Voice Found Launches #TraumaTalks

On September 26th, Voice Found launched its new event series #TraumaTalks at Ottawa City Hall. This new series aims to remove some of the stigma around the lasting effects on the well being and mental health of survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking.

Guest speakers, Keith Egli and Greg Gilhooly touched on the very real and unique experiences that each survivor goes through - from shame, to guilt to the lasting mental trauma that remains years later and how this can manifest itself differently for each individual. And while the experience is unique for each survivor, both agree that each victim is undeniably changed on a go-forward basis. Both are lawyers by trade, and each took a different legal approach, but they both acknowledged the failings of the Canadian legal system when it comes to the sentencing of sexual predators and the burden it creates on victims. 

Accurate statistics as to the prevalence of of childhood sexual abuse are challenging to report as the majority of cases are not reported to the authorities. Estimates are that almost 1 in 10 Canadians under the age 15 experience at least one type of sexual abuse.* We believe that a series like #TraumaTalks can help bring an understanding as to lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse and remind victims that they are not alone and that programs and services exist to support them.

Strength Found is one such program. It includes a 15-week survivor-led peer support program, 1:1 peer support, social activities, and special workshops in a safe space with others who have gone through similar situations.

The work we do at Voice Found is not possible with the support of funders and supporters. If you would like to contribute to Voice Found so we can continue this important work, please visit our donation page and consider making a financial contribution.

We must continue to have these conversations and we hope you will join us in spreading the word. Stay tuned for the next #TraumaTalks announcement.

Huge Thank You’s

A very special thank you to our featured guests, Keith Egli and Greg Gilhooly for courageously sharing their difficult but important stories. Keith experienced abuse as a young child and repressed the memory of it until adulthood, when memories of the experiences came flooding in during a physical therapy appointment. Greg was sexually abused as a teen by hockey coach Graham James, perhaps Canada’s most notorious sexual offender, and his story has been featured in national and international media. Greg wrote the bestselling “I Am Nobody: Confronting the Sexually Abusive Coach Who Stole My Life”. We are so grateful to Greg and Keith for their openness, candour and vulnerability.

A warm thank you also to our compassionate moderator and friend of Voice Found, Derick Fage who himself is no stranger to difficult conversations about taboo subjects, as he's been candid about his his personal struggle of living with chronic fecal incontinence and is the President of the Board of the Canadian Continence Foundation.

Thank you to sponsors - Ward 9 Councillor Sean Devine and Ronald Caza of CazaSaikaley. Special shout out to volunteers from Accenture Ottawa and Alana Saikley, our photographer Fred Catroll, and the team from ChefRics who made sure we were fed.

And last but not least our sincere thanks to all of you who attended and/or supported us at our inaugural ‘Trauma Talks’ event.