1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18.
This is Spencer’s Story
The Gatehouse is a safe place where survivors can share their story, find support and community. Through peer support, survivors experience safety for self and others in a group process for storytelling to occur and learn effective coping and grounding techniques to address stress, anxiety, nightmares, depression and isolation that occur because of childhood sexual abuse.
The Gatehouse is a unique community based charitable organization that provides supports, resources and advocacy on behalf of those impacted by childhood sexual abuse. It is the only community-based setting that provides services for children, youth and adults in one location. The Gatehouse offers adult peer support group programs. The Gatehouse is also a child friendly location where investigating police officers and child welfare personnel can interview children, youth and their families, during alleged child abuse investigations. The Gatehouse is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week for investigations. It has been designated by police services as a best practice site for conducting investigations related to childhood sexual abuse. The Gatehouse started its operations on June 20, 1998 and since then the Gatehouse has helped thousands including children, youth and adults who have experienced childhood sexual abuse.
In 2018, The Gatehouse was awarded the Attorney General’s Victim Services Awards of Distinction, which recognizes the exceptional achievements of dedicated professionals and volunteers in the field of victim services, as well as the important work of individual victims.
Thank you to all those who helped make this video possible including:
– Ryan Haacke (Film student, Cameraman/Director/Editor)
– Spencer Williams, sharing his story
– Asmaa Er-Rouhi (sound specialist)
– Ryan Paramanantham
– Cameron Donaghey
– Sid Ally (in the film/group scene)
– Hannah Barill (in the film)
– Paola Greco (in the film/group scene)
– Stephanie Astley (in the film/group scene)
– Tyler Bolzan ( in the film/group scene )
– Chanel Saggu (in the film/group scene)
– Danielle Hewitt
– Giulia Malvestuto
– Connor Charles
– Jaclyn Bartels
– Elise Laberge
– Nelia Abdullah