Cornwall Public Inquiry

PHASE 2 WORKING GROUP COMMUNITY MEETING 

JUNE 26, 2007 

CORNWALL CIVIC COMPLEX, MCLEOD ROOM  

WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS  

Colleen Parrish welcomed the group. She advised everyone that the Advisory Panel had made some decisions on how to work on Phase 2, and had decided to focus only on things that were useful, practical, and worthwhile – things that made a difference in people’s lives – that make a difference to people and a difference to the community.

Colleen reminded the group that ideas for Cornwall must come from Cornwall. The Advisory Panel will not force their ideas on people – and that although they may make suggestions, all ideas must have support from the community and have local champions.

Colleen finished by saying that today, as we take more steps forward, we hope to hear concrete ideas. She then turned the meeting over to Ben Hoffman, the facilitator for the meeting. 

GROUND RULES 

Ben reviewed the Ground Rules for the meeting, which were agreed to be: 

1. Respect others’ perspectives. 

2. Operate in your language of choice. 

3. Non-attribution of comments or ideas. 

4. Use safety valve if you need it (i.e. people can leave for a break if they require it, and there are people available to help if needed).

Ben reminded everyone that we would be sticking to the timetable for the session to ensure that we are out by 7:00 p.m. He then provided a quick overview of the evening’s activities, and handed the meeting over to Phil Murray to review the meeting of May 2,2007. 

REVIEW OF MAY 2, 2007 MEETING 

Phil reminded everyone of the three primary themes of the May 2, 2007 meeting: 

1. Prevention 

2. Taking care of victims 

3. Building for long-term results

He also thanked those participants who had volunteered to be co-chairs that day. He then gave a brief overview of what the groups had done since the May 2nd meeting. Group 1 had decided to focus their efforts on a Youth Centre. Group 2 met again on May 24th to discuss a First Response (Victim-Centred) Centre for abuse victims. Group 3 had wanted to hear from the other 2 groups before meeting again, but had sent a letter to the Social Planning Council. All three groups had also expressed an interest in education.

One participant expressed a concern about what will be done for adult survivors of abuse, who had already lost so much. This participant was concerned that the proposals abovewould not be fully inclusive.  

Colleen replied that there are priorities for adult survivors as well as for youth. Priority will be given to diminish the number of adult survivors, by reducing the number of young victims, but she reminded the group that there will always be victims, despite our best efforts. 

Another participant pointed out that while we are looking at things to do, some work has already been done, as is the case with the Youth Centre which has been spearheaded byChief Parkinson of the Cornwall Police. It was suggested that we go out and contact the people who have already worked on these areas before we start our work. 

Phil confirmed that it is a necessary first step to make sure that we don’t spend our time re-inventing the wheel. Colleen advised that we are not competing with existing services– we need to find out what the community does not have, and both wants and needs.

A participant also made the suggestion that everyone should work together on this – the city, schools, newspapers. This participant also felt it was critical that survivors participate, as they know more than everyone what is needed. 

PRIORITY REVIEW

Colleen Parrish then introduced the Priority Review segment of the meeting, on behalf of Jan Handy who was delayed due to train problems. She once again reminded participants that the ideas come from the Cornwall community, not the Advisory Panel, and they were either raised in the May 2nd meeting or at one of the 40 community meetings held with the Advisory Panel. 

Colleen stressed that these are not the only ideas that have been raised, but are the ideas that seem to have attracted the most interest and energy from the community.  

1. Community/Professional Education and Awareness 

Colleen advised the group that she felt there was a lack of focus to this idea – is this education for professionals in the community? Or is it education to raise public awareness? She said it was clear that people had spoken and wanted to prevent abuse through education, but that there was no clear focus on who this education should target. 

2. Youth Centre in Le Village  

Participants questioned why Le Village had been identified as the location for aYouth Centre. Colleen advised the group that Chief Dan Parkinson was involved in this, and that his reasoning is that it is a central location, close to schools, and is a high-need area with a lot of families who require the services it would provide.

Colleen informed the group that the current vision is for a centre that offers recreational activities, with youth and police staff, also offering perhaps educationand short-term crisis housing. It would be a place of activity, but also a place of sanctuary, and would give young people good adults to relate to, thereby reducing their vulnerability by giving them a safe place to go, adults to turn to for help, andactivities to keep them busy.   

3. Victim-Centred Model  

Jamie Marsolais provided an update on the Victim Centred Model as a way tobetter meet the needs of survivors.  

They are currently drafting a proposal for researchers to look at different modelsin the province to see what might work well in Cornwall. They currently envision a centre staffed with neutral intake workers – workers with no agency affiliation, with a neutral location, with satellite offices in the counties. Intake workers at the centre would work as brokers, referring clients to the proper places for them. This would mean people would not spend months on a waiting list, only to find out the services offered by that agency are not appropriate for them. Education would be provided, and outreach and services to the community. It is hoped the centre would reach out to the community at large – removing the stigma of sexual abuse by talking about it. This centre would not duplicate services, but would just offer referrals to the existing services.   

4. Central Clearing House for Volunteers  

This facility would provide centralized security clearances for volunteers –checking references and running criminal record checks. It is hoped this would identify people who hope to take advantage of children by volunteering with agencies serving children. It would also work to benefit volunteers by lessening paperwork for them. It would also offer community outreach – helping to educate other volunteers in the community, for example, on what to do when you get a disclosure.  

5. Counselling Support – What Next?  

Colleen advised the participants that there are currently 209 open counselling support files, and that it is a program of significant value for individuals. The program will run until the date the Commissioner’s report is tabled, plus 90 days.  The question is what happens after that – what will be the future for counselling clients? What will happen to community agencies – will they be expected to pickup the slack?  

Colleen advised that she will be working on recommendations in this regard, and meeting with the Ministry of the Attorney General, but she would like community input to assist her in this. She is seeking people from the community who would like to participate in finding a good solution for Counselling Support transition. 

6. A Safe Place for Men  

In addition, Colleen informed the group that a new idea has emerged, formulated by City Councillor Mark MacDonald, and Community Members Keith Ouellette and Marc Carriere. This initiative envisions a house will be found, renovations done, and then it will be a house where male adult survivors can go and drop in. There will be a work component involved – users of the service will be expected to give back to the house – work in the garden, help with renovations, etc. There will be a core of professional staff, and a 24 crisis line, with access to and aliaison capacity for ongoing counselling. An adjunct to this initiative might be a greenhouse, growing food and plants to beautify the city, to feed the Agapé Centre, and provide work experience for men. It is hoped that eventually the safehouse could expand to provide a 10 bed capacity.  

BRINGING MORE PEOPLE TO THE TABLE  

Ben introduced Gail Kaneb to the group, and she advised the participants that there are awhole raft of people in the community who have not be brought into the Phase 2 process. She wondered how do we bring more people to the table? We are discussing big dreams here, and we need more people so we can realize them.  

Gail told the group she had some ideas to share. First, she has contacted the service clubs in the Cornwall area – most of whom do not meet during the summer. She is arranging tomeet with them in September or October, and hopes to find a group of people already committed to providing services to the community who will join our process. 

She has also contacted Team Cornwall, to see if they might wish to play a role in Phase 2.   

She then asked the group to consider what they thought about holding a “Town Hall”meeting, and then went around the room, soliciting input from each participant. The following comments were expressed by group members:  

•  The Inquiry should be responsible to advise everyone of Community Meetings and that improved community outreach is needed. 
•  Many people want a specific invitation to an event before they will attend.  
• Some survivors feel that they are not welcome, needed or wanted – that as no one has listened to them for all these years, they figure “why bother?” They need to be approached so that they realize they are both wanted and needed at the table.  
• As Phase 2 and the Town Hall meeting would be concerned only with Healing and Reconciliation, there is a need for this to be explicitly specified so that people are made aware of this.  
• Having a Town Hall meeting would necessitate explaining Phase 2 and the processes to date all over again, and would result in “spinning our wheels” and repeating the same information over again.  
• There are some people in the community who could come forward. There is a need for Phase 2 to actually go out into the community and actively seek people, without relying on them to come forward on their own – but “Kitchen Table” meetings in the community would be more effective than a “Town Hall” meeting.  
• It might be beneficial to have focus groups targeting specific groups who may not feel included in the process – for example, new Canadians, native people.  
• There is a danger of a Town Hall meeting being hijacked by people who wish only to raise their own concerns.  
• People are generally afraid or nervous to attend meetings on their own – they want to go with someone else. It might be helpful to have newspaper and radio ads stating “If you live in Winchester and want to attend the Town Hall meeting, call Joe at 555-5555”. This way people have someone to go with and will easetheir fears of walking in alone.   
• A Town Hall meeting would make Phase 2 transparent, which is needed. There is a feeling in the community that the Cornwall Public Inquiry is not very transparent. People who are uncomfortable with attending a Town Hall meeting can watch it on TV in an non-intimidating location. Transparency is a welcoming exercise.   
• There is concern that now is not the time for a Town Hall meeting. Perhaps we should wait and see what initiatives come up in the Phase 2 community meetings and then hold a Town Hall meeting to discuss them. 
• Town Hall meetings are scary for both participants and organizers, but show a willingness to take the risk to include people and to bring them into the process.This would need to be very separate from Phase 1 though.  
• Town Hall meetings are a way to get information out, as well as a way to get ideas in.  
• Every town in the surrounding community would need its own Town Hall meeting, as lots of people in the counties do not have transportation into Cornwall. They would need to be held in Winchester, Lancaster, Ingleside, etc.  
• There is concern about keeping the agenda under control, but there is also an obligation to keep it open to allow community members an opportunity to speak.  
• People don’t necessarily know or trust Phase 2 in the community – how do you interest people? Bring up the cost of the Inquiry to the people of Cornwall – that will get people involved.  
• Town Hall meetings are a good idea but you need to inform the population first –survivors need to be involved. It might be a good idea to go out and talk to churches to involve more people – we need to do this together, not just as a smallgroup. 
• You need an attraction to get people to a Town Hall meeting – tell them that survivors will be telling their stories. People want to “hear the dirt”. Don’t give them the dirt – have tight restrictions – but you will get people into the meeting and you can then ask them for help. There is a need to touch people’s hearts and get them thinking, and that increases that chances that they’ll help.  
• People don’t realize that “Cornwall Public Inquiry” doesn’t just mean Cornwall, and they feel they don’t belong. There is a need to expand the boundaries to include all of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry.  
• There was a survey done to determine where people get their health care information, which found that it was 1) provider, 2) TV and 3) newspaper. We need to market the idea in the newspapers, including the free papers, The Shopper, etc. In addition, a telemarketer should be hired to contact 1,000 households, saying “This is the process so far, this has come about, what does your household think of the following ideas?”  
• The entire community needs to buy into this, not just the people in this room.We also need to decide – what is the purpose of this Town Hall meeting?Terminology might be an issue in attracting people – “healing and reconciliation” might mean 30 different things. Maybe “working together” is what is important and healing and reconciliation will flow from that.  
• We need to a put a face on things to make it hit home to the community – people feel that if sexual abuse didn’t happen to them, then they are not a part of this process.   
• Town Hall meeting should be held later, after more work is done. 
• A letter should be sent to everyone in the community, regardless of the cost.Every household in the area should receive an invitation – no one should be excluded. 
• There is a feeling that Town Hall meetings are too political, people are there to improve their reputation and to raise their profile politically.

DISCUSSION ON PRIORITIES  

At this time, Ben divided the larger group into smaller groups of six, to discuss theirpriorities over a light dinner.  

REPORT ON IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS  

The smaller groups reconvened into a larger group, and Ben suggested that it might be premature at this time to ask people to vote on the ballots provided in their packages (torank their priorities), unless they were ready to do that at this time.   The six smaller groups then gave brief summaries of their discussions:  

GROUP #1  

• Awareness/education needs a high-profile spokesman, perhaps someone fromoutside the community – suggest Don Cherry
• Services for men are needed regardless of their sexual orientation  
• 24 hour services for men are required, similar to those that currently exist forWomen

   GROUP #2  

• In order to increase awareness, there is a need for movies, commercials, done in a very tasteful manner and not hurtful – those directly involved must be involved and have a say in the final product 
• Safe house for youth/children is needed 
• The victim-centred model needs a mission statement 
• A building for men is a top priority, perhaps a link could be forged with Habitatfor Humanity in this regard 
• Crisis management is a another priority

  GROUP #3  

• Victim Centre #1 priority – need an audit in place for services, and some Oversight  
•  Priority #2 – youth centre with a broad focus, not just on victims but also on Prevention  
• Priority #3 – Education – who are we educating? We need a focus based on who is being educated, as different groups require different information  
• Priority #4 – Counselling Support – there should always be access to counselling,and there is a need for therapists who are specifically trained in sexual abuse  
• Priority #5 – Central clearing house for volunteers

   GROUP #4  

• Counselling is #1 priority – there is a serious concern about what will happen once the funds are not there – we need to be proactive and creative to determinewhat we can do 
• Youth Centre – this is Chief Parkinson’s project, leave it to him, we should focuson other things  
• Victim-Based Model – there is a model in place in London which has “one-stop shopping”. Sheila Tallon will get more information on this model and will report back.  
• There is a fear that the centralized clearing-house for volunteers might duplicateservices offered by the police (OPP) – while it is a great initiative, it might bebetter to focus on this later on down the road  
• Education – there should be a high profile spokesperson – perhaps Peter Mansbridge? Or Kimothy Walker of CTV news?  
• There needs to be training of GP’s, teachers, addiction workers, anyone who may have contact with victims of sexual abuse  
• Sheila Tallon advised that there was in initiative in town to have housing for 16-plus men in Cornwall, and in fact they have just received a $65,000 grant in thisregard. She invites anyone who is interested in this to get in touch with her formore information.

    GROUP #5  

• Community Awareness – we need to develop a plan with the media for aweekly/monthly column which will report on Phase 2 and what positive things arebeing done in the community, and report on services in the community  
• Victim Centred Model – this should be a focus, as it is urgent to address andsupport the needs of victims

   GROUP #6  

• As everything is interconnected, it is hard to prioritize. We need to look at one large picture with interconnected services.  
• Education is important.  
• Youth Centre is important, but should also incorporate a community centre to include everyone in the community

Another participant suggested an announcement should be made at the Canada Day celebrations at Lamoureux Park, just before the fireworks, to raise awareness of Phase

2.   CLOSING REMARKS  

Colleen asked for volunteers to help out at the October 18, 2007 meeting, and directed them to sign-up sheets.  

Gail advised the group that this is a process about wanting more for our community. People in Cornwall talk a lot about how others view us, but really it is about how we view ourselves. No one can do healing and reconciliation except the people of Cornwall.

She asked all participants to talk to ten people about the positive aspects of Phase 2 and the work that we are doing, in an effort to bring more people to the table and to the next meeting on October 18th.