Victim support fund launched in wake of alleged crimes involving Lethbridge baby
Advocacy groups who were horrified by the news of a brutal assault on a baby girl in Lethbridge say they have created a fund to help out, enlisting support from an organization that helps hundreds of young victims each year.
On Jan. 18, police were called to a home in Lethbridge's north-end for reports a six-week-old baby was being abused.
The child, referred to as Baby YQL, was found and taken to hospital with "extensive injuries," where she remains.
The 52-year-old father faces several charges including sexual assault, sexual interference and failing to provide the necessaries of life. Her mother, 31, is charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.
Lights For Hope, a support organization for child victims of sexual abuse, established the campaign in partnership with the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre in response to the story.
Founders of the group say they felt they needed to anything they could to help the girl, as well as other young victims.
"We needed to support this little girl," co-founder Angela Piche told CTV News.
Kathleen Lacombe, another one of the creators of the fund, says its name is particularly poignant.
"This fund allows a light of hope to be lit for our Lethbridge baby who is in Calgary trying to recover," she said.
"It lights hope for all children who go through this here in our community."
Officials at the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre say they were honoured to be included in the campaign.
"Our child advocacy program specifically receives referrals directly from police or child services for children that are 17 years of age and under, specific to sexual abuse or just the most extreme experiences of abuse or neglect," said manager Cheryl Patterson.
Whenever a survivor is referred to them, Patterson says staff will create "wrap around supports" for the children and their families.
In the case of Baby YQL, the Lights For Hope fund will help pay for emergent needs like diapers, wipes and clothing as well as comfort care items such as stuffed animals and blankets.
Patterson says "collaborative approaches" like the legacy fund produces better results for survivors.
"(There is) the potential for a bright future for those children who have experienced abuse," she said.
According to the centre's data, there have been more than 200 reported cases of child sexual abuse, physical abuse and extreme neglect in and around Lethbridge over the past year.
Baby YQL's mother is expected in Lethbridge provincial court Friday, while the father has a bail hearing on Feb. 24.
More information on the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre and its services can be found online.
(With files from Kaella Doty)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Record-breaking N.B. lottery winner kept winning ticket on dresser for nearly a year
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.