Stealing Innocence: The Justin Berry Story

Photos courtesy of George Webber Photography

Honourable Lindsay Blackett, CCC Board Chair Sydney Sharpe, Justin Berry, CCC CEO Robbie Babins-Wagner and W. Brett Wilson at the 2008 Calgary's Bravest Men gala event.

Dave Kelly, Justin Berry and Al Duerr at the 2008 Youth Forum.

Justin Berry shares his story and the importance of Internet safety.

At 22, Justin Berry looks like a typical youth: boyish face, awkward in his suit. While he’s young physically, once he speaks, you realize his body is leading you to believe he’s young, with only the cares of youth lying before him. The story he tells, however, reminds everyone of trust broken and innocence lost.

On Oct. 23 and 24, 2008, Justin Berry was Calgary Counselling Centre’s Bravest Man keynote speaker. Justin needed the vibrancy of youth to stand the rigor of the schedule over the two days he was in Calgary. With several media interviews to complete and two presentations, Justin barely had time to relax.

Thanks to sponsorship from Education Matters, a private funder, FCSS (Family & Community Support Services), United Way of Calgary and Area, as well as a partnership with Shaw TV, Calgary Counselling Centre had the pleasure of hosting Justin and the Calgary Police Service, to talk about Internet safety to hundreds of junior high school students.

In front of over 1,600 students from eight schools, Justin told his riveting story about how he, at 13, was offered $50 to take his shirt off in front of his web cam, starting a five-year terrifying experience in the world of child pornography.

Then, with MC Dave Kelly, Justin opened the floor for questions. At least 50 hands sprang up. For the next hour, Justin openly and honestly answered each question asked of him. Some questions were very personal; others reflected how closely his message was hitting home with the students present. With the Calgary Police Service closing the presentation, students were more savvy about reporting and spotting predatory behaviour.

Although the experience was shared by many, the Youth Forum with Justin seemed incredibly personal. Shaw TV’s program about the event, Stealing Innocence: The Justin Berry Story, airs Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. and the second Sunday of each month. We encourage you to watch – particularly if you have children. Or, if you'd like to order a copy, let us know.

Justin’s brave journey to break the cycle of abuse and his fight to end child exploitation on the Internet is inspiring. Although Justin’s innocence might have been stolen at an early age, he’s been given the gifts of poise, maturity and sincerity to help him survive, while his body catches up.

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