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	Justice Normand Glaude Announces Three Phase 2 Research Projects SQLFusion [Canada] March 29, 2007 http://www.theinquiry.ca/Inquiry_mentoring.hide.php (1) Apologies, (2) Mentoring (3) Education (Announcement made Thursday 29 March 2007 during hearings at the Cornwall Public Inquiry. The following is taken from the Cornwall Public Inquiry transcript) Justice Normand Glaude:The challenge of creating an environment of hope for the future, striving for reconciliation, and rebuilding trust continues to be a priority with me. Phase 2 activities are occurring at the same time as Phase 1 hearings. You will recall that of late I have made various progress announcements about our Phase 2 work, almost monthly, covering proposed research activities, endorsing party research and providing for extension of counselling support. [ - French -] We have activities focussing on practical research and educational opportunities. On February 28th, 2007, I announced the endorsed research activities put forward by certain parties. These activities included research, educational activities, and the provision of the infrastructure for future service and information resources for those affected by childhood sexual abuse. Returning to the specifics of today's announcement, in January, I approved a research agenda recommended by the Advisory Panel. This action-oriented agenda is posted on our website and proposals to do certain parts of the work were also posted. We did receive proposals in response to our posting and I asked my Advisory Panel to review these research proposals and make recommendations to me. I want to note that in this assessment work, Ms. Jan Handy, one of our Advisory Panel members, did not participate in any way as a non-profit organization with which she is associated, the Gatehouse, intended to respond to the Inquiry's request for proposals. In looking at Phase 2, we listened to what we were told in community meetings. People want activities they see as practical and likely to make a difference in the future. This is why you will see a focus on education and pragmatic activities and less on traditional academic research. I want to outline the Phase 2 research proposals approved by me. Our first approved project deals with apologies. We believe it important to have a thorough legal research of the legal and ethical implications of an apology, and we know it is a positive human impulse to want to both give and receive a sincere and heartfelt apology for a deep wrong done, but sometimes we are told that there are legal or other impediments. We want to understand what is a real barrier and what is not a real barrier. To do this work, Ms. Leslie MacLeod has been chosen. Ms. MacLeod is a lawyer, mediator, teacher at Osgoode Hall Law School, and a former Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Civil Law in Ontario. Our second approved project addresses a tough issue. It will look at those who have been abused as children and who unfortunately go on to abuse others. We know that most victims of abuse do not abuse others. Indeed, it is a myth that this is prevalent and this is often hurtful to survivors, but it does happen, and we may need better knowledge to deal with people who do abuse to prevent children from being victimized. One (1) of our expert witnesses, Detective Leaver, in talking of her work with the Circle of Support program of the Mennonite Central Committee, commented wisely about those who have abused. They are coming out into our community. They are our fathers, brothers, uncles, whatever, and unless we do something to reintegrate them safely, there will be more victims. That is why we are supporting a proposal from the Circle of Support and Accountability sponsored by the Anglican Church of St. John the Evangelist, Associate Professor, Michael Petrunick of the University of Ottawa, and the Men's Project. The proposal is to develop a possible model for victim/perpetrator services programming in Eastern Ontario. We are interested in the possibility of creating capacity in Cornwall for people who want to act as mentor to an adult who has a history of childhood sexual abuse. With the right training, we believe mentors can provide a unique support and augment the care of counselling, family and service networks. It can also be a positive experience to be a mentor; to give back; to reach out; to turn one's own life experience to the advantage of another. The Gatehouse has run a highly-regarded mentorship program for many years in Toronto with real success. I am pleased to say that mentorship training and support will be provided here in Cornwall. I say to the people ready to be mentors, think about this concrete way to help people in your community who have a history of childhood sexual abuse; to give the benefit of your experience and the Gatehouse training. To those who may want to be a mentor, think of the possibility of this added support for you. Another area of interest for us is education for health professionals, counsellors, and for members of the public. We have a broad curriculum ready to go provided by experienced external trainers. Priority for these training sessions will be given to those in the Cornwall area, although we may open the doors to those interested in travelling from other communities for this training. Geared for parents and members of the community generally, we will have a public education opportunity which we call at this point, "What you need to know about investigation of child sexual abuse". This will allow members of the public to understand what happens in investigations today, what you might expect if someone you know is affected. Knowing what to expect is a source of strength in a difficult situation, both for children and their family members. [ - French - ] Our Cornwall Public Inquiry training curriculum covers all this ground and is provided by qualified and experienced external providers. As the sessions are ready to go they will be posted online on our website and those with the relevant professional background can apply, with priority to Cornwall area residents. Events for the public will be first come-first served. The education provided on Phase 2 will be made available free-of-charge in Cornwall over the next year, enhancing existing skills and experience to the benefit of those needing help today and in the years to come. We are still working on many other areas of forward-looking initiatives in the Cornwall community as part of a broad effort to create an environment of healing. We continue to be open to Phase 2 ideas and in particular to talking about building a future of hope, trust and pride in Cornwall. The activities announced today are part of a larger effort. We will keep everyone up-to-date through period announcements and postings on the Inquiry website, and you only need to ask and speak to our Policy Director, Colleen Parrish, our Lead Counsel, Peter Engelmann, to get additional updates. Thank you.
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