Documentary Film, Swift Current, to Play an Integral Role in the Work of the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre

CALGARY, ALBERTA and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 5, 2015) - The Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre is transforming how current systems respond to child abuse and is pioneering efforts to educate our community about the impacts of abuse. With up to 20 per cent of girls and 11 per cent of boys in Alberta experiencing abuse during childhood, this issue warrants public awareness and the attention of those who can impact change.

On Friday, November 6, a powerful documentary, Swift Current, will debut at the Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival in Toronto, Ont. The film, directed by Joshua Rofé, tells the narrative of Sheldon Kennedy and his gut-wrenching story of sexual abuse at the hands of his former hockey coach, Graham James, the sexual predator whose behaviour was ignored through two Western League coaching stints and one in Europe. The film also profiles two young people whose experiences lead them to connect with Sheldon and his message.

"The goal of this film is to offer hope and a solution to an issue that is affecting our most vulnerable population," said Sheldon Kennedy. "Through this film, and through the work of the Child Advocacy Centre, it is my hope that people will be able to understand the impacts of child abuse and work together to support those who have been traumatized by abuse."

The documentary will be used by the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre as a tool to teach front-line service providers, policy-makers and organizational leaders across disciplines about child abuse and trauma, the impact on brain development and how this information advances integrated practice to support healing and recovery.

"Swift Current provides an opportunity to bring a solution-focused conversation about child abuse to the national level," said Debra Mauro, Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre, Board Co-Chair. "Our goal at the Centre, is to develop an integrated model that provides the best service to children impacted by abuse, and this film will play a vital role in the training and development of the professionals supporting the children, youth and families."

The Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre brings together people and organizations who are making a profound difference in how the issue of child abuse is discussed; setting new standards for leading practice; supporting children, youth and families impacted by abuse; and rallying people and communities to prevent abuse and trauma.

For additional information about the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre, please visit sheldonkennedycac.ca.

About the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre

The Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre is setting a new standard for how current systems respond to the issue of child abuse, and to abused children and their families in Calgary and surrounding communities. By bringing together more than 105 professionals, as well as government and corporate and community champions, we are able to address Southern Alberta's most severe and complex cases of child physical and sexual abuse. Since the Centre opened its doors in April 2013 to July 31, 2015, we have assessed 3,455 infants, children and youth - 123 per month.