important msg for our children's safety
the denzels
I am writing this letter in the hopes that it will help to get my
message across.
I lived in Richmond Hill for five years. I called the towns Park and
Recreation department to see about enrolling my son in a summer camp.
When I asked if they did background checks on the people working with
the children I was shocked and dismayed to hear that they did not.
I called the mayor of Richmond Hill and the Richmond Hill Liberal. The
mayor told me that she was not aware that this was the case but promised
to look into it. The paper wrote an article on the subject and within a
few days the town had implemented background checks.
I moved to Mount Albert last summer. I called the East Gwillimbury
Parks and Recreation department to find out about their spring break
program. My heart fell when they informed me that they do not do
background checks.
Once again I called the mayor and the local paper (the Era Banner). The
mayors office did not return my calls till after the paper began
researching the story. After their article was run I learned that the
town would start doing background checks on MOST of their people working
with kids. They said, however, that they could not do so with many of
their staff because they were under the age of 18 and the youthful
offenders act prohibited background checks.
What ever happened to common sense. I understand that the young
offenders act is to protect kids from ruining their lives due to
behaviour that they might not repeat when they mature. There are cases
of children molesting and even raping other children and sex offenders
often repeat their crimes over and over again.
Our children are our most valuable asset. They are the future of this
country. I value my son more than anything else in the world. I make
his safety my highest priority at all times, and would never put him in
the care of a child molester. The young offenders act makes it
impossible for me to feel secure about those looking after him.
I know that as I am writing this letter, children are being abused.
There must be an exception to the act which would allow employers to at
least find out that prospective employees (adult or youth) had never
been convicted of a sex crime.
The law is not just about punishing criminals it is also about
protecting society. Who needs that protection more than the innocent and
naive. Children (and parents) trust their government to protect them.
The young offenders act makes it impossible to take basic steps toward
safeguarding our children.
As one parent to another, I am asking for your support to help protect
our children. Could you sleep at night knowing that a baby sitter, camp
leader or lifeguard had abused your grandchildren? Please help.
We need to be able to stop these predators before they can hurt more
children. If implementing background checks on all people regardless of
age, race, religion or sex can save just one child from being abused,
then it has been worth the effort.
This needs to be implemented across Canada .
On behalf of all children,
Respectfully yours,
Kim Denzel
John Carrick
There is one thing missing in it, however: any evidence that
sexual interference with youngsters by municipal employees
is a common problem in this province.
It is only when you have demonstrated that such abuse is a genuine
problem, that your concerns will be justified.