Stand Up for
Kids Award recognizes local residents who take action
against child abuse
TORONTO, Oct. 2 /CNW/ - Sculptor
and psychotherapist Michael Irving, Ph.D., was recognized
today for his significant contribution to protecting
children and youth from abuse and neglect. The fifth
annual Stand Up for Kids Award, sponsored by the
Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto, Children's
Aid Society of Toronto and Jewish Family and Child
Service, was presented to Dr. Irving today by Toronto
Mayor David Miller as part of Child Abuse Prevention
Month.
Dr. Irving created the Child Abuse
Survivor Monument, which when completed, will consist
of two massive bronze figures adorned with a sculptural
quilt of survivors' hand prints. The monument will
be 30 feet wide by 11 feet tall, making it one of
the largest bronze sculptures and social action
arts projects in Canadian history. A total of 190
survivors of child abuse and their supporters have
worked on the sculptural quilt, each making a square
sculpted with images and words.
"This monument honours the spirit
and courage of participating survivors, and empowers
all child abuse survivors to speak out," said
Mary Juric, Director of Service, Catholic Children's
Aid Society of Toronto. "It is our hope that
this monument will create awareness about the dangers
of child abuse and the necessity of on-going prevention."
Over 5,000 Canadians, including such
notables as the Honourable Ken Dryden, and former
NHL player Lanny McDonald, have already participated
in the project through the Helping Hands for Child
Abuse Campaign. The campaign asks participants to
send in an outline of their hand and a personal
message about child abuse that will be permanently
placed inside the hollow centre of the finished
monument.
A noted sculptor for more than 30
years, Dr. Irving conceived the Child Abuse Survivor
Monument 17 years ago and has collaborated with
hundreds of survivors, clinicians, artists, donors,
and volunteers to carry out the
project.
"As a community, we all have
a responsibility to use our voices to help stop
child abuse," said Mayor David Miller. "Our
children are our future, so it's important to recognize
those who have the strength to stand up and make
a difference in the lives of our community's most
vulnerable children. I challenge and encourage all
Torontonians to act - and to help stop the cycle
of silence by giving these children a voice."
The Stand Up for Kids Award ceremony
was followed by the second annual Use Your Voice
challenge, where media personalities and the public
were enlisted to use their voices to prevent child
abuse. The participants shouted slogans about preventing
child abuse and were judged on their volume level
by M.J. DeSouza, Vice President & Chief Audiologist,
ListenUP! Canada.
Over the past year alone, the Catholic
Children's Aid Society of Toronto, Children's Aid
Society of Toronto and Jewish Family and Child Service
have investigated more than 4,709 cases of suspected
child abuse, and provided care for more than 19,707
area children. The Stand Up for Kids Award was presented
at the Eaton Centre's Trinity Square, and generously
sponsored by Sears. The event marks the Toronto
launch of Child Abuse Prevention month.
