Chilliwack welcomes first child and youth advocacy centre downtown

CHILLIWACK — Kids and families in Chilliwack now have a gentler place to share their stories after surviving abuse.

The Child Youth and Advocacy Centre (CYAC), which opened September 18, offers a gentle ear to victims of child abuse and sexual assault.

“This is more than just a building—it represents safety, hope, and healing for young people in our community,” said Cpl. Carmen Kiener of the Chilliwack RCMP.

“This centre brings together dedicated professionals, working side by side with a single purpose: to put children first. The work that will be done here will change lives, break cycles, and help young people move forward with resilience and hope.”

Victims previously had to give statements at the local police detachment. In 2020, Chilliwack RCMP started working with partners to address the need for trauma-informed services catering to younger survivors.

“It can be intimidating for a child to walk into a police station, sit in a sterile interview room and talk about something traumatic they’ve experienced […] We hope this is a meaningful step toward breaking down barriers and ensuring every child feels heard and safe,” said Chilliwack RCMP Cpl. Tobi Araki.

There are two interview rooms available at the CYAC, mainly for children, but also for trauma victims who would rather not talk to police. The Centre also works with other agencies to ensure that survivors only have to recount their experiences once.

Source: Chilliwack RCMP / Provided

Chilliwack RCMP respond to an average of 180 child abuse and maltreatment allegations each year. In Canada, one in three children will have experienced some type of abuse by the time they turn 15 years old.

“We are incredibly proud to see this centre become a reality, but this is only the beginning,” added Cpl. Kiener. “[O]ver time, we hope to expand out services to continue to meet increasing demands. They say ‘if you build it they will come’, this is our hope.”

The Centre is located at 100-46187 Yale Rd, inside Chilliwack Community Services.