Securing Our Community... Strengthening Our Commitment 35TH ANNUAL CRIME PREVENTION GUIDE CHI LD ABUSE AWARENESS
1 www.rnca.ca
2 www.rnca.ca Proud to support The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Canadian Tire Gander 132 Bennette Dr., Gander, NL (709) 256-4813
3 www.rnca.ca Thank you to the residents and businesses of Newfoundland and Labrador for supporting our 35th Annual RNCAssociation Crime Prevention Guide! Over the past 35 years, the generous support from citizens and businesses in our community has helped us to deliver valuable public safety information to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. This year’s community guide focuses on “Child Abuse Awareness”. We are proud to support the Kids Help Phone with a portion of the proceeds from our community guide. The Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 national support service which offers professional counselling, information and referrals, and volunteer-led text-based support to young people – in both English and French. Kids Help Phone assists young people through challenges or experiences they might face; including abuse and mistreatment. We hope that you find value in the information contained within this community guide and use it as a safety resource to discuss with your loved ones. On behalf of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Executive Board and its membership, thank you again for your support! Sincerely, Mike Summers President RNC Association “Supporting our Community…Strengthening our Commitment” PRESIDENT’S m e s s a g e
4 www.rnca.ca
5 www.rnca.ca 35th Annual Community Guide CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS RNCA Messages Child Abuse Awareness Message from the Premier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Message from the RNCA President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 RNCA Executive Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Publisher’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 RNCA supports Kids Help Phone of Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 What is Child Abuse? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Physical Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Child Discipline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Sexual Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Emotional Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Neglect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 When A Parent Abducts Their Child . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Signs Of Child Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 What Should I Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 12 Child Rights Everyone Should Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Effects Of Child Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 What Is Duty to Report? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Family Violence Quiz & Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 How To Identify A Safe Adult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 10 Places To Go If You Don’t Feel Safe At Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 The 3 R’s of Child Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Dealing With Family Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Safety Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 How to Help a Child Experiencing Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 RNCA News & Photo Album Detective Sgt. Thomas Fraize Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 William Moss Softball Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Law Enforcement Torch Run - 2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 In The Community - Labrador Detachment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Atlantic Women in Law Enforcement 2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 In The Community - St. John’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 In The Community - Corner Brook Detachment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Need Help But Don’t KnowWhere To Start? Contact ‘211’ . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
6 www.rnca.ca 87 WATER STREET P.O. BOX 5787 ST. JOHN’S, NL A1C 5X3 (709) 726-1680 HARVEY’S HOME HEATING Web:harveyshomeheating.com
7 www.rnca.ca EXECUTIVE BOARD “Supporting our Community…Strengthening our Commitment” Child Abuse Awareness Staff Sergeant Mike Summers President Cst. Michael Hunt 1st Vice President Cst. Shane McClafferty 2nd Vice President Cst. Eric Learning Treasurer Sgt. Scott Harris Secretary Sgt. Jeremy Babstock Director, NCO Cst. Michael Shea Director, Support Services Cst. Colin Rowe Director, Labrador Cst. Andrew Smith Director, Corner Brook Cst. Chris Smith Director, CID Cst. Vanessa Babstock Director, Platoon A Cst. Jake Sharpe Director, Platoon B Cst. Michael Hoddinott Director, Platoon C Cst. Michael Burton Director, Platoon D
8 www.rnca.ca Robert E. Cannon P. O. Box 429, Bishop’s Falls, NL A0H 1C0 709-258-6662 709-293-3538 (Cell) Gum, Candy, Capsule Vending Machines 11 Cartwright Plaza Grand Falls-Windsor, NL A2A 1L7 (709) 489-5566 Proud to support the RNCA A-1289 Kenmount Rd., Paradise, NL A1L 0V8 (709) 237-8373 www.cdnrg.com Proud to support The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Proud to support The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association
9 www.rnca.ca On behalf of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each and every advertiser and sponsor of our Annual Telephone Appeal, allowing this unique publication to be distributed throughout the community, to schools, libraries and public facilities and also available online at www.rnca.ca, making it easily accessible to everyone. The RNCA publishes an Annual Crime Prevention Guide to educate the public on important community concerns. This 35th Annual Crime Prevention Handbook focuses on Child Abuse Awareness and designed to help educate and promote the public’s role in identifying and reporting potential Child Abuse. A serious concern for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians! This publication is made possible as a result of financial support from residents and business representatives throughout the province. With their generous support for the activities of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association, the RNCA is also able to give back to their communities through donations to various local charities and programs for youth, including a special donation this year to Kids Help Phone. We welcome comments or suggestions regarding these publications and always look forward to speaking with you each year during our Annual Telephone Appeal. Respectfully, Mark T. Fenety President Fenety Marketing Services PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE “Providing quality, professional marketing and fundraising services on behalf of high-profile, non-profit organizations.” WWW.FENETY.COM
10 www.rnca.ca Aboriginal Cleaners 11 Loring Drive Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL A0P 1C0 Shawn Burden Owner/Operator Phone: (709) 893-3503 Fax: (709)896-2764 53 King Street Grand Falls - Windsor, NL A2B 1H3 (709) 489-7777
11 www.rnca.ca Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, multilingual and confidential support to help all young people Feel Out Loud. Proceeds from our 35h Annual Crime Prevention Guide on Child Abuse Awareness have allowed the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association to make a donation to Kids Help Phone of Canada. RNCA donates to Kids Help Phone Kids Help Phone has a history of creating innovative supports for critical issues young people face. We began in 1989 as a unique telephone counselling service, launched to provide free, accessible support to any young person connecting with us from coast to coast to coast. Our focus was supporting young people experiencing abuse, but almost immediately, young people let us know they needed more from the service than one focus and one way to contact us. For over 36 years, we’ve evolved our response and offerings. We concentrate on staying relevant to youth, recognizing the complexity of issues they face, and we help to ensure our professional counsellors and volunteer crisis responders are ready to address young people’s continuum of emotional and mental health needs, from crisis situations to the everyday concerns of growing up. Because no challenge is too big, and no feeling is too small. 2026 marks the launch of Kids Help Phone Foundation — a national youth mental health foundation. KHP Foundation inspires generosity and raises funds across Canada to deliver on KHP’s promise to youth. KHP Foundation helps ensure every supporter’s contribution gives more young people’s feelings a place to go wherever they are — from coast to coast to coast. Donors to KHP Foundation unlock the hope young people need to thrive in their world by scaling access to support, advancing equity and accelerating innovation.
12 www.rnca.ca COMPLETE Auto Glass Fast Friendly Service 18A MEWS PLACE (709) 631-2632 ST. JOHN’S Owners Calvin & Joan Tuttle
13 www.rnca.ca What is Child Abuse? continued Designed by Freepik wrapped his fingers tighter around his granddaughter's small hand as they entered the old medical centre. It took courage to make this appointment, but Jack knew they needed the social worker's help. Little Ella and her brother had come to stay with her grandparents for a few weeks over the summer. They had all looked forward to the special visit, thinking it would be great for the kids to have lots of room to run and play. But the two children seemed distant and mostly played their computer games. Ella's frequent nightmares quickly became a concern. Every loud noise seemed to make the little girl jump. Jack had set about earning Ella's trust, bit by bit. When the vacation had come to an end, she had hid in the closet and refused to leave. Through Ella's tears, Jack had learned that her parents were always fighting. Her father often pushed her mother and she in turn often threw things at him. There was lots of yelling. Ella thought it was all her fault and that if she went back something bad would happen. Jack's heart ached at the thought of his daughter and his grandchildren enduring this kind of life. He didn't like the idea of interfering, but he knew the children's safety and well-being had to come first. He hoped it wasn't too late for some counselling to help. Maybe his daughter and her husband could still turn things around and make a better home for the kids. Jack
14 www.rnca.ca SHAWN DOWLING Profit Center Manager 18 Bruce Street Mount Pearl, NL A1N 4R4 sdowling@emcoltd.com www.emcowaterworks.com P: (709) 747-2626 F: (709) 747-2623 TF: (800) 563-9667
15 www.rnca.ca What is Child Abuse? continued Child abuse includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse. It also includes neglect, and any violence that children see or hear in their families. The person who abuses the child can be: • a parent • a brother or sister • another relative • a caregiver • a guardian • a teacher, or • another professional or volunteer who works with children (for example, a doctor or coach). Abuse may take place in a child's home, or it may happen in other places, like other people's homes, schools, community centres or places of worship. Sometimes the child's parents lived abuse as a child, such as in the residential schools many Indigenous peoples were forced to attend. Abuse that someone lived as a child, whether it happened in their home or outside of it, may change the way they parent their own children as abuse is often a learned behaviour. This booklet deals with child abuse in the family. In Canada, there are federal, provincial and territorial laws to protect children from abuse. Some types of abuse are crimes and are listed in the Criminal Code,* which is a federal law. Federal laws are laws that apply across Canada. Even if the abuse is not a crime under the Criminal Code, provincial and territorial laws could be used to stop the abuse. Child abuse can cause long-term health problems. www.justice.gc.ca Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. Every child deserves protection from abuse.
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17 www.rnca.ca continued Physical Abuse Designed by Freepik sat alone in the hospital coffee shop. He needed some time alone to calm his nerves. He had just made the call to Child Protection Services. He couldn’t believe he had taken this step. But his son Jason was waiting for an X-ray upstairs in the children’s section of the hospital to see if his armwas broken. And the doctor was clearly worried about how Jason had gotten his injuries. She had asked a lot of questions about the bruises on Jason’s wrists and face. Jason wouldn’t say much about what had happened at his mother’s place, except that his stepfather had locked him in his room for a long time. The boy’s new stepfather didn’t seem to like the boy very much. Rick felt his stomach clench. He knew that there was a lot at stake here. Rick's ex-wife, Cathy, had mostly ignored her son Jason the first few years after the divorce. When she had finally started to take Jason for the weekends after she re-married, it had seemed like a new start for all of them. However, before long, Jason had stopped wanting to go over to his mother’s. Rick had thought it was just part of adjusting to the new family situation. He had felt sure that Cathy would never let any harm come to their son. Now that Rick knew that Cathy’s husband was abusing Jason, he knew he needed to protect his son. Also, there were other children living in that home. They must have witnessed the violence—they must be afraid that this could happen to them too. Everyone deserves a chance to get some help. Rick
18 www.rnca.ca 40 Alexander Gilbert St. PO Box 78, Come By Chance, NL A0B 1N0 (709) 701-0192 Proud to support The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association
19 www.rnca.ca Physical Abuse continued What does it look like? Physical abuse is the intentional use of force against a child. It can cause physical pain, injury, or injury that may last a lifetime. This type of abuse includes: • pushing or shoving • hitting, slapping or kicking • strangling or choking • pinching or punching • biting • burning • throwing an object at a child, and • excessive or violent shaking. All of these acts are crimes in Canada. What can I do? Every province and territory has a law that says that any person who believes a child is being abused must report it. You will not get in trouble for making the report if you have reason to believe a child is being abused, even if it turns out you were wrong. If you know a child who is being physically abused, call your local police. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. If you have harmed your child, or think you might harm your child, get help. Here are some things you can do: • In an emergency, call 9-1-1. • Call your local child protection services. • Talk to a social worker, counselor or teacher. • Call the police (RNC or RCMP). • Please refer to pages 83 - 85 at the back of this guide for more resources. www.justice.gc.ca Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada.
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21 www.rnca.ca Child Discipline Designed by Freepik quietly wept over the sink, just staring at the afternoon dishes. Her hands were still shaking. She couldn't believe how close she had just come to total disaster. She had only asked Kaila to pick up her toys! But when Kaila had thrown them all down the stairs, Lori had spun out of control. She was just so tired of the toddler's tantrums. Lori knows Kaila is still young, but why can't she learn to pick up things like her friends already do? It was seeing the cell phone in pieces among the broken toys that had made her start yelling. Where were they going to get the money to replace that? In an instant, she had slapped Kaila really hard. And the next thing she knew, Kaila had lost her balance at the top of the stairs. What was she thinking when she did that? Was she crazy? If Lori hadn't grabbed her, Kaila would have fallen all the way down, just like her dolls. Lori began to sob. She loved Kaila, but everything seemed so hard these days with Roy out of work. She always feels like she's failing, especially when it comes to Kaila. She's got to stop doing things like this before something really bad happens. Kaila could have been seriously hurt! And she supposed that hitting Kaila like that could be considered an assault. Maybe she could check the Internet to find a parenting class or support group: there must be others like her going through this. Lori continued
22 www.rnca.ca Stagg & Templeman PO Box 309, 16 Second Avenue, Wabush, NL A0R 1B0 Phone: 709-282-3553 Fax: 709-282-5553 Email: mike.stagg@timbrmart.ca Mike Stagg Owner/Operator David Bradshaw, B.Comm Managing Director JMJ Holdings Ltd. Building Futures Office (709) 726-7250 Mobile (709) 687-4869 Fax (709) 726-7263 Email dave@jmjholdings.ca 1243 Kenmount Road, Suite 202, Paradise, NL A1L 0V8 425 Topsail Rd., St. John’s, NL A1E 5N7 (709) 754-5323 weirsconstruction.com (709) 368-4081
23 www.rnca.ca Child Discipline continued What does it look like? All children need their parents to teach them how to behave. Children need time to learn what they should and should not do. They learn to behave by: • watching their parents and other people • getting clear instructions, and • being praised and encouraged for their efforts. The right kind of discipline teaches children responsibility, self-control, and right from wrong. It raises the child's self-esteem, encourages the child to do better and strengthens the parent-child bond. Parents should never discipline children until the children are old enough to understand it. Babies never need discipline. Why doesn't spanking work? Experts say that spanking is not an effective form of discipline. Spanking can make children angry and resentful. It can cause them to lose trust in their parents. It teaches children that hitting others is okay. In the long run, spanking can make children's behaviour worse. Spanking doesn't work - for you or your child. What does work? What does work is to build your child's confidence and problem-solving skills. It is important to figure out the reasons for your child's behaviour. When you understand the reason for your child's behaviour, it may be easier to handle the situation without losing your temper. Ways to help your child behave well: • Create a loving and respectful home. • Be a good role model. • Focus on prevention. • Decide what is truly important and have a few clear and consistent rules. • Tell your child what you expect. • Praise your child's efforts, even if they're not perfect. • Respect your child's need to express their emotions. • Listen to your child's thoughts, ideas and concerns. • Watch your child closely so you can redirect behaviour before it gets worse. • Make sure that you both get enough sleep. • Make sure that you both eat nutritious food regularly and exercise. • Last but not least, try to have fun with your child. continued
24 www.rnca.ca 74 O’Leary Ave., St. John’s NL 709.747.9000 westernpetroleum.ca Stefan Pike Executive General Manager (T) 709.579.1999 1.800.667.9900 (F) 709.579.1170 spike@steeleauto.com jonathan’spondcampground.ca St. John’s, NL (709) 722-8993 www.waypointsnl.ca
25 www.rnca.ca Child Discipline continued The law on assault in the Criminal Code The Criminal Code outlines most crimes in Canada. It says that assaulting someone or threatening to assault someone is a crime. Touching someone without their consent can be an assault, even if it doesn't harm them. Under the law, assault can include: • slapping • punching • pinching • kicking • confining • restraining, or • unwanted touching. However, not every action where one person hits another person is assault. And not every threat of contact is assault. People may give their consent to contact. For example, hockey players may body check each other without it being a crime. This is because they have given their consent to physical contact within the rules of the sport. Also, section 43 of the Criminal Code can give parents and caregivers a defence to a charge of assault in limited cases if they use reasonable force. Section 43 of the Criminal Code says that parents and caregivers who use reasonable force to correct a child's behaviour may not be found guilty of assault. But section 43 is not a defence for every use of force against a child. Parents or caregivers may only use reasonable force to correct or protect the child. For example, a parent may use reasonable force to put a child in their room for a time out or to pull a child away from traffic. A person who has physically or sexually abused a child cannot use section 43 as a defence. The Supreme Court of Canada decision In 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada looked at section 43. The Court decided that a parent or guardian who uses force to correct a child can only use it in the following ways: • The person may only use force to correct a child if it will help the child learn. The person can never use force in anger. • The child must be between two-years old and twelve-years old. (This means that section 43 is not a defence if the child is younger than two or older than twelve). • The person can only use reasonable force and its impact can only be "transitory and trifling." (This means that the force causes little or no pain, and does not leave marks on the child). • The person must not use an object, such as a ruler or belt, to apply the force. • The person must not hit or slap the child's face or head. • The seriousness of what happened or what the child did is not relevant to how much force is used in discipline.
26 www.rnca.ca (709) 454-8394 reservations@grenfellheritagehotel.ca www.grenfellheritagehotel.ca RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION & SALES SINCE 1972 P.O. BOX 14125, CONCEPTION BAY SOUTH, NL A13 3J1 (709) 764-5856 www.dannyspawprints.com Humber Ford is a Proud Sponsor of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Port Aux Basques • Forteau 709 695 2712 709 931 2048 www.HumberFord.com 45 Confederation Drive Corner Brook, NL A2H 0A6 1-888-445-5555 Corner Brook • Stephenville 709 634 4371 709 643 8500 Torbay, NL A1K 1K7 (709) 437-6066
27 www.rnca.ca It may be acceptable for a person to use reasonable force to restrain a child in some circumstances. For example, you may need to hold your child down to put them in a car seat. It is not considered reasonable for you to hit a child in anger or to get back at the child for something the child did. It is against the law to hit a child in anger. The use of force when managing children's behaviour There are times when you may have to use force to control a child and keep the child, or other children, safe. For example, you may need to touch or restrain a child to keep the child from running across the street. Or you may need to carry a screaming three-year-old out of a store. Without section 43, parents and caregivers could face criminal charges and might have to go to court to defend their actions whenever they use force to respond to a child's behaviour. If you are angry, however, finnd some way to cool down before you manage your child's behaviour. Provincial and territorial child protection laws Even if the way you discipline your child is not a crime, it could still be abuse. The provinces and territories also have laws to protect children from abuse. These laws allow the provincial or territorial government to step in when a child needs to be protected from abuse or neglect. In Newfoundland and Labrador, if you suspect a child (under 16) or youth (16-17) is being abused or neglected, you are legally required to report it. Call the 24/7 toll-free child protection line at 1-833-552-2368. For immediate, life-threatening danger, call 911 or local police (RNC or RCMP). Reports can be made confidentially or anonymously. www.justice.gc.ca Child Discipline continued Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada.
28 www.rnca.ca The Town of Grand FallsWindsor is pleased to support the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association in its campaign on “Child Abuse Awareness”. Celebrating over 45 years providing in-home nursing care and household support. A helping hand every once in awhile or 24/7 assistance. It’s care+ all the extra things we do that make a difference. Get to know us. Shopper’s Choice Pharmacy Ltd. 237 West Street, St. Anthony Tyler Parrill Pharmacist/Owner P.O. Box 459, St. Anthony, NL A0K 4S0 Phone: (709) 454-4444 Fax: (709) 454-4966 Toll Free: 1-800-991-9391 Midgard Gaming 7 Commonwealth Ave., Mount Pearl, NL A1N 1W3 (709) 745-5052 Carmanville Taxi Carmanville, NL (709) 534-8776
29 www.rnca.ca Sexual Abuse continued Designed by Freepik watched the kids climb the play structure in the late autumn sunshine. It was good to see Michael laughing again and joining in the games. Her heart went out to him. The last year had been so difficult. When he had first come to her pre-school daycare, she had thought of Michael as shy and quiet. However, after a while, she had started to wonder if something was going on. Little remarks he had made suggested he knew more about sex than most kids his age. When some of the children had told her that Michael was touching their private parts, she had started to worry. But when Michael also complained that it hurt to go to the bathroom, she had quickly put two and two together. Kate had known right away that she had a duty to report the situation, even if she was worried about where it might all lead. What would it mean for Michael? And for his family? Even for her business? In the end, the authorities had discovered Michael's uncle had sexually abused both Michael and his older brother. The investigation was hard for the family and for everyone involved. But the children were safe now and receiving counselling. She feels a lot of hope for Michael. She believes that he will learn to feel good about himself again and build a new sense of trust. Kate
30 www.rnca.ca Tulk’s Glass & Key Shop Ltd 142 Pennywell Road St. John’s, NL A1C 2L4 Tel: (709) 726-0462 www.tulksglassandkeyshop.com lisatulk@nf.aibn.com Supporting charities in Newfoundland and Labrador for over 45 years MELISSA GEORGE Parts Manager PHONE: 709.466.6490 FAX: 709.466.6499 EMAIL: melissa.omb@live.com 7 Blackmore Avenue Clarenville, NL A5A 1B8 2-4 West End Industrial Park, Pasadena, NL A0L 1K0 (T) (709) 686-2185 (F) (709) 686-2540
31 www.rnca.ca Sexual Abuse continued What does it look like? All sexual contact with anyone without consent is a crime called sexual assault. This includes sexual touching. The Criminal Code contains many offences that protect children from sexual abuse, which happens when a person takes advantage of a child for sexual purposes. It does not always involve physical contact with a child. For example, it could happen when an adult invites a child to touch herself or himself sexually or attempts to lure a child over the Internet for sexual purposes. Sexual contact between an adult and a child under 16 is a crime. In Canada, the general age of consent to sexual activity is 16 years, but there are some exceptions if the other person is close in age to the child. For more information on the age of consent and teenage relationships, visit the Department of Justice links found in "Who Can Help?" at the back of this booklet. The age of consent is 18 years in some circumstances, for example, where the sexual activity takes place in a relationship of trust, dependency or authority or where the relationship is exploitative of the child. A person of authority or trust could be a parent, step-parent, grandparent, older sibling, teacher or coach. What can I do? If you know a child who is being sexually abused, report it to the police immediately. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. Teach your children about personal safety and how they can stay safe. Every province and territory has a law that says that any person who believes a child is being abused must report it. You will not get in trouble for making the report if you have reason to believe a child is being abused, even if it turns out you were wrong. If you have questions about how to recognize child sexual abuse, here are some things you can do: • Call your local child protection services. • Talk to a nurse, social worker, doctor or teacher. It’s your duty to report child abuse and neglect. 1-833-552-2368 www.justice.gc.ca Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada.
32 www.rnca.ca (709) 576-7464 www.pw-law.ca 10 Herald Ave., Corner Brook, NL A2H 4B4 (709) 634-5628 Proud to Support the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association for all their efforts in keeping our communities safe. Phone: (709) 639-3220 Fax: (709) 639-3230 Toll free: 1-866-339-3220 www.napaonlinecanada.com Avalon Towing Service 30 St. Annes Cres., Paradise, NL A1L 1K1 (709) 576-4130 33 O’Leary Ave., St. John’s, NL A1B 2C8 dharris@carguysnl.ca 579-4227 Fax 579-4272 • Professional Auto Cleaning & Detailing • Carpet Shampooing • Scratch Removal • Overspray Removal • Handwashing • Waxing • Rustproofing
33 www.rnca.ca continued knew she had to speak to her sister, Irene, again. She could see that Irene's son Patrick was always on edge. His father, Sean, showed little interest in Patrick, except to criticize him. When it came to Patrick, the words "stupid" and "weakling" slid easily off Sean's tongue. Nothing Patrick could do would meet his father's standards. His school grades weren't high enough, his hockey game was poor, and his friends were lazy. On the other hand, their older son, Ryan, received nothing but praise. Nora wondered why her sister went along with this. Maybe Irene was too busy trying to meet her husband's expectations herself to see what was going on with her son. Patrick was either invisible or a problem. No wonder he was still wetting the bed! Nora had spoken to Irene, but her sister had quickly changed the subject. "It's not that serious," she had said. "Patrick needs to be tougher." Nora wondered how she could find the right words to break through to Irene. She had picked up some pamphlets about child abuse at the community centre. Perhaps she could use them to start a conversation about their own father's harsh behaviour. Maybe if Irene could remember the pain of that old abuse, she could find the strength to get some help for herself and for Patrick. Emotional Abuse Designed by Freepik Nora
34 www.rnca.ca The Carpenters Union is proud to support the RNCA’s Annual Crime Prevention Guide, focusing on “Child Abuse”
35 www.rnca.ca Emotional Abuse continued Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. What does it look like? Emotional abuse happens when a person uses words or actions to control, frighten, isolate, or take away a child's self-respect and sense of worth. Emotional abuse is sometimes called psychological abuse. It can include: • putting a child down or humiliating a child •constantly criticizing a child •constantly yelling at a child •threatening to harm a child or others • keeping a child from seeing their family or friends without good reason, or •threatening to move a child out of their home. Emotional abuse is serious. Inner wounds can take a long time to heal. Some forms of emotional abuse are crimes in Canada, including: • threatening to harm a child • threatening to harm another person • threatening to destroy the child's personal property • threatening to hurt the child's pet • harassing the child on the telephone • deliberately intimidating a child, and • advising a child to commit suicide. Other forms of emotional abuse are not crimes, but they are still very serious. The provinces and territories also have laws that protect children from emotional abuse. These laws protect children even if the type of abuse is not a crime. Children who see or hear family violence Children can also suffer emotional abuse from seeing or hearing violence between other family members. Even if they don't see or hear the violence, they can be affected by seeing the results of the violence. It can be very hard for children to see or hear family violence even if they are not being physically hurt themselves. They will probably feel scared and insecure. www.justice.gc.ca
36 www.rnca.ca 16 Lintrose Place, Donovan’s Industrial Park Mount Pearl, NL A1N 5K2 Tel: 709-368-4300 Fax: 709-368-4301 info@cwoffshore.ca www.cwoffshore.ca 19 Gate House Road, Deer Lake, NL A8A 1L4 (709) 635-3393 curtispowerworks.ca • Assurance • Tax • Advisory Suite 202 120 Stavanger Drive St. John’s, NL A1A 5E8 Phone: (709) 726-8324 Fax: (709) 726-4525 www.harrisryan.com Chartered Professional Accountants Supplying ice, Discharging and other Services to the Fishing Industry Box 1099 Goulds, NL A1S 1H2 Bus: (709) 576-2249 Cell: (709) 682-6434 Res: (709) 745-7054 Fax: (709) 745-8054 Fermeuse: (709) 687-8818 - Eric Gerard Fennelly “Proud to support the RNCA”
37 www.rnca.ca continued Neglect shivered as she removed her winter coat and wrapped it around little Olivia. She turned the car heater to high as she helped the seven-year-old into her car and called 9 1 1 on her cell phone. Nikhita had stayed into the evening at the school to mark exams. It had been snowing for hours when she came out, so she was shocked to find her young student huddled beside her car in the parking lot. The girl's hair and sweater were glistening with snow. Her voice was barely a whisper when she told Nikhita that no one was at home and her house was locked. No, she didn't know where her parents were. Olivia had only been at the school for a month, but Nikhita had already expressed her concern about the girl to the principal. She looked tired all the time and rarely brought a lunch to school. Now that it was winter, it was clear that she didn't have a winter coat or winter boots. The other kids had sensed Olivia was unprotected and taken to teasing her. Nikhita knew the principal had tried calling the girl's parents, but hadn't got through. Clearly, the time had come for stronger measures. It would be up to the police to figure out what was going on at home. This kind of neglect was too much. Olivia and her family needed help. Nikhita put her arm around the little girl to keep them both warm as they waited for the ambulance to arrive. Designed by Freepik Nikhita
38 www.rnca.ca 238 Memorial Drive Clarenville, NL A0E 1J0 (709) 466-2622 Marc Cooper Law Office “Your Real Estate Law Firm” • Real Estate • Financing • Wills & Estates • Personal Injury • Corporate & Commercial Fishing Enterprises Free Consultations • No Fees Until You Collect On All Personal injury Matters Free Vault Storage For All Wills 2 Locations To Serve You Better South Dildo Office 709-582-4500 Cooper Building - 75 Main Road South Dildo, NL Fax 709-582-4501 Carbonear Office 709-596-4500 19 Columbus Dr., Carbonear, NL Fax 709-596-4501 www.marccooperlaw.ca 41-43 Confederation Dr., Corner Brook NL 709-634-8881 HOME OF ALL YOUR HONDA NEEDS: NEW, USED, PARTS & SERVICE Proud to support The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association
39 www.rnca.ca Neglect continued Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. What does it look like? Neglect happens when a parent or guardian fails to meet a child's basic needs. Sometimes parents neglect their children on purpose. Sometimes parents don't mean to neglect their children, but they have so many problems themselves that they can't look after their children properly. Neglect can include: • not giving a child proper food or warm clothing • not providing a child with a safe and warm place to live • not making sure a child washes regularly • not providing enough health care or medicine • not paying any attention to a child's emotional needs • not preventing physical harm, and • not making sure a child is supervised properly. Sometimes, neglect can hurt just as much as physical abuse. Some forms of neglect are crimes in Canada. For example, failing to provide the necessaries of life and child abandonment are crimes. The provinces and territories also have laws to protect children from neglect. These laws protect children even if the type of abuse is not a crime. www.justice.gc.ca You’re not the only one who suspects it. But it’s your duty to report child abuse and neglect. 1-833-552-2368 Designed by Freepik
40 www.rnca.ca ST. JOHN’S FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 1075 ARE VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT THE RNCA
41 www.rnca.ca When A Parent AbductsTheir Child Most abducted children are taken by someone the child knows. The person who takes them is most often a parent. Parental child abduction happens when one parent takes a child without either the legal right or the permission of the other parent. Parental child abduction is a crime in Canada. An exception may apply when a parent takes the child to protect them from immediate harm. What to do if you are afraid the other parent may abduct your child: • Contact a lawyer. • Contact your local police. • Keep records of all important information about your child and store it in a safe place. • Keep a copy of your parenting or custody order* or agreement with you. • Ask your local passport office to add your child's name to the Passport Control List. If your children are citizens of another country, contact that embassy or consulate to ask them to refuse passports for your children. • Talk to your child about using the phone and explain how your parenting or custody order or agreement works if you are separated or divorced. • If it is safe to do so, try to maintain good relations with the other parent and any extended family. • Keep photos, recordings or other proof of the family violence. If your child is abducted: • Contact your local police immediately. • If you are out of the country, make sure to report the disappearance to the federal government's Consular Services at 613-996-8885. You may call collect, where available. • If you are inside Canada and you think your child is outside Canada, call the federal government's Consular Services at 1-800-387-3124 (TTY 613-944-1310 or 1-800-394-3472) or go to https://travel.gc.ca/. • Contact a child search organization in your province or territory and register your child as missing www.justice.gc.ca Designed by Freepik
42 www.rnca.ca www.bdiexpress.com 11th Floor, 139 Water Street, PO Box 337, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada A1C 5J9 Telephone: (709) 772-5181 Facsimile: (709) 722-7521 e-mail: curtisdawe@curtisdawe.com website: www.curtisdawe.com portofargentia.ca 98 Broadway, Corner Brook, NL (709) 639-7774
43 www.rnca.ca Signs Of Child Abuse The Warning Signs of Child Abuse November 30, 2023 Did you know that two-third of Canadian adults report experiencing some form of child abuse before the age of 15? Every child deserves to be protected from all forms of violence and to grow up in a safe and nurturing home. Sadly, children and youth often face abuse at hands of close family members and other adults in their lives – the same people who are supposed to protect them. In previous years, children had faced an increased risk of child abuse due to COVID-19 restrictions: School closures have kept kids away from safeguards against abuse, and increased screen time has left young people vulnerable to online predators. Whether you’re a teacher, doctor or neighbour, we all interact with children in various ways. It’s important to understand the warning signs of abuse, as a child may not want to disclose this information. Identifying child abuse is not as simple as finding bruises or marks on a child’s body. Abuse can also be emotional, sexual, or due to neglect. Child abuse can take different forms, affecting a child’s physical or emotional health and well-being. Before identifying the warning signs of child abuse, it’s important to understand the various forms. Take a look at the main ones below. Physical abuse Physical abuse relates to putting a child in harm’s way. It can be a deliberate attempt to harm a child through excessive physical punishments. While abusive parents insist that their actions are simply forms of discipline, there is a difference between discipline and abuse. Discipline is about educating a child rather than instilling fear. Once an adult passes that line, a child may be under physical abuse. Children who experience physical abuse often deal with unpredictability in their lives due to their abusers’ temperament or mood swings. This can make some children feel like they are constantly walking on eggshells, causing them to remain cautious around adults. Based on their experience, they don’t know what kind of behaviour will trigger a physical assault. continued Designed by Freepik
44 www.rnca.ca P.O. Box 783, Spaniard’s Bay, NL A0A 3X0 Tel: 786-4004 786-3996 Fax: 786-4357 Used cars and body work C&N AUTOBODY LIMITED Pearl R. Lee, CPA, CA Chartered Professional Accountant Comptable Professionnelle Agréée Bruno Plaza Labrador City, NL A2V 2J8 plee@pearlrlee.ca Tel: (709) 944-7744 Res: (709) 944-5512 Fax: (709) 944-3431 eraven.ca 13 Atlantic Dr., Paradise, NL A1L 0S5 (709) 763-1701 aplusdriversnl.com The Royal Canadian Legion St. John’s Branch #1 57-59 Blackmarsh Rd. St. John’s NL A1E 1S6 (709) 579-8281 fullsteamtransportandrecovery.ca
45 www.rnca.ca Signs Of Child Abuse continued Sexual abuse Sexual abuse is another form of child maltreatment that deeply affects the physical and mental well-being of children. This form of abuse occurs when an adult – or even a teenager or older child – touches a child’s private parts or makes a child touch another person in a sexual way. However, this type of child abuse does not always involve body contact. Examples of non-touching sexual abuse include manipulating and forcing a child to pose for sexual photos or coercing a child to watch sexual acts. Sextortion is blackmail. It’s when someone online threatens to send a sexual image or video of you to other people if you don’t pay them or provide more sexual content. Online luring is when a person (typically an adult but not always) communicates with youth through technology, like texting, direct messaging, or chatting in an app/game/website, to make it easier to commit a specific sexual offence against them. This form of abuse causes a great deal of shame, confusion and guilt for children and youth. As a result, young people find it difficult to seek help. They fear that others may not believe their story or somehow blame them. Children may also fear splitting the family apart. Neglect Child neglect is the most common type of abuse, but it can be difficult to spot. This type of child abuse refers to failing to provide for a child’s basic needs. This includes affection, food, shelter, education, supervision or medical care. There are various reasons why a parent may be physically or mentally available to care for their child. For example, it could be due to a severe injury or illness, or even untreated anxiety or depression. Other times, drug or alcohol abuse may cloud a parent’s judgment to provide for their child and keep them safe. Emotional abuse Emotional abuse is a form of injuring a child’s emotional well-being. Painful words can seriously damage a child’s social development and mental health. Constant belittling or shaming can also cause a child’s confidence to drop. Frequent yelling, threatening or silent treatments as punishments are other examples of abuse. Limiting affection is also a form of emotional abuse, as the lack of love and care can change the social and mental development of a child. Warning Signs of Child Abuse Knowing the warning signs of child abuse will help you protect the child’s rights. A child may feel guilty or ashamed to tell the truth to somebody else. It may also be difficult to speak since the abuser may be their parent, relative, or family friend. The child may become increasingly secretive, especially regarding their time and activities spent online. Look through these warning signs of child abuse to reduce risks and possible outcomes for the child. Physical Abuse Physical abuse may be hard to identify since playing and other normal activities can lead to injuries. Be on the watch for unexplained injuries, such as burns, bruises, black eyes or broken bones. Forced to cover their injuries, children may wear inappropriate clothes to hide them. Wearing long-sleeved shirts on very hot days is an example. They may also flinch at sudden touches or movements.
46 www.rnca.ca Bus: (709) 722-1932 Fax: (709) 722-1933 email: krose@starliteelectric.com website: www.starliteelectricltd.com 100 Brookfiled Road, Unit “C” St. John’s NL A1E 3T9 17 Duffy Place Suite 200, St. John’s, NL A1B 4M7 • kwnewfoundland.com A proud supporter of the RNCA and their work in our communities. Kenny’s Auto Body Used Parts for Cars &Trucks 297 Bay Bulls Rd Killebride St. John’s, NL A1G 1B9 (709) 368-5107 “Over 60 Years of Service” kennysautoparts@bellaliant.net AFFILIATED WITH AFL-CIO-CFL INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF BOILERMAKERS, IRON SHIP BUILDERS, BLACKSMITHS, FORGERS AND HELPERS LOCAL 203 International Brotherhood of Boilermakers www.lbmcoc.ca Thank you to all R.N.C. Staff for their community support and efforts
47 www.rnca.ca Another sign is when a child seems afraid of their parent or protests to head back home. You should also observe the parent or adult caregiver. Do they lack a reasonable explanation or appear uncaring or insensitive to the child’s injury? It’s best to ask both the child and parent about the injury to check if their stories conflict. Sexual Abuse This kind of trauma can change a child’s behaviour in ways that point to warning signs of sexual abuse. This includes acting out, withdrawn behaviour, substance abuse, harming themselves, and referring to sexual themes during playtime. Have you seen a child with an unusual or premature understanding of sex? A child who has undergone sexual abuse will likely show sexual behaviour or knowledge. Sexual abuse may cause a child or youth to either be more promiscuous or cautious about touching. If a child has trouble sitting or walking around due to pain around their private parts, this is something that should be addressed. Be concerned if they suddenly don’t want to join the physical activities they usually love to do. Neglect When a child exhibits poor behaviour or consistently has bad hygiene, this could be a sign of neglect. Lack of clothing and meals is also a sign of neglect and goes against a child’s rights. If a child shares that there is no care at home, this is not something to take lightly. Emotional Maltreatment Children may show extremes in behaviour if they’ve experienced emotional maltreatment. Emotional abuse also causes children to be more cautious or fearful when doing certain actions. The child may either act too much like an adult or inappropriately childish. If you notice that a child does not seem to have a reasonable connection to their parent, caregiver or another adult in their life, they may be experiencing emotional abuse. Notice child abuse before it’s too late Always put children first when you find signs of abuse. If a child discloses an abusive situation to you, or if you suspect they may be a victim of child abuse, get the authorities involved. There is an obligation / legal duty to report suspected abuse. If the danger is imminent, call 9-1-1 immediately. For more resources on how to report suspected cases of child abuse, please refer to pages 83 - 85 at the back of this guide. If you know a young person who needs to talk to someone for support, they can all Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868. Let’s work together to keep kids safe! For more information about online sexual exploitation of children and to report it, go to: https://www.cybertip.ca/en/. childrenfirstcanada.org/ Signs Of Child Abuse continued
48 www.rnca.ca TERRY WHEY President BUS: (709) 896-5000 FAX: (709) 896-5191 P.O. BOX 1011, STATION C GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR A0P 1C0 EST. 1992 Ph: (709) 229-6464 Toll Free: 1-888-229-6468 Website: www.oecollege.ca Offering: Heavy Equipment Operator 22-Week Program Mobile Crane Operator 25-Week Program Box 389, Holyrood, NL Fax: (709) 229-6469 Email: oec@oecollege.ca 96 West St., Corner Brook, NL A2H 2Z3 (709) 639-3081 86-88 Broadway Corner Brook, NL A2H 6G7 Tel 709-634-5603 Toll Free 1-800-563-8500 customerservice@natsafety.com www.natsafety.com For All Your Safety - Workwear Needs Wabush, NL 709-282-5403 Sussex, NB 506-432-5960 Ormac@ormac.ca www.ormac.ca
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