Inquiry effects still felt

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

09 May 2009

Posted By GREG PEERENBOOM  

In an ironic twist, a leading advocate of sex abuse support services is finding new challenges in the wake of publicity surrounding the Cornwall Public Inquiry.

"We're having a harder time (receiving donations)," said Lucie Beauregard, executive director of Sexual Abuse Support Services office and counselling centre (SASS) at 125 Amelia St.

"People are tired of hearing about (sex abuse issues)," said Beauregard, who welcomed the general public recently to celebrate the centre's 15th anniversary. But Beauregard understands the turn to apathy after the inquiry's three years of horrendous tales involving children and adults in powers of position.

"It gets to be too much," she said, as she looked away and rolled her eyes slightly, citing her own three-year hiatus from her position.

Most of SASS's budget is funded by the Ministry of Attorney General.

A few minutes before, Beauregard had provided a short tour of the compact centre, which ambitiously serves several needs stemming from sex abuse - or "violence", according to its current label and which will affect two of three women in their lifetime.

Several women and one child were presented, seated about the 'living room'.

"At one time we had about 35 volunteers - now we have 17," Beauregard said, explaining the ebb and flow of the willing who try to make a difference for SASS clients.

The centre also has two paid counsellors.

But by the same token, the centre isn't depended upon as much - the need is as great, but other services are available, such as the Cornwall Community Hospital.

"We used to get up to five crises a day," Beauregard said. "Now, it's more like five crises a week."

As Beauregard enters the front room of what was likely the sun porch of the two-storey, turn-of-the-century house, there are shelves stocked with resource materials.

"We also serve other agencies and family members of victims," she said.

While there is considerable cooperation between various organizations, Beauregard laments the lack of progress the centre has made with much of the general public.

"A lot of people think we're a bunch of feminists or lesbians," she said bluntly.

"What we need more of is public awareness."

To that end, SASS is reaching out to the community.

This month, SASS is holding outreach kiosks at various locations, including Wal-Mart, StarTek and the Cornwall Square.

A couple of the messages SASS is focusing on are the types of abuse, especially incest and workplace harassment.

"There are a lot of women we hear from who don't want to make a complaint because they fear for their jobs."

As much as I feel for the victims in the Cornwall Public Inquiry. Why hasn't anyone told about the thousands of native children kidnapped from their families and sent to residential schools? How many were sexually abused,tortured,starved,and murdered? All done to eliminate "The Indian Problem".

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