How does Port Colborne heal from this?

The initial news in June was horrifying enough: police had arrested a 55-year-old Port Colborne man for allegedly sexually and physically abusing a number of victims — most of whom are members of his family — over a period of about 20 years.

But then over the following weeks and months the city faced what seemed like a steady drip of details about more people being involved and more victims being identified.

Last week, Niagara Regional Police said they have made the final planned arrests in the case, bringing the total to 10 accused people and eight victims. But the case is still open, and investigators believe there are people who have not yet come forward.

The case raises a number of serious questions: How could this go on for so many years?

Who knew about it and when? Why did these alleged crimes against children go unreported until now?

And how do we know who we can trust?

“It’s hard to process,” said Christine Clark Lafleur, executive director of Port Cares. “It’s staggering.”

She said Port Colborne likes to promote itself as an idyllic small city by the lake. Niagara’s South Coast. But along with that identity are serious social issues, ones all communities, large and small, face.

“These are situations that happen everywhere,” said Clark Lafleur. “It’s a far deeper and widespread issue than we ever want to admit.”

In an interview last week about increased demand for its services, a representative from Niagara Sexual Assault Centre said it has been fielding a number of calls about the Port Colborne case.

“We’re getting calls from parents who want to know ‘How do I keep my child safe?’” said volunteer co-ordinator Cheri Huys.

“In a small community, these are people who know each other. People have been arrested and other people know them or maybe were friends with them and can’t believe that it’s happening. It’s a shock to everyone.”

Huys said the stream of allegations are ‘wearying’ to a community and makes people feel they can’t trust the people they know.

“You lose trust in confidence in your neighbourhood, your school, your community,” she said. She added people also wonder how they talk about this with their children.

Clark Lafleur said that when the healing comes, it will be something that occurs over a period of years.

“It’s time we got it on the table, or it’s not going to change,” she said.

“We have to do better as a society to protect our vulnerable.”