The Calgary Child Advocacy Centre will bear the name of a tireless crusader for victims of child abuse.
In a Thursday afternoon ceremony, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the centre would be rebranded as the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre.
“Our efforts to eliminate child abuse are being informed by brave people like Sheldon Kennedy, who had the courage to come forward with his own story, and who now works tirelessly to help prevent child abuse,” says Prime Minister Harper. “This centre is a fitting tribute to his efforts, his dedication, his drive and his depth of character.”
In 1996, Sheldon Kennedy, a professional hockey player, discussed publicly his own abuse at the hands of a trusted minor league hockey coach during the late 1980’s. Since the announcement, Kennedy has been a proponent for ensuring abuse victims and their families receive proper support to assist with their recovery.
“I really wish that it were not necessary to have a centre like this,” says Prime Minister Harper. “Sadly, even here, the world is not always a safe place for children.”
The centre, located near the Alberta Children’s Hospital, brings together members of the Calgary Police Service, Child & Family Services, Alberta Justice, the Crown Prosecutors office and Alberta Health Services to provide help to abused children in need.
Victims of abuse will no longer be asked to retell their stories multiple times which is expected to lead to better criminal evidence and higher conviction rates for those who prey on innocent children.
“By adopting a coordinated and collaborative approach to meeting the needs of children and families, this centre ensures that the victims of crime don’t also feel like victims of the justice system,” says Prime Minister Harper.
