June 27, 2024 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Department of Justice Canada
This news release discusses matters that may cause distress. If you or someone you know needs support, we encourage you to seek help. Resources are available at canada.ca/mental-health.
Child sexual abuse is a heinous crime that has a profound impact on victims, survivors, their families, communities and society as a whole. By working with partners to provide specialized services to victims, we better understand their needs and contribute to their healing.
Today, the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, along with Ben Carr, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, announced $624,450 in funding to the Heartwood Healing Centre to enhance services for victims of childhood sexual abuse in Winnipeg.
This funding supports the continuation and enhancement of Heartwood Healing Center’s “Connect & Thrive” program. This project provides alternative services for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, such as peer support and mentoring, as well as culturally appropriate activities, such as healing circles for participants indigenous people, and trains staff to better meet the needs of indigenous peoples. These improvements are based on knowledge acquired during a four-year pilot project supported by the Department of Justice Canada.
The Department will support this project to the tune of $624,450 over three fiscal years (2024-2027) through the Victim Assistance Fund. Justice Canada has already provided funding of $457,130 over four fiscal years (2020-2024) for the development and testing of the program, bringing the total funding to $1,081,580.
The Victims Fund provides funding to support projects and activities that develop new approaches, facilitate access to justice, improve the capacity of service providers, support the establishment of networks of referral or inform victims of crime and their families about the services offered.
Heartwood Healing Center is a non-profit organization that facilitates the healing journey for those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse and helps society better understand this type of trauma. It is the only organization in Manitoba whose mission is exclusively dedicated to supporting youth and adults (16 years and older) who have experienced childhood sexual abuse.
