MOVING ON TOGETHER
Survivors of abuse playing key role in launching initiative in Swift Current
Sheldon Kennedy’s story has evolved since he went public about the years of sexual abuse by Graham James.
Kennedy rocked the hockey world in 1997 when he disclosed he had been abused by the former Swift Current Broncos head coach more than 300 times over a five-year period. James was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in a federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual offences against Kennedy and another player.
Kennedy’s story has changed from tragedy to one of hope. There is a heightened awareness of sexual abuse in sports and other community endeavours as a result of Kennedy coming forward.
“It has to be about hope,” Kennedy said from Calgary. “There has to be a way out and you have to be able to get your life back. If not, there is no sense in doing it. To me, the whole thing is about hope and that there is a way out of the gong show and there is a way to become the person you want to become. There is a way to move on.”
Kennedy’s process continues Friday in Swift Current, where the city is launching a new initiative called Youth Certification and Safe Places. The certification and registration strategy requires background checks for anyone who works directly with kids.
The evening program features a screening of the documentary Swift Current, which chronicled the years of sexual abuse suffered by Kennedy and other young people. A question-and-answer session is slated after the documentary.
On Sunday, Kennedy will be presented with the WHL’s 50th-season achievement award before the Broncos play host to the Moose Jaw Warriors as part of the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour. The award recognizes his efforts as an advocate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Kennedy feels Swift Current is the perfect setting to reveal the groundbreaking certification program, the screening of the documentary and the presentation of the award.
“This should show the world that we are moving on in Swift Current,” said Kennedy, who spent three seasons with the Broncos and was captain of the 1989 Memorial Cup-winning team before embarking on an eight-year NHL career. “This will show the world that we don’t want to be defined by what happened in Swift Current and with Graham James. What a time to do it, because the whole country will be watching.”
The attention comes months after Swift Current was rocked by another case of sexual abuse by a hockey coach. In April, Ryan Chamberlain was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to several counts of sexual abuse. Chamberlain was hired privately by parents to coach their children. The parents were unaware Chamberlain had previously served four months in jail in 1998 for sexual abuse.
Swift Current mayor Jerrod Schafer increased the awareness of the weekend by apologizing for what happened to Kennedy and other survivors.
“There was so much shame and sorrow in the community and the fear of judgment from everyone else because they felt we should have done more,” Schafer said from Swift Current. “It was easier not to talk about it. One of the things I learned from Sheldon is that’s how people handle sexual abuse, whether it happens in a family or in sports.”
A criminal record check and a training course for certification will be required for people to be registered with the city. The intention is to include more than hockey teams in the screening process.
Kennedy said the program is a method of bridging the gaps between sports and other community events. He added the survivor knows the abuser in 95 per cent of childhood sexual abuse cases. In 47 per cent of those cases, the abuser is a parent or caregiver.
“The people wanted this,” Kennedy said. “Imagine the message in that town. I know that I wasn’t the only one abused there. There are lots, because it’s society. What message does it send in that town about coming forward and the way it was handled in silence? What it has done is allowed people if they are struggling to come forward and to know that it’s OK and they won’t be judged. To me, that’s three quarters of the battle.”
“To me, the whole thing is about hope and that there is a way out of the gong show ...”
— Sheldon Kennedy