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CHARLOTTETOWN: PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

The Prince Edward Island team’s primary focus is child sexual abuse. The team works to promote a more coordinated, collaborative response to child sexual abuse, raise public awareness and promote prevention strategies. In 2010 the team hosted a conference on Contemporary Issues in Child and Adult Sexual Abuse. The Voices and Faces Project presentation, and a workshop on using media to maximum advantage in getting their message out. Broad media coverage of these events were a catalyst for the government's exploration of the use of nurse examiners in sexual assault cases.

NEWS:

February, 2013:
New Child Sexual Assault Protocol Released.

On February 14, 2013 the Government of Prince Edward Island has released a new Guidelines and Procedures for a Coordinated Response to Child Sexual Abuse in Prince Edward Island, signed off by representatives from The Departments of Community Services and Seniors, Environment, Labour, Justice and the Attorney General, Health and Wellness, Education and Early Childhood Development; Health PEI, the University of PEI, Chiefs of the Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nations, and police representatives from the RCMP, Charlottetown, Summerside, and Kensington Police Services. Click here to view this protocol.

June, 2012:
Strangulation, Abuse Prevention Workshops Offered.

An expert in strangulation in family violence spoke with PEI doctors, nurses, police and other justice officials. Read More.

April, 2012:
Much Needed Help Arrives on the Front Line.

The Prince Edward Island Rape and Sexual Assault Centre is proud to announce the recent hire of Gail Ross. A retired mental health therapist and manager of mental health services, Gail has the expertise to hit the ground running and provide much-needed counseling to clients.

EVENTS:

May 9-10, 2011:
Follow-Up: Boys Hurt Too: Understanding and Responding to Male Child Sexual Abuse

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Child Sexual Abuse Advisory Committee sponsored the conference on May 9-10, 2011.

Presentation Highlights:

Mike Lew, M.Ed., psychotherapist and a leading expert on recovery from sexual child abuse, particularly issues of male survivors, was the primary presenter and discussed the unique impacts of child sexual abuse on boys as well as treatment techniques for working with boys and men.

Download presentations:
Adult Male Survivors Male Survivor Memoirs Annotated Film List

Randall Fletcher, Sexual Deviance Specialist and International Representative on the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) Committee on Primary Prevention, presented information on protecting adolescents from sexual abuse.

Download the presentation:
How to Protect Adolescents from Sexual Abuse

Det/Cst. Randy Currie, Charlottetown Police Department IT/Intel officer, presented information on internet safety and preventing unwanted encounters on the internet.

Download the presentation:
Internet Safety

“The Boys Hurt Too Conference featuring keynote speaker, Mike Lew was a resounding success on a number of levels: It highlighted the importance and prevalence of male childhood sexual assault in both the public and professional realms. It provided valuable opportunity for conference participants to network, share knowledge, and discuss opportunities for future partnerships. He provided information, education, and approaches to this topic which encouraged and empowered participants to further develop resources and services in PEI for male survivors of childhood sexual assault.”

—Paula Finkle,
Youth Justice Services Manager, Department of Justice and Public Safety
and Conference Planning Committee Chair

“I was warmed by the welcome I received during my recent visit to do professional training and a male survivor workshop on Prince Edward Island. More importantly, I am impressed and encouraged by the high quality, dedication, and humanity of the professionals I met in Charlottetown. Trauma work on PEI is in good hands, and doesn't have to take a back seat to anywhere else. There is still a lot of work we need to do, but on PEI it is getting done.”

—Mike Lew, M.Ed.,
Conference Keynote Speaker, Director of The Next Step Counseling and Training Centre, Boston MA

INITIATIVES:

2012:
The Child Sex Abuse Committee Protocol is Under Review.

The Child Sex Abuse committee protocol is under review by child protection, police response and investigations to revamp it so it more accurately reflects current practices and protocols.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program Moing Toward Realization.

Efforts to establish a SANE program at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown continue. Recently, an ER nurse from the hospital received training at the Monkton General Hospital free of charge, and is now a certified SANE nurse. Incidental costs, such as travel, accommodations and food allowance were covered by the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre, due to a generous contribution from a private citizen of P.E.I., John Eldon Green.

With the Premier recently announcing a 3% cut in programming, the rape assault center is grateful for its generous supporters. John Elden Green, once Deputy Minister of Social Services, donated $5,000 toward the development of the SANE Program while Monkton New Brunswkcik Hospital provided initial training of a sexual assault nurse

TEAM MEMBERS:

Co-Chair:

■	Sigrid Rolfe The PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre Coordinator
■	David O'Brien Crown Attorneys’ Office - Senior Crown Attorney

Government Departments and Programs:

Department of Community Services, Seniors and Labour

■	Dr. Wendy Verhoek-Oftedahl Family Violence Prevention and Community Development Coordinator in the Division of Child and Family Services, PEI Department of Community Services, Seniors and Labour
■	Rona Smith Child and Family Services - Director
■	Jeannine LaPierre Child and Family Services, Child Protection - Provincial Intake Assessment Supervisor
■	Colleen MacDonald Child and Family Services, Child Protection - Child Protection Social Worker
■	Mary Lou White Child and Family Services, Family Ties - Manager
■	Maureen MacEwen Provincial Coordinator of Child Protection

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

■	Lisa Marmen Commission scolaire de langue française - Coordonnatrice des services aux élèves
■	Kim Bailey Eastern School Board - Counselling Consultant
■	Brenda Millar Western School Board - Director, Student Services

Department of Environment, Labour, and Justice

■	David O’Brien, Q.C. Crown Attorneys’ Office - Senior Crown Attorney
■	Lindy Affleck Clinical Services, Community & Correctional Services
■	Dina DesRoches Probation Services - Probations Officer
■	Susan Maynard Victim Services - Manager
■	Evelyn Marshall Victim Services Worker
■	Paula Finkle Youth Justice Services - Manager, Project Resist

Health PEI

■	Donna Birch Community Mental Health & Addiction Services West - Manager

Police

■	Sgt. Andrew Blackadar Royal Canadian Mounted Police, “L” Division
■	Cst. Tara McBride Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Queens District Charlottetown
■	Det/Cst. Michelle O’Donnell Charlottetown Police Services
■	Cpl Joe Peters Summerside Police Services

Professional/ Community Organizations:

Adult Survivors

■	Mike Avery Male Survivors
■	Pat Sobey SAGE

Community Legal Information Association (CLIA)

■	David Daughton Executive Director

Diocese of Charlottetown

■	Fr. Lynton Hogan

Mi’kmaq Family PRIDE Program

■	Marilyn LeFrank Coordinator

Native Council of Prince Edward Island

■	Wade MacRae

PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre

■	Sigrid Rolfe Organizational Coordinator

CONTACT:

■	Sigrid Rolfe (902) 566-1864
■	David O’Brien (902) 888-8047