KAMLOOPS — When she was 15 years old she was sexually abused by her then 39 year old Kamloops hockey coach.
Now 20 years old and living in Alberta, Chanelle Petrie is being all but silent about her traumatizing past.
WATCH ABOVE: Reporter Jessica Lepp interviews Chanelle Petrie
“My 39 year old hockey coach sexually exploited me at the young age of 15,” Petrie says in a public video posted on Kickstarter.com.
Petrie goes on to say, “I’m speaking out today as a young individual who’s trying to get the powerful message out there that you can get through it and it does get better.”
Petrie has started an online fundraiser where she is collecting donations in order to publish her own book and help other victims of sexual abuse.
“I carry absolutely zero shame or guilt for what happened to me and that’s something I’m really proud of to talk about and I want to help other survivors and victims get to that point.”
Petrie and her former coach Heidi Feber were involved in a year long sexual relationship.
In 2014 Ferber pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year in jail for sexual exploitation.
To donate to Petrie’s kickstarter click here.
