Child Witness Centre Update
Today the club welcomed guest speaker Ryan Dufton from the Child Witness Centre. Ryan has proudly served on the Development Team at Child Witness Centre since July 2021. The major focus of his role is on helping to raise funds and awareness for local young victims of abuse and crime, and their families. He considers himself very fortunate to be part of making a real and lasting difference in our community, while using his strengths and experience in marketing, communications, and fundraising events. In his personal life, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family and friends, long-distance running, and being active in his church.
Ryan began his presentation with thanks to this club specifically, as well as other Rotary clubs. Rotary Cambridge Sunrise has donated $15,500 since 2015. Today Ryan share the positive difference those funds are making.
The problem we’re addressing is that, 1 in 3 girls, and 1 in 5 boys, will experience unwanted sexual act before age 18. That equates to 45,000 young people in our area. The police charge 11 adults per week directly harming a child in our area. Last year, served over 1,100 local youth.
Every week, 12 new clients (young people) seek support at the Child Witness Centre (CWC). Without CWC, victims would have to walk alone through the justice system. Without support, there are multiple downstream issues, including but not limited to mental health concerns, homelessness, addiction etc. However, with support, statistics show the positive trajectory and stronger futures for these young victims.
Child Witness Centre has been around since 1981. Founded in Kitchener by Judy Harding, you can read the full history here.
CWC core value: every child who has experienced hurt, harm, mistreatment, deserves support though the justice system & process. They deserve someone to walk with them and their caregivers. The entire process can take 2-3 years from investigation and court actions. Services are provided to victims & families are free of charge, to avoid barriers.
Primarily accessed through police referrals, along with referrals a number of agencies such as Family & Children Services, Women’s Crisis Services, Camino, etc.
CWC prides itself on being a safe landing space. Victims come in anxious, stress and in a tough place, they come to a safe and welcoming place. They provide education, setting expectations of process, testify preparation, facility dog named Monet! This accredited facility dog has been at CWC since 2020. She is a game changer. She provides an added sense of comfort and decreases anxiety in the young victims. In fact, the program is going so well, CWC is pursuing a second facility dog. Other similar agencies are pursuing the facility dog program. Monet is the first facility dog to be allowed in court in Waterloo region. In terms of difference, often kids are so upset they don’t feel able to testify. If they can’t, justice can’t move forward. If Monet is with them, they’re often able to testify.
70-80% of CWC's funds are raised in the community. In late 2022, with the high demand of their services, they had to start a wait list for the first time. Like many other charities, CWC is struggling now to provide adequate services. CWC has launched a major campaign to try and overcome the wait list (last year alone 201 kids were waitlisted). Costs averages out to $1000 per young person to support them from start to finish.
Upcoming Fundraiser
Major campaign: Child Victim’s Can’t Wait. Aim is to raise $2.5M over 5 years to meet needs in our community. If any group would like to support this work, CWC is looking for donors and volunteers.
Child Witness Centre Events
- Pancake Lunch. This year will be 27th annual pancake lunch held on Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Hundreds of attendees gather at St. George Banquet Hall in Waterloo. Sponsors are needed!
- Youth Symposium. 2025 will be the 18th annual Youth Symposium, which welcomes thousands of Grade 8 students over 3 days. The focus is on inspiring and equipping students to be positive, choose good friends, healthy dating, boundaries and mental health.
Donations Welcome!
You can make a financial donation directly on the website. Volunteering, beyond events, volunteer with administrative needs, handy people to fix / maintenance/ yard work, etc. lots of ways to help. Would love to stay connected. Childwitness.com
