The Mayor of Swift Current is apologizing to all players of the community’s WHL team who were victims of sexual abuse by Graham James, a former coach with the club.
Graham James was convicted of sexually assaulting six players while coaching the Swift Current Broncos from 1986 and 1994.
Monday’s edition of the Globe and Mail features an apology from Swift Current mayor Jerrod Schafer to the former players who were molested.
In the statement, Schafer said that they are doing all they can to change the discussion of abuse away from something that isn’t talked about.
The first victim of Graham James to go public about the abuse was former Bronco and former Calgary Flame Sheldon Kennedy.
Kennedy accepted Schafer’s apology and is proud of the city’s pledge.
“If you look at a town like Swift Current and the shame that a lot of people have, because they should have known and they carry that with them. They need to move on, but not just move on, ensure that it doesn’t happen again in their city.”
The statement comes after last week’s announcement that the community would be launching a plan to create a certification and registration process for anyone working with children.
