Jamie Marsolais
Jamie Marsolais was sexually abused by ex priest and former Canada Manpower employee Richard Hickerson and by Hickerson’s friend, James Lewis.
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Jamie Marsolais Affidavit for Standing and Funding at the Cornwall Public Inquiry
IN THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE EVENTS
SURROUNDING THE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OF YOUNG
PEOPLE IN CORNWALL, ONTARIO
AND
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR STANDING AND
FUNDING FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE ABUSE
AFFIDAVIT OF JAMIE MARSOLAIS
I, JAMIE MARSOLAIS, of the City of Cornwall, in the United County of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, in the Province of Ontario, MAKE OATH AND SAY AS FOLLOWS:
1. I am one of the group of victims (hereinafter referred to as “Victims Group”) who was sexually abused in the Cornwall area.
2. In 1981, at the age of nine, I was sexually abused by Richard Hickerson. This abuse continued for three years.
3. The Victims Group seeks standing at this Inquiry to ensure that the perspective of the Victims Group is brought before the Inquiry.
4. As a victim of sexual abuse, my perspective includes the following:
a. The judicial system failed the victims. Richard Hickerson was not prosecuted before he committed suicide. The system, in not prosecuting Richard Hickerson for the abuses he committed, failed in deterring other sexual criminals.
b. Richard Hickerson did not have to face the consequences of his actions. He was not held accountable for the crimes he committed. This showed a complete lack of regard for the victims of abuse and the struggles that they will face for the rest of their lives.
c. The support and counselling that I have received to help me deal with the effects of the abuse have been inadequate. Had I received earlier intervention, my life would have been vastly different. I would have felt more able to cope with my emotional trauma.
Impact of the Abuse
5. As a result of the abuse, I could not concentrate in school and dropped out at sixteen years of age.
6. I developed behavioural problems as I struggled to cope with my guilt and shame. I experimented with drugs and alcohol at the age of sixteen.
7. The abuse has left me emotionally traumatized and I have had periods where I have been unable to work. I have had to rely on social assistance to get by.
8. Chronic alcoholism and chronic depression with overwhelming feelings of despair has resulted in thoughts of suicide.
9. My relationships with my spouse and children have been seriously affected by the abuse. I have difficulty trusting people.
10. I have a great distrust for authority figures since they have failed to respond to my allegations of abuse. Failings of the Institutional Response
11. I verily believe that the city leaders of Cornwall have failed to take the necessary steps to remove this dark cloud that is hanging over the city.
12. I believe that further details of my first hand experience as a victim dealing with the Cornwall police and justice system, which is the focus of Part I of this Inquiry, would be beneficial information for the Inquiry. I believe that my experiences and those of other victims must be canvassed by the Inquiry in order for it to fulfill its mandate.
13. My detailed experiences dealing with the police and justice institutions could be obtained by my testimony or the provision of a summary of my experiences. The provision of either would be most effective if counsel were provided to me as it would be to other victims.
Clinical Support
14. Currently, I am receiving limited psychological help in dealing with the abuse that I endured at the hands of Richard Hickerson.
15. I am currently not satisfied with the level of support that I am receiving. I, like many other victims, have limited medical coverage to seek the support that we so desperately need.
16. I verily believe that I will continue to require psychological support and counselling to help me deal with the emotional trauma I have suffered as a result of the abuse.
Standing
17. As a first hand victim of sexual abuse, I verily believe that it is crucial that my perspective be brought before the Inquiry. Therefore, I have a direct interest in the outcome of this Inquiry and, as part of the Victims Group, have a substantial interest in ensuring the objectives of this Inquiry are met.
18. I further understand that I have the potential for a civil action or application for criminal injuries compensation and that those legal rights may be impacted by my participation within the Inquiry. Accordingly, I believe that I need access to legal counsel, as do other victims like me, in order to fairly participate without detrimental impact upon my civil and administrative remedies.
19. Having personally experienced the depths of the impact of sexual abuse and the related institutional failings, I, like other victims have the greatest motivation to see the system corrected and improved.
20. I strongly believe that there is no greater advocate for systematic improvement of the treatment, handling, and prosecution of sexual abuse cases than the victims themselves.
Funding
21. One of the devastating effects of my sexual abuse has been my inability to maintain gainful employment. I have been clinically diagnosed with depression. For the past three months I have been employed and earn a monthly income of $2,200.00. This is my only source of income. Therefore, in order to participate and be adequately represented at the Cornwall Inquiry I require that Ledroit Beckett, as my counsel of choice, receive funding to represent my interests without which I would otherwise be unable to participate in the Inquiry.
SWORN BEFORE ME at the City of Cornwall,
in the United County of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry,
this I8 day of October, 2005
A Commissioner, etc Jamie Marsolais