Martin Kruze Memorial
Martin Kruze was the first male survivor of the Maple Leaf Gardens’ tragedy to step forward and acknowledge the need for awareness around the horrific issue of child abuse. After Martin’s death CCAA (Abuse Hurts) formed an alliance with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Shoppers Drug Mart and the Kruze family and founded the Martin Kruze Memorial Fund, which continues to be in operation today. Abuse Hurts managed the trust accounts for the Garden’s survivors until they ran out and continues to manage the therapy for the men.
Unfortunately, there are few services available to men with past abuse issues but Abuse Hurts operates Time for Men and the Help & Hope Project. Both are peer support programs offered at no cost to the men and facilitated by a qualified therapist.
In addition, Abuse Hurts acts as a referral centre for men, referring them to relevant and appropriate sources of assistance and has been working closely with the Ontario Provincial Police and other agencies, holding one-day conferences throughout Ontario, directed at front-line police officers, support services and survivors, and three-day conferences for survivors, their families, clinicians and support workers.