the NWT branch of the society.
The organization is looking to get back on track with the court programs it was involved with, Alexander said in an interview.
Alexander said the board will "evaluate" how long Hawkins will serve in the position next month, when he promised the society will have more "exciting" news.
The John Howard Society is a network of independent offices, with 65 across Canada, advocating for "effective, just and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime."
It traces its roots to the prison reform movement that began in Great Britain in the late 1800s.
The hiring of Hawkins will help re-establish several things such as "the reputation with the national organization and our charitable status," Alexander said.
Bardak had suggested one reason she may have been let go was her tardiness in filing paperwork, resulting in the loss of charitable status for the society, which she was working on regaining.
Lynn Brooks, a long-time advocate for the status of women who had voiced support for Bardak after she had been let go, didn't want to say much in reaction to Hawkins' new role.
"I think it's so terribly sad and shortsighted of them and short-changing the people they serve by not getting down on their knees and begging Lydia Bardak to come back," Brooks said Tuesday.
The hiring was a decision of the board, Alexander said. The board includes Alexander, Brad Carlson, Kimberly Doyle and Marino Casebeer.
"Having been a part of government and different things he's done as a private citizen, we felt he was the best choice at this time," Alexander said.
Hawkins served a single term on city council before his election as MLA for Yellowknife Centre in 2003, which includes the city's downtown core.
He held that seat until the 2015 election when he lost to Julie Green.
Since his defeat, Hawkins has been running a company called Robert Hawkins Apex Property Management.
In October, Hawkins was granted $12,000 by the legislative assembly for real estate and home inspection training through a program that provides retraining funds to former MLAs.
Three years ago in the legislative assembly, Hawkins suggested the day shelter under Bardak's leadership should be shuttered and a new manager found because of public drunkenness and violence in the area.
"Why don't we just shut it down and start fresh properly?" he asked the health minister at the time.
The society began operating the day shelter as a pilot program on 52 Street in 2009.
The comments were seen as a personal attack, Bardak told Yellowknifer at the time.
In the fall of 2014, the NWT Disabilities Council was selected by the GNWT to operate the shelter after a request for proposals process. It was moved to the corner of 49 Street and 51 Avenue.
Bardak said on Monday that Hawkins is qualified to run the organization, pointing to his time as MLA advocating on behalf of people.
Green highlighted his past comments when asked for her reaction to his hiring.
"When he was the MLA, he did not have a lot of good to say about the John Howard Society and the client population they serve. I welcome his change of heart and wish him luck in the new role," Green said.
Department of Justice spokesperson Sue Glowach stated in an e-mail Tuesday the department will continue to administer the community justice committee and Fine Option Program "for consistency and to support the John Howard Society while they are addressing their staffing matters."
The support includes training and support for its interim executive director, and "will continue until the society is fully ready to operate."
