Organizers of October’s Child Abuse Prevention Month hope they are fuelling a conversation that leads to lasting abuse prevention efforts.
The Calgary Police Service and Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre collaborate yearly to promote events, which take place across the city. This includes wearing blue to show solidarity with children affected by abuse and how the public can help prevent abuse.
“Child Abuse Prevention Month is really letting people know that it has occurred or that it does occur,” said CPS child abuse unit Staff Sgt. Darren Smith in an interview.
“I used to work in domestic violence. After that, I worked in homicide and seemed to do mostly domestic or child homicides, and I love working and helping these kids,” added Smith.
Uncovering the statistics
Six in 10 Canadians experience child abuse, according to Luna, an organization that works to protect and help child abuse victims. In Alberta, the number is higher, with seven in 10 children being abused.
Luna — a Calgary-based child advocacy centre — helped 932 child abuse victims since the beginning of 2024, with 75 per cent of the cases relating to sexual abuse. Among the cases, 70 per cent are girls, 25 per cent are boys and 5 per cent are gender diverse.
“Younger children are more likely to experience abuse from people they know,” said Karen Orser, CEO of Luna, in a news release. “While older children experience more peer-based and technology-facilitated abuse.”
Orser says that children who experience child abuse often face serious consequences in the future. Child abuse victims are at risk of experiencing lifelong physical and mental health issues like addiction, depression, and chronic illness.”
Smith echoes this, saying stopping abuse early can change a child’s life.
He has also seen a connection in his 20-year career between children who are abused and end up committing crimes later in life.
“Children are our future. They will be the ones that will grow up and take care of all of us and will be the world leaders,” said Smith.
“We need to make sure that we take care of them. And when something does happen to them, because it does occur and it occurs unfortunately a lot, we [must] help build resilience so that they can continue to have fulfilling lives.”
Taking action
It’s important to know who to contact for help when you witness or experience child abuse.
If you see something, the police ask you to say something.
- Contact the Calgary Police Service via 9-1-1 for emergencies and 403-266-1234 for non-emergencies.
- Visit an Alberta Health Services medical centre
- Visit a Calgary Police Service office
- Contact Calgary Crime Stoppers– anonymously– through their website or at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Report online child abuse or child pornography through Cybertip.ca.