STATEMENT: Canadian Centre applauds City of Winnipeg for taking lead role to enhance child protection in facilities

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection (Canadian Centre) is thrilled to see the City of Winnipeg take proactive steps to create protective environments for children. Today, with the roll out of the first phase of a new child protection initiative in City aquatic centres, the City of Winnipeg becomes the first jurisdiction in Canada with an increased focus on preventing child sexual victimization in public facilities.

Through the operation of Cybertip.ca – Canada’s national tipline for reporting the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children – the Canadian Centre intersects on a daily basis with the reality that as technology evolves; new tactics continue to emerge for the purpose of sexually exploiting children.

With support from the Canadian Centre, the City of Winnipeg’s Community Services Department has been developing a multi-phased plan, with the first phase focused on enhancing aquatic protocols and procedures and tailored Commit to Kids training for front-line staff.

We look forward to supporting the City of Winnipeg as they move through the next phases of this important initiative.