Notice Board

The Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA), presents a session discussing community's role in preventing child abuse.

It Takes a Community: Why community needs to take action on child abuse

Each year, the Government of Alberta acknowledges October as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Recently, the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre renovated space in downtown Lethbridge to accommodate the needs of the Chinook Child and Youth Advocacy Centre – a program that provides a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach in a safe, comfortable environment to address the needs of abused children, youth and their families. The talk will explore the prevalence of child sexual abuse, long standing implications of abuse when left unaddressed, and why it is important, as a community, to take action.

Speaker: Kristine Cassie

Kristine has worked in the human services sector for more than 39 years with substantial experience and advocacy efforts in the areas of youth empowerment, housing, domestic and sexual violence. Skilled at the development of programs, policy development, and risk management, Kristine has been instrumental in a number of community networks including: the Sexual Violence Action Committee; Domestic Violence Action Team; Southern Alberta Network of Children’s Services; Social Housing In Action; Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination; YWCA Canada Atlantic Expansion Project; YWCA Canada Integrating Committee; Miner’s Days Historical Association of Coalhurst; Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services; Provincial Child Advocacy Centre Network; and Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters. She is also a member of the Coaching Association of Canada Task Force on Gender Based Violence and Teen Dating Violence, which will conclude its work in the fall of 2023.

Kristine served one term as a board trustee at Palliser School Division and continues to serve on the Board of Governors at Lethbridge College. She is currently CEO of the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre. Kristine is a registered social worker, holds a master’s in leadership and is a certified community traumatologist.

Kristine is Métis and a lifelong Albertan, having been raised in Grande Prairie. She currently resides in Coalhurst. Together with her husband of 38 years, they have raised a wonderful young man, Gabriel, who now resides in Ottawa.

Date/time: Thursday, October 12, 2023 . Presentation begins at 12 & concludes at 1 p.m. 

Cost: Free, but donations are gratefully accepted

Location: Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) Dining Room, 500-11 Street S, Lethbridge, AB 

Lunch & Refreshments: The Atrium Dining Room will be available by 11:15 a.m. Please arrive early before the start of the Presentation to patronize the LSCO cafeteria and enjoy their excellent variety of good value food options.

For further information on the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs, visit the SACPA website.