Sheldon Kennedy stopped in Lethbridge Tuesday to share details about a forthcoming centre in the city that will focus on helping child sexual abuse survivors.
Kennedy is a former professional hockey player who has become an outspoken advocate for child victims of physical and sexual abuse.
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He launched the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre in Calgary a few years ago, which has seen huge success.
Now, a planning committee is joining forces to create two more centres in southern Alberta: the Southern Alberta Children Advocacy Centre in Lethbridge and another in Medicine Hat.
“This isn’t new money, it’s more effective, more efficient money,” Kennedy said. “These systems already exist, we are not reinventing the wheel.”
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A Lethbridge mother, who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of her son -a victim of child sexual abuse – said Kennedy is helping pave a positive path towards healing, not only for her son, but for all kids trying to navigate the difficult path of facing abuse.
“We have received a tremendous amount of support already from victim services, from the police service, Lethbridge Family Services – but you do have to go to a different location every single time, you have to find the resources yourself,” she said. “Having everything in one place would likely be extremely helpful, particularly for someone who’s just beginning their journey.”
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Kennedy added the planning committee will bring agencies together as one to create the best platform to serve the region.
“There is no reason why this can’t work in many communities within the province, and I see the leadership here in Lethbridge,” he said. “And I see that commitment with the leadership of police, the leadership of health, education, social services and the communities within Treaty 7, that they want to make a difference.”
The provincial government announced $1.7 million in funding to support three existing child advocacy centres and four new centres in Lethbridge/Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray, Lloydminster and Red Deer.
READ MORE: Alberta NDP announce $1.7 million in funding for child advocacy centres
A timeline for the centres’ opening has yet to be determined.
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