Kennedy is known for going public as a victim of sexual abuse by his coach, Graham James. In 1998, Kennedy roller bladed across Canada to raise awareness and funds for sexual abuse victims. Currently, Kennedy is a spokesperson for violence and abuse prevention programs with the Canadian Red Cross. He was honoured by Hockey Canada in 2020, with the Order of Hockey in Canada.
Kennedy was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the fourth round (80th overall) of the 1988 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft.[2] His first professional season was split between the Red Wings in the NHL and their minor league affiliate Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League (AHL).[1] At the NHL level, Kennedy scored two goals and added seven assists in 20 games.[1][2] Kennedy spent the next four seasons bouncing between the AHL and NHL within the Red Wings organization.[1] The Winnipeg Jets acquired Kennedy from the Red Wings after the 1993–94 season. The NHL lock-out meant that Kennedy did not play for the Jets before being picked up waiver draft by the Calgary Flames. Kennedy spent two seasons in Calgary, then the Flames decided not to renew his contract in 1996, shortly after his sexual abuse revelation. He signed as a free agent with the Boston Bruins for the 1996–97 season but also spent time with the Providence Bruins, Boston's AHL affiliate. The 1996–97 season was Kennedy's last campaign in the NHL but he later resurfaced in the 1998–99 season with the Manitoba Moose of the now-defunct International Hockey League. Kennedy also played for EV Landshut of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany during the 1998–99 season.[4]
Child advocacy
Kennedy has devoted his post hockey career to child abuse prevention and education. Along with his business partner, Wayne McNeil, he owns and operates Respect Group Inc. which provides training to thousands of people with messages and tools of empowerment to help people involved in amateur sport and education systems prevent bullying, harassment, and abuse.[5]
On June 15, 2012, Kennedy was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Fraser Valley for his work supporting victims of child abuse and promoting education and awareness of the topic. On June 8, 2015, Kennedy was awarded with an Honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, from the University of Calgary for his extraordinary commitment to violence and abuse prevention programs in Canada.[6]
On April 13, 2013, the Calgary Child Advocacy Centre was renamed the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre at a ceremony hosted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The centre provides services to children and their families using a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach.[7] The Centre houses 95 professionals from Calgary Police Services, Alberta Health Services, Child and Family Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Alberta Education and crown prosecutors who work together to assess, treat, and seek justice for physically and sexually abused children.[8] Sheldon Kennedy is a board member.[9]
Kennedy was named as a Member of the Order of Canada on December 26, 2014, for “his courageous leadership in raising awareness of childhood sexual abuse and his continued efforts to prevent abuse in schools, sports and communities.”[10]
Kennedy received the Lincoln Alexander Outstanding Leader Award at the University of Guelph, March 25, 2015.[11]
A television movie about his life, The Sheldon Kennedy Story, aired on CTV in 1999. Jonathan Scarfe starred as Kennedy. In 2006, he released his autobiography, Why I Didn't Say Anything - The Sheldon Kennedy Story. In the book he revealed that nightmares of James still continue to plague him. He also wrote frankly about his battles with cocaine addiction.[15] The feature-length documentary Swift Current, released in 2016, details Kennedy's life from abuse to advocacy.[16]
