NBC Connecticut
January 1, 2010
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/12/31/ottawa-sexual-assault-centre-praised.html
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| The Cornwall Public Inquiry heard its final witness on Jan. 29, 2009, and released its final report on Dec. 15. |
A treatment centre in Eastern Ontario can help sexually abused men whose painful histories were brought to light in the Cornwall Public Inquiry, according to the inquiry's final report.
The report, released Dec. 15 after several delays, details the $53-million probe into allegations of sexual abuse dating back to 1992 in the city.
In his report, inquiry commissioner Norman Glaude recommended survivors undergo treatment at the Sexual Assault Centre of Quinte and District in Belleville, which provides counselling for male and female victims of childhood sexual abuse. Glaude urged the province to pay for the treatment.
Executive director Kim Charlebois says the centre provides a rare week-long retreat that a number of men have found helpful in their struggle to heal.
"They don't have contact with people from home; they don't make phone calls out. We want them to stay in process the entire time," Charlebois said.
"So, they're doing the intense healing work, which, if you can imagine it, of course you can do much more over a seven-day period — 10, 12 hours a day — as you can during a one-hour counselling session here at the centre."
'It's strengthening, and it's given me life.'— Ron Coleman
Two men who've undergone counselling at the Belleville centre for the past two years say the experience has dramatically changed the quality of their lives.
"My abuse started as physical abuse when I was six," said a man who asked to be identified as Bob. "It grew into sexual abuse when I was seven.
"It grew more and more violent, and there was torture," Bob said, wiping tears from his eyes as he recalled his horrifying history. "It was set up as games."
Charlebois said it's not easy for men who have suffered sexual abuse to come forward.
"There's still such taboo and shame around the issue of sexual violence in general and specifically still a lot of misunderstanding around the fact that little boys are sexually abused as well," Charlebois said.
She said is hopeful more men will seek help.
Ron Coleman, whose healing began during a rare week-long retreat organized by the centre, says funding for such programs is critical.
"It's strengthening, and it's given me life," he said.
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