COMMISSIONER’S STATEMENT 

PHASE 2 PARTY RESEARCHFEBRUARY 28, 2007 

I AM PLEASED TO PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON PROPOSALS FOR PHASE 2 PARTYRESEARCH. PHASE 2 FOCUSES ON HEALING AND RECONCILIATION, AND ONLOOKING FORWARD WITH HOPE. PARTIES AND THE PUBLIC MAY RECALL THAT WE ARE SEEKING A VERY ACTION-ORIENTED PHASE 2 AS OPPOSED TO MOREACADEMIC APPROACHES. THIS APPROACH DOES INCLUDE OPPORTUNITIES FORPARTIES TO PROPOSE THEIR OWN PROJECTS. PARTY ACTIVITIES MAY OR MAY NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE INQUIRY. THE ENGAGEMENT OF PARTIES IN PHASE 2 ACTIVITIES ALLOWS FOR DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS TO COME FORWARD.WE THINK THIS VERY CONSISTENT WITH THE PHASE 2 MANDATE. 

FOUR PARTIES RESPONDED TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PROPOSALS FORACTION-ORIENTED PROJECTS. ONE PARTY – CITIZENS FOR COMMUNITYRENEWAL – DID NOT MAKE A FORMAL PROPOSAL BUT HAD SOME SUGGESTIONSFOR THE ADVISORY PANEL’S PROCESSES. THESE WERE HELPFUL AND WILL BEWORKED INTO THE PANEL’S ACTIVITIES. 

FOLLOWING MY REVIEW AND THAT OF THE ADVISORY PANEL WHO PROVIDED ME WITH ADVICE, I HAVE DECIDED TO ENDORSE FUNDING TO THREE PARTIESFOR FIVE PHASE 2 PROJECTS. 

THREE PROJECTS ARE BY THE MEN’S PROJECT: 

• A TRAINING MANUAL FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR MALESEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS; 

• A GUIDEBOOK AND AN INTERACTIVE PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING AGUIDEBOOK THAT SUPPORTS SELF-HELP INITIATIVES BUT MANAGES THE POTENTIAL RISKS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HELPING OTHERS ANDTHOSE RECEIVING HELP; 

• RESEARCH INTO IDEAS SUCH AS ADVOCATES OR ADVOCACY CENTERS ORAN OMBUDSMAN FOR CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS,INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HISTORICAL ABUSE.

ONE PROJECT IS BY THE CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY OF STORMONT, DUNDAS &GLENGARRY: 

• A FEASIBILITY STUDY IN CREATING A CENTRAL RESEARCH CAPACITY INCORNWALL FOR INFORMATION IN RELATION TO SUPPORTING SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE. THIS WOULD INVOLVE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, TO DEBATE WHAT WOULD WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY. 

THE LAST PROJECT HAS THE BACKING OF THE VICTIMS’ GROUP BUT IS A JOINT ACTIVITY BETWEEN SURVIVORS ACTIVE IN THE SOSA (SURVIVORS OF SEXUALABUSE) GROUP AND DR. WAYNE NADLER, A PSYCHOLOGIST AT THE CORNWALL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. IT INVOLVES AN EDUCATIONAL WEBSITE FOR SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE. THE SITE WILL NOT ADDRESS INQUIRY MATTERS OR ANY RELATED CIVIL LITIGATION. 

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PARTIES FOR THEIR INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND LOOKFORWARD TO THE CONTRIBUTION OF THESE PROJECTS TO THE CREATION OF ANENVIRONMENT OF HEALING AND RECONCILIATION IN CORNWALL, AND INPRESENTING FORWARD-LOOKING IDEAS.