On Saturday, families are invited to the Winnipeg Millennium Library to attend ‘Strengthening Families Affected by Incarceration Day’,
The event is a workshop travelling across Canada to help support children affected by crime.
“The estimated 8,000 children in Winnipeg whose lives have been affected by crime within their family are dealing with loneliness, shame, anger, grief, community isolation and school bullying, which may affect their self-esteem, scholastic marks and interpersonal skills,” said a media release about the event.
“This is the first time the workshop is being held in Manitoba,” said Louise Leonardi, executive director of the Canadian Families and Corrections Network the group organizing the event in partnership with the Winnipeg Millennium Library and Sesame Street.
Leonardi said the event was first organized in 2015 and has taken place in seven cities before coming to Manitoba.
"Imagine your father gets taken away or your mom gets taken away in a cop car one night and the next day, you're expected to write a science test. This is very challenging, yet they're supposed to do that," said Leonardi, who travelled from Southern Ontario to host the event.
Leonardi said when a parent is taken into custody, other financial and emotional problems can catch up with a child. She hopes to one day see a support group for struggling kids.
Children will have the chance to meet Sesame Street friends, read stories in Big Bird’s reading corner, and eat cookies at the Cookie Monster table.
Two books dealing with the topic of incarceration will also be distributed, including Jeffrey goes to Jail, and Sesame Street’s Little Children Big Challenges – Incarceration.
Organizers hope the materials and activities help reduce stigma, raise awareness and decrease intergenerational crime.
Children affected by crime and children who have not been affected by crime were invited to the library Saturday.
Ann Muswagon lost close relatives to violence and has seen close relatives go to jail.
"It kind of tears up the family and the little kids don't understand," Muswagon said. “The kids are innocent. There's no fault on that.”
Muswagon brought two children in her family to the event.
Winnipeg police said when a person is taken into custody, there is a ripple effect in the community.
“Were they a caregiver with the family? Were they a breadwinner? What type of stability did they bring to that family unit or to that neighbourghood?,” said Insp. Gord Friesen with the community support division.
Ann Muswagon wants to give the next generation every opportunity to succeed.
"It was nice to see other families out here and people enjoying each other's company. I feel like we’re not the only family suffering,” she said.
