By Saskatchewan Prevention Institute

Why I Didn’t Say Anything: An Evening With Sheldon Kennedy

Sep 5, 2017 | 12:44 PM

The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute is pleased to be bringing Sheldon Kennedy to Saskatoon in October 2017. The Institute is a provincial, non-profit organization with a mandate to reduce the occurrence of disabling conditions in children. We work in a variety of areas, one of which is the prevention of child abuse.

Sheldon Kennedy was sexually assaulted over a period of 5 years by his hockey coach, Graham James. It became a very public issue within the hockey community and beyond. The biggest questions asked were, “how could this happen?” and “why didn’t anyone know?” Sheldon lived for many years in the shadow of the abuse. However, he decided to take a stand that would have implications for many, by charging his former coach and going public with his story. He has become a strong advocate promoting better response to child abuse in Canada.

Unfortunately, many children in Saskatchewan experience abuse. 

In 2015, Saskatchewan had the highest rate of police-reported family violence among the provinces in Canada. There are multiple long-term impacts on the physical, mental, and emotional health of an individual who has experienced abuse as a child.

As a province, we need to talk openly about this issue. It is important for us to understand that children are most at risk for abuse, not from a stranger, but from a person who is trusted by not only the child, but the child’s family. Parents need the knowledge and resources to protect their children. Our society needs to be prepared to protect those children who are not protected by their families.

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On Thursday, October 5, 2017, the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute is hosting a public evening with Sheldon Kennedy at TCU Place in Saskatoon. The documentary of his life, “Swift Current”, will be shown and there will be a chance to hear from Sheldon and learn from his experience. The free event will be open to the public, including youth 14 years of age and older.

We are asking for your support to help us advertise this event and get the word out to the public about this important subject and great speaker. We welcome media to come out and cover the event as well. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the showing of the documentary will start at 7:00 p.m. sharp. There will be limited sales of his book entitled “Why I Didn’t Say Anything” and book signing. As mentioned, this is a free event open to the public (14A). Cash donations are appreciated with profits benefitting Respect Group, Saskatchewan Abilities Council, and Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation. A poster is attached to this release. Please feel free to share this poster with the public.

The event is sponsored by Robertson Stromberg LLP, Cuelenaere Kendall Katzman & Watson, Cameco, TCU Place, and Hilton Garden Inn.

To learn more about the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute and our work, please visit our website at: www.skprevention.ca. To learn more about Sheldon Kennedy’s organization, please visit: http://www.sheldonkennedycac.ca/.

For more information or to book an interview, please contact Noreen Agrey, Executive Director for the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute at 306-651-4302 or email nagrey@skprevention.ca.