Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre Names Centre of Excellence After Sheldon Kennedy

Sept 15, 2023, 3:30 ET

RED DEER, ALBERTA – SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 – On September 15th, Sheldon Kennedy, former NHL player and CEO of Respect Group, joined with the board and staff of the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) and other dignitaries to announce the new Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence in Red Deer, Alberta.

In addition to being the cornerstone of our work at Respect Group, co-founder Sheldon Kennedy has forever been a strong and passionate advocate for youth. His vision has always been to support ALL youth Child Advocacy Centres locally, nationally and beyond. With strong data, teaching and integrated learning opportunities, this one-of-a-kind Child Advocacy Centre will continue to teach and lead the way in building capacity in our communities.

“This honor bestowed to me strongly supports my vision to help ALL youth Child Advocacy Centres not only in Alberta, but throughout Canada and beyond. I am so proud to be part of this journey with the Centre of Excellence and feel incredibly honored that this one-of-a-kind facility will bear my name”, says Kennedy.

“Among those who were instrumental in creating the Centre of Excellence, none stand out more than Sheldon Kennedy,” said Mark Jones, CEO of the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre. “His vision for what Central Alberta – and indeed all of Canada – needs is exactly what we have built the Centre of Excellence on. Without Sheldon’s bravery and vision, the Centre of Excellence would not be what it is.”

The new Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence sits on the main campus of Red Deer Polytechnic in Red Deer, Alberta, and is slated to open in late October. The strategic placement of the structure allows for all the partners within the building to work in a fully integrated way to serve their respective clients. It also allows for research and integrated learning opportunities for students and faculty at Red Deer Polytechnic. Other Partners in the Centre include the CACAC, the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre, RCMP Child Forensic Interviewers, and Alberta Health Services: Red Deer Child and Youth Addiction and Mental Health Outpatient Clinic; Move your Mood Studio; and the Step Up Step Down live-in youth mental health program.

About Respect Group:

Respect Group, a headversity company, was incorporated in 2004 by co-founders, Sheldon Kennedy and Wayne McNeil, to pursue their common passion: the prevention of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD). As Canada’s leading online provider of prevention education related to BAHD, Respect Group has certified over 2.2 Million people involved in sport, schools and the workplace. Respect Group is a Certified B Corporation (bcorporation.net).