Victor Walk raises awareness of child trauma survivors
The First Nations’ image of a frog was on the T-shirt-clad back of almost every one of the 60 or so people who participated in the local Victor Walk, which began and ended on the courthouse steps in downtown Prince George Saturday afternoon.
A frog can look left, look right, but never hop backwards.
That’s the message a member of the Nuxalk Tribe in Bella Coola pointed out to Theo Fleury, former NHLer and childhood sexual abuse victim, who started the national Victor Walk movement to raise awareness for those who have experienced childhood trauma.
Emotions were high as several people volunteered to tell their stories of being one of 8.3 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Canada, like Brett McLachlan, the local walk’s coordinator, who shared that he was abused by an elementary school teacher when he was in Grade 4 and 5.
It took him several decades to acknowledge and then openly admit he was a victim of abuse.
“I often say it was like I released a breath I was holding for 40 plus years,” McLachlan said. “I look back and see how I lived my life... it looked like I was just a depressed, anxious, unhappy guy for no apparent reason but there was a reason behind it.”
McLachlan said he isolated himself and has only come through it as well as he has due in large part to the support of his family and the counsellors at the Prince George Sexual Assault Centre.
“When you start talking about it you get rid of the shame, the guilt and the sense of isolation and as you see in the news ‘hey #metoo,’” McLachlan said.
McLachlan said once he decided to publicly share his story people would reach out to him and he was honoured.
“Because it’s a big deal to share your story,” McLachlan said with an encouraging smile. “We’re all human and we’ve all had trauma to varying degrees and that’s just part of this and that’s why I’m here today – to share my story and to show that there’s support in the community. You’re not alone.”
The Victor Walk in Prince George was held to coincide with the walk led by Fleury in Calgary.
The national movement is said to be powered by an Orange Wave of Courage to give voice to victims of devastating childhood trauma.
Funds raised during the walk are donated to the Breaking Free Foundation that offers support and resources for those who might not otherwise have the means to do so.
For more information about Fleury’s Victor Walk movement and how to donate visit victorwalk.com. For more information from the Prince George Sexual Assault Centre, whose staff can help victims of sexual violence and abuse, visit pgsac.org.