‘It’s kind of a miracle’: Candace House opens

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This article was published 27/11/2018 (2551 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DESIGNED as a safe haven for victims of crime, Candace House will open its doors to the public today.

The space at 183 Kennedy St. had its grand opening ceremony Monday, in memory of 13-year-old Candace Derksen, who went missing on her way home from school on Nov. 30, 1984, and was found dead about six weeks later.

Candace House is the brainchild of her parents, Wilma and Cliff Derksen, who wanted to create a comforting space for families of homicide victims to debrief.

Renovations of the former commercial property less than a block away from Winnipeg’s downtown courthouse cost about $280,000, a large part of that total coming from private donations.

Manitoba Justice Minister Cliff Cullen, speaking at Monday’s ceremony, said the provincial government will continue to support victims of crime.

“Certainly, for the families who have lost a loved one, we know how challenging it can be to work through the criminal justice system, and certainly, we as a government recognize the role that we should be playing in terms of trying to help people through that system, help navigate that system. We are certainly committed to victims services across Manitoba and we will do what we can to provide assistance for victims,” Cullen said.

“Thank you to the Derksens for your foresight in this, and congratulations.”

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said he was “humbled” to meet people such as the Derksens “that have the strength of many on their shoulders.”

“The love that you’ve shown to other families, many of whom you have not met and maybe never will meet, who will benefit from this space — it’s absolutely incredible. It makes me really proud to be a Winnipegger. It makes me proud to be a Manitoban and a Canadian,” Bowman said.

Wilma Derksen said she was especially emotional Monday, as she celebrated Candace House’s opening, knowing the 34th anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance is just days away.

“It’s kind of a miracle when I think of how it all came to be. It’s just a recognition of Candace, of family and the journey,” Wilma said. “And I have to admit that there’s a real… grief.

“There’s a real grief that this wasn’t here when we were going through it, and it wasn’t here for all those (other) people.”

katie.may@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @thatkatiemay