"One day I will be just like my father"

Monica Dunlop 

Sixteen-year-old daughter of Perry & Helen Dunlop 

This is the prepared text of Monica’s talk to a crowd of about 140 at the Cornwall Army/Navy Club, Thursday 01 May 2008.  Monica departed from and expanded on the text on occasions, but this is the gist of the message she hoped to convey. Monica has two older sisters, Heather and Marlee.

(Videos of Monica's talk can be viewed on You Tube: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3  )

Dear Friends, family, supporters and strangers, 

Thank you all for coming here today. 

My name is Monica Dunlop.

I am 16 years old and currently in grade 10. I am Helen and Perry's youngest daughter. 

In the past couple of months, I have seen and heard certain things that will haunt me for the rest of my life.  

Seeing things such as my Dad being taken from the front steps of our house, and then hearing that the warrant was not legal. Seeing my father's face pasted upon various newspapers and then hearing of his unfair 6 month sentence. 

As much as I wish I could be deaf and blind at times, I now am grateful to have my eyes and ears open, looking at the real world and hearing the stories of the victims, which has always been the most important thing. 

Life is incredibly difficult without my Dad at home. Commissioner Glaude and the Divisional Court judges not only took him away from his family and friends, they took him from his community. 

I can't imagine what it must feel like to be uprooted from your own town not once but consecutively.

 I miss him. 

He's my favorite person in the whole world and everyday that he is gone I lose a piece of myself. 

There are normal everyday activities that have become exceedingly difficult for me. 

No longer do I sit at my piano and sing. Music is something my father and I have a deep love for. 

He and I sing, he plays his guitar, I play my piano, all the while teaching and learning from one another. 

I now find myself picking up his acoustic and holding it close, knowing that my Dad has poured so many hours of entertainment into its' hollow body. 

Dinner is different now. 

Once supper used to be something to look forward to. 

Besides the delicious food, conversations at our table,......well actually they were a riot to tell you the truth! 

I've got my Dad's sense of humour, and when all 5 of us get going it is really incredible!  

My sisters and my friends love coming to our place for dinner. 

We share jokes, stories, quotes, songs and "Highlight of the Day". 

It was one hour we all had together every night. 

I never appreciated it in its entirety until it was a feat that was no longer possible. 

Our family members have also changed. My oldest sister Marlee, who is turning 19 in October has become very withdrawn from the family.  

It seems everynight she isn't out partying, she's working or pent up in her bedroom. She has shut down the feelings she has about the Case.  

Ignoring it seems to be the best way possible for her to deal with the situation. I worry about her constantly. 

Then there's Heather. 

Seventeen going on thirty. 

I'm very proud to say she's been accepted to UBC. A dream come true for the Cornwall born girl to move to Vancouver. 

Heather is very good at keeping herself busy. She excels in school and has always been quite a social butterfly. 

We talk about what is going on but only on her time. She rationalizes, compares and generally leaves our conversations angry and frustrated. 

I worry about her constantly too. 

My mom has been very affected by this Case. I never knew her otherwise, but the last couple of months has really strained our relationship. 

Most days when she's not researching human rights, talking to lawyers and doing interviews, she's taking care of her tired and pained body. 

I try not to stress her further by expressing my own personal problems. 

It's not fair. 

I want to be able to come home and tell her how much I miss Dad, but I know she misses him more, and my problems don't compare. 

My poor old black lab Drake is heartbroken without my Dad at home. They have been together constantly for the past 7 years and Drake just doesn't know how to act anymore. When he isn't cowering in his dog house, he's crying outside our front door. 

I feel like a completely different person. 

As much as I hate to admit it, I find I have been isolating myself, absorbing the sadness and feeding off my anger. 

I've pushed myself away from my friends. I feel like they have no idea what I am going through. 

I'm angry that they aren't writing letters to my Dad, a man who used to make them laugh and feel protected constantly.  

I guess noticeable support is just too much to ask of some people. I withdraw from my family and often find myself taking out my frustrations on them. 

I can't focus at school.

I can't even watch television without seeing his face and doing a double take. 

I hear him cheering in the stands when I play rugby, but then I stop and realize he's not actually there. 

It makes me really sad to think he won't be here to see me play at the provincials. 

He won't be here to see Heather graduate and head off to university. 

I won't be able to be his "first-mate" on the FATCAT as we reel up halibut. 

I talk to him for minutes and it's only on the weekends. When I'm at my friend's house, I guess it's too bad. 

I never thought I wouldn't have the ability to reach out and touch my father, but Tuesday brought a rude awakening. I miss him so much sometimes, I can hardly breathe. 

I miss him so much I have become an angry and resentful person at a very young age. 

It's not fair.

It's not right. 

When I think of all the victims and all the children he's prevented from becoming victims, it puts my life into perspective. 

I think of all the friends we've made and all the things I've learned and I'm truly grateful for the things my parents have taught me. 

My parents are guardians, musicians, comedians and teachers and above all, heroes. 

And I wouldn't trade my life with anyone. 

Commissioner Glaude, Divisional court judges and Premier McGuinty, YOU ARE COWARDS IN MY EYES. 

You've taken away my father, you've taken away my father's rights and you have had a negative impact on the lives of Canadians everywhere. 

It is frightening to think I'll be raising a family of my own in this country one day. 

Now who will report abuse of any kind?? 

You are scaring everyone into silence. 

My father is a real man, an honest man, a brave man. 

I have no faith in our justice system now. 

One day I will be just like my father, so does that mean if I tell the truth you will put me in prison too??

 In closing Mr. Glaude, you are the person responsible for putting my father in prison. 

I want you to make this stop and let me bring my father home.