Chair of the Meeting: President Basil Dias

 

Anthem: Arthur

 

Toast to The King, Canada and Rotary: President Basil Dias

 

Attendance: 14 + 3 guests (Janet – Gil’s wife, Karen - Arthur Lockhart's wife, Connie – Rising Sun documentary) 

 

 

 

Avrum introduced today’s speaker, Arthur Lockhart, who gave a talk on The Gatehouse, its history and various aspects of the program.  Arthur’s various achievements include being awarded the Order of Ontario, Founder of Emeritus, Co-founder of the Global Poetry Movement, Co-founder of Survivors Council of Canada.

 

The Gatehouse began in 1997 with the conversation between two people sharing their voice about the traumas experienced with childhood sexual abuse.  That conversation sparked a community response that resulted in the reclaiming, and renovation of The Gatehouse situated on the grounds of Humber College Lakeshore campus.  The doors of The Gatehouse officially opened on June 19^th, 1998.  Since that day over 26,000 people have been impacted by the unique program offered by The Gatehouse.

 

Programs offers at The Gatehouse include:

The Gatehouse programs have been highlighted by organizations such as The World Health Organization(WHO), The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect(ISPCAN), Orange Shirt Day,Brave Movement International, best practices site designation by the Canadian Chiefs of Police association.

 

In Canada, 1 in 3 girls will have experienced some form of sexual abuse by age 16 and 1 in 5 boys up to the age of 16 will experience the same.

 

Less than 5% of sexual crime is reported to police due to fear and shame.

 

The Gatehouse is currently collaborating with the Ontario government to introduce Erin’s Law:”to amend the Education Act to ensure every board shall develop a policy to engage their pupils annually in all schools under their purview, in a developmentally appropriate manner, regarding the topics of child sexual abuse prevention and reporting, including age-appropriate techniques to recognize child sexual abuse and tell a trusted adult.”

 

The Gatehouse recently hosted community justice workers from Japan and Denmark to share the work that takes place here. The Gatehouse has been referenced by places such as Bolivia, Ghana, Nigeria, Scotland, Australia, Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany, United States; and across Canada.

 

The Gatehouse provides field placements for students from college, university, undergraduate, graduatse programs. To date over 800 students have had the opportunity to learn from the programs offered at The Gatehouse.

 

Al Meredith thanked Arthur for his presentation to the club.

 

 

 

Basil announced that on December 2^nd at 6:00pm everyone is invited to the multi-club district visit at Floga. There will be no lunch meeting that day.

 

Basil also announced that the district grant qualification seminar is on Saturday November 14^th and at least 2 members must attend for our club to qualify for grants.

 

The following are upcoming events as previously announced by Gordon:

 

 

There being no further business for the good of Rotary, Basil closed the meeting.