Sheldon Kennedy headlines vulnerable children conference
Posted Aug 29, 2016 2:58 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy says he turned into a “zombie” after he was sexually abused by his junior hockey coach Graham James.
Kennedy, the first of James’s victims to come forward back in the 1990s, spoke today to delegates from 42 countries representing front-line agencies, international policy-makers and researchers in Calgary.
They’re sharing ideas and best practices for protecting children from abuse and neglect.
Kennedy said he was a happy kid dreaming of the future before he was sexually abused.
Kennedy says the effects of child abuse make it a health issue and should be treated the same way everywhere in order to allow victims to start healing.
In 2013, he helped open the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre in Calgary.
Under one roof, It brings together the services of police, social workers, medical staff, psychologists and prosecutors to try to avoid young victims constantly having to retell and relive their abuse.
Kenney said almost 70 per cent of the children brought to the centre are between four and 12 years old and have experienced some sort of sexual abuse.
Kennedy’s career in the National Hockey League spanned less than 10 years.
He developed alcohol and drug problems as he struggled to come to terms with what had happened.
James was sentenced to jail after pleading guilty in 1997 to abusing Kennedy and two others and is currently serving time for abusing several other of his former players.
