Quilt Tells Abuse Victims' Stories, by Dave Battagello, Windsor Star, May 7, 2010

Quilt Tells Abuse Victims' Stories

By Dave Battagello
Windsor Star
May 7, 2010

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Quilt+tells+abuse+victims+stories/2997255/story.html

rene Williams says she draws strength from speaking out about the emotional devastation she endured as one of dozens of children sexually abused by Rev. Charles Sylvestre decades ago.

"Every time I speak it's a healing process for me," Williams said. "When I speak about what happened to me, it gives me my power back. It gives me strength and purpose to keep going."

The Sarnia woman was guest speaker Thursday for the unveiling at the downtown Windsor Public Library of a quilt developed by Williams and others that features "voices being heard through art" of more than 30 victims of Sylvestre -- identified as one of the worst pedophile priests in Canadian history.

Irene Williams, a sexual assault victim of Rev. Charles Sylvestre, spoke at the main branch of the Windsor Public Library Thursday. Williams and other victims of Sylvestre drew upon their experiences to make a quilt.
Photo by Scott Webster

The former priest was three months into his prison term in early 2007 when he died at the age of 84. He had pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting 47 girls between 1954 and 1986. His victims were between the ages of seven and 15 at the time of the abuse.

The eight foot by eight foot quilt created in 2007 features panels from victims with each selecting or donating something to express a theme.

"We asked each to donate something that meant something to them," Williams said. "There is a reason for each that they chose the theme they did. It's to bring awareness to the public. The ultimate goal is to save even one child from going through what we went through."

The quilt will be on display until the end of the month on the main floor of the library.

"It brings back memories of my abuse and friends' abuse," said Williams. "It brings back anger that it should have stopped with us in Sarnia.

"It was reported and investigated and then (the church) moved him. Next it was Montreal and then different parishes. The ultimate was Chatham -- and near the (Catholic school) for girls. They handed these girls on a plate to him."

Organizer Shannon Rizok Dumont, a board member for the Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, said the quilt draws attention to Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

"The point of bringing it down here was to bring awareness," she said. "With what's going on in the Catholic church it's still a hot topic. It's in line with the work that we do.

"Sexual assault will not be eradicated, so we need to have more awareness of victims so we don't have as many victims. People need to be aware we can do something about this. It can happen to anybody. It's a matter of being aware how it can happen and help yourself to get better educated (to prevent against more incidents)."

Williams wants the quilt to travel across the province with Queen's Park being the ultimate destination. Windsor is the third stop -- it was previously on display in Sarnia and Chatham for a couple of months each. There are hopes the next stop will be London, she said.

"People need to be educated to save their children and make them more aware how easily it happens," Williams said.