Hello out there in blog-land.
Well if you don't already know, you're probably wondering what this is all about. On April 5, 2010 the news broke about a pardon being granted to convicted Sex Offender Graham James back in 2007 without public knowledge. If you don't know who that is, well he was a former Junior hockey coach in Manitoba, WHL coach for the Swift Current Broncos back in the 1980's & early 90's and coached the Calgary Hitmen WHL team during their opening year. In 1996/1997 he was charged and convicted of Sexual Offences, after Sheldon Kennedy (former Boston Bruin & Calgary Flame) as well as another unknown player came forward. However he was sentanced to 3-1/2 years in prison but was released and received a pardon and now coaches hockey to young boys once again. So now that you're up to speed I'll tell you what we're all about.
My best friend Amy heard the news, and like many Canadians felt immediate disgust, rage and disbelief at this news. She decided she had to "do something" and started a facebook group called "Convicted Sex Offenders should NOT get pardoned". ( http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116081668405491 )
Well, let me tell you that little spitfire of a woman is very determined when she wants to be, especially when kids are involved. And within that one day she had 400 people, local news caught interest, and it has been growing since! As of this moment there is now 2,736 members. The even better part is that in an effort to truly make a change in the system for which these creeps are issued pardons, she went to the MLA, and the MP, and with perseverance and determination a formal petition was created. Now our MP Blake Richards is on board, and when we have all the signed petitions we can, he is going to collect them, and take them to Ottawa. Straight up those parliament steps, onward in hopes of justice.
That's right, this is not one of those fly by night, I'm angry at this but I'll get over it kind of group on facebook, no no... this is legit. There are people from all over this beautiful country of ours wanting to sign it, get signatures and help any way they can. Why you might ask? Because they care! Some are survivors, some are parents of child survivors, some are friends, and some are there because it's a worthy cause, but they are all willing to help fight this war.
So I guess now you're up to speed. The petition is on the MP's website if anyone wants to help out (when you get all the signatures you can, it's free postage to the MP). ( http://www.blakerichards.ca/ )
I don't know how far we will get, but I know that Amy is hell bent on getting this accomplished and I have every faith she can do it. I don't know how many people will help us, or how many will sign the petition, but I do know that the people who matter and the people who care will do whatever they can.
So I'll leave you with this thought...
If you knew that one day a child/person you cared about would be Sexually abused/assaulted by a daycare provider, school teacher, sports coach, church personnel, scout leader, neighbor, friend or relative, would you have helped prevent it if you could?
Because you CAN!
Well if you don't already know, you're probably wondering what this is all about. On April 5, 2010 the news broke about a pardon being granted to convicted Sex Offender Graham James back in 2007 without public knowledge. If you don't know who that is, well he was a former Junior hockey coach in Manitoba, WHL coach for the Swift Current Broncos back in the 1980's & early 90's and coached the Calgary Hitmen WHL team during their opening year. In 1996/1997 he was charged and convicted of Sexual Offences, after Sheldon Kennedy (former Boston Bruin & Calgary Flame) as well as another unknown player came forward. However he was sentanced to 3-1/2 years in prison but was released and received a pardon and now coaches hockey to young boys once again. So now that you're up to speed I'll tell you what we're all about.
My best friend Amy heard the news, and like many Canadians felt immediate disgust, rage and disbelief at this news. She decided she had to "do something" and started a facebook group called "Convicted Sex Offenders should NOT get pardoned". ( http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116081668405491 )
Well, let me tell you that little spitfire of a woman is very determined when she wants to be, especially when kids are involved. And within that one day she had 400 people, local news caught interest, and it has been growing since! As of this moment there is now 2,736 members. The even better part is that in an effort to truly make a change in the system for which these creeps are issued pardons, she went to the MLA, and the MP, and with perseverance and determination a formal petition was created. Now our MP Blake Richards is on board, and when we have all the signed petitions we can, he is going to collect them, and take them to Ottawa. Straight up those parliament steps, onward in hopes of justice.
That's right, this is not one of those fly by night, I'm angry at this but I'll get over it kind of group on facebook, no no... this is legit. There are people from all over this beautiful country of ours wanting to sign it, get signatures and help any way they can. Why you might ask? Because they care! Some are survivors, some are parents of child survivors, some are friends, and some are there because it's a worthy cause, but they are all willing to help fight this war.
So I guess now you're up to speed. The petition is on the MP's website if anyone wants to help out (when you get all the signatures you can, it's free postage to the MP). ( http://www.blakerichards.ca/ )
I don't know how far we will get, but I know that Amy is hell bent on getting this accomplished and I have every faith she can do it. I don't know how many people will help us, or how many will sign the petition, but I do know that the people who matter and the people who care will do whatever they can.
So I'll leave you with this thought...
If you knew that one day a child/person you cared about would be Sexually abused/assaulted by a daycare provider, school teacher, sports coach, church personnel, scout leader, neighbor, friend or relative, would you have helped prevent it if you could?
Because you CAN!
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