News1130 Series: Courage to Come Back Awards
Posted April 18, 2011 9:37 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Sexual abuse robbed her of her childhood, leaving memories that would haunt her into middle age. We’re continuing our series on the 2011 Courage to Come Back Award winners with the story of Victoria Waters.
The 53-year-old, nominated in the Social Adversity category, was raised by relatives after her mother passed away.
An aunt and uncle sexually abused her and the rest of the family tried to keep it quiet. But one day Waters decided to fight back.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s South Asian culture, black, red, green, brown… it doesn’t make any difference. Someone should have a voice and someone should say something. So, I took it upon myself that the only way I’d heal is if I got strong, so I just decided that, ‘Okay, I’m going to take this on.’ So I sued them.”
Even though her relatives have yet to pay a cent of the judgment Waters feels she is stronger for the experience. “It’s a hurdle. But everyday is a hurdle when you don’t talk about it. It’s worse.”
She urges others who are abused to speak up. “Don’t do it for other people. You know, no-one else is really important except you. You have to live this life.”
News1130 is a proud sponsor of the awards which are being handed out May 12th.
