Former NHL player and abuse survivor Sheldon Kennedy captivated a luncheon crowd in Barrie on Monday with his straight talk about a new approach to child abuse investigations.
Kennedy appeared in support of Barrie's new Child Advocacy Centre, an expansion of the existing Child Advocacy Centre of Simcoe Muskoka in Orillia.
"When I see what's happening today I think, awesome and good on you guys. It's a lot of work to get to this place. It's a lot of work for you to be in this room today and I applaud you for that," Kennedy said.
The audience at the Barrie Country Club was comprised of community partners including representatives from Barrie Police, child protection workers, business and politicians including Mayor Jeff Lehman.
Kennedy says society has come a long way in how it views child sexual abuse from when he was assaulted.
The former NHL player came forward 20 years ago to disclose he was sexually abused as a teenager by junior hockey coach Graham James.
Kennedy was first to expose James as a serial pedophile who had also assaulted other young victims.
During Kennedy's 30-minute talk, many people in the audience nodded in agreement as he spoke of how agencies need to work together in an integrated approach.
It is that approach that the Child Advocacy Centre of Simcoe Muskoka will bring to the new centre in Barrie which is expected to open in June.
Police, child protection workers, pediatricians work together under the same roof with a child advocate who supports and assists the child or youth and family throughout the entire process.
The streamlined approach prevents the child from having to retell the story of abuse and makes it easier for families to navigate all aspects of the what can be a wearying journey through the system.
Canada spends $55 billion dollars a year on crime victims, Kennedy told the crowd.
Up to 90 per cent of children who have experienced abuse when they're young will develop a mental illness by the time they're 18, he said.
In 2013, Kennedy helped pave the way for the opening of the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre in Calgary.
Quoting a social return investment study that examined hard costs, he said society can't afford not to adopt an integrated system.
"We have saved $550,000 a year by working together. We have shifted the 80 - 20. Our front line people were spending 80 percent of their time navigating their system to connect to do the work or to connect with another agency and 20 percent on the child and family. And we've basically swapped that," he said.
"We're doing in a day what used to take them months and sometimes years to do."
But the approach is also about early intervention to avert future personal derailments.
Kennedy says the scars last a lifetime but the key is learning to manage them.
"I've learned different tools," said Kennedy. "Suicidal thoughts still come into my head. Not as often as they did at one point but they'll pop in once, twice a year. But I know this: If I'm honest about the way I feel they lose their power. And when I'm not honest about when they are there, they keep gaining steam. I have to keep it as simple as that. So for me, the scars that last a lifetime will be with me for the rest of my life and that's part of acceptance."
Members of the audience were encouraged to give financial support to the centre which is in need of private funding.
"If anyone of you so choose to we would appreciate anything you can help us with financially. There's actually a basket at the back, usually filled with Easter eggs, but it won't be today. We would appreciate any help that any of you could give us," said Interim Executive Director Dave Hossack.
For more information of the Child Advocacy Centre visit www.cacsimcoemuskoka.ca.
