The Candace Legacy

We thank these five organizations for remembering and honoring Candace’s memory.
Your initiatives over the years have comforted us, encouraged us and sustained us.
The charitable organizations are listed here in the order that they became involved in Candace's memory.  

You can be part of making the world a better and safer place by donating to the  Candace Derksen Fund by following this link to The Winnipeg Foundation.
Candace Derksen Fund
Cliff and Wilma Derksen began this fund in 2000 to encourage and continue the legacy of their daughter, Candace Derksen, who was murdered in 1984.  
The idea of this fund was initiated by prisoners serving life sentences who wanted to show their remorse to society by raising funds to help victims of crime set up healing programs. Cliff and Wilma felt that this gesture was in keeping with Candace’s spirit of love. Candace simply loved people, all people. In fact, during her school years, the teachers often place Candace beside bullies in the classroom because she created a space of acceptance and joy. Her love seemed to have no bounds especially as a teen when her friends became extremely important to her. The theme song of her life remains, “Friends are Friends Forever.”  Since then through the contribution of others, the fund has grown and now encompasses other legacies that continue to promote the spirit of Candace. Your gift will support a diverse variety of charitable efforts in Winnipeg which are devoted to promoting the spirit of Candace’s legacy as listed below. 
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​The Candace Derksen Memorial Pool
Dedication service for the Candace Derksen Memorial Pool built at Camp Arnes was held on October 26, 1986, a little more than a year after Candace went missing. The fund established at the time of Candace’s death raised close to $250,000 the first year.

Camp Arnes is an inter-denominational Christian camp, committed to presenting opportunities for children and youth to experience an unforgettable adventure, while instilling Christian values and teachings.
Canadian Centre for Child Protection
A plaque honoring Candace was unveiled in April 2015 to mark the 30th Anniversary of the  beginnings of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. The organization, then known as Child Find Manitoba, was inspired by Candace who is still considered a core part of the Agency. “All that we are able to do today for children in Canada, and around the world, is part of her legacy,” wrote Christy Dzikowicz, organizer of the event. 

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is a charitable organization dedicated to the personal safety of all children.
Candace House
Vision for the Candace House has grown out of the passion and spirit of its namesake, Candace.

The Candace House organization is a non-profit, non-adversarial organization that will provide a home-like resource centre within walking distance from the law courts buildings for victims of serious crime.

Soul Sanctuary
The series of five paintings, entitled The Glance, unveiled at the opening ceremony of the new Soul Sanctuary building on September 21, 2014, is dedicated to our daughter, Candace Derksen.  

The paintings hold the vision of the church to be an "uncommon church" to speak to a generation that has been called by many sociologists the most “spiritually seeking generation” of human history.

Sincere gratitude to you all for remembering.

The Derksen Family

We encourage you - our supporters -  to continue to donate generously to these worthy causes.

Candace House in Action,
Beautiful article by Melissa Martin, Winnipeg Free Press, 5/13/2019
Community's compassion shelters family every step of painful journey - Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/communitys-compassion-shelters-family-every-step-of-painful-journey-509679442.html 2/4 family and supporters, "a halo of love as united here, at the end of the journey, as it had been just over a week ago when the trial started."  
It hadn’t been a long trial, which is a kind of blessing. The trial of the man accused of Christine Wood’s murder was expected to last up to three weeks; it took just nine days. The jury reached a unanimous verdict in less than two hours Wednesday.  As they sat waiting to hear the accused’s fate, George and Melinda clutched their hands together tightly. When the jury foreman rose to make the pronouncement — guilty, second-degree murder — those interlaced hands shot upward in unison, moved by the same surge of raw feeling that sent cries of relief ringing through the room.   At the front of the public gallery, Melinda’s mother, Gladys, held up a spray of green owners. They were so bright they drew eyes to them, beaming in vivid contrast to the subdued hues of the court. The colour of life. The colour of hope. Later, speaking to reporters, George began to read his statement about what the verdict meant to him and his wife of 35 years. It was a wonderful day, he began, and his gentle voice trembled with emotion: "Our daughter, Christine, got justice today," he continued. "That’s all we all were hoping for." It is an imperfect justice, George knows, because it cannot bring back his daughter. It cannot right the wrong done to Christine, and all those who loved her. It cannot mend the hearts that were broken that night in August 2016, when her life was taken. These are some of the many things that even a just verdict cannot hope to oer.   But there are different kinds of justice, and they are found in different places. The one that judges and juries can make only completes part of the picture. The other kind is nurtured not by evidence or verdicts, but by awareness, compassion; it is a justice served whenever a community lifts up those who have been harmed.  So in his statement, George thanked all the people across Canada who had supported them. There are many: in the years since Christine has been gone, it seemed as if everyone who crossed paths with the Wood family came to love them. By their unfaltering advocacy for their daughter, they lifted Christine’s legacy to wider public attention. 5/13/2019 Community's compassion shelters family every step of painful journey - Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/communitys-compassion-shelters-family-every-step-of-painful-journey-509679442.html 3/4 Consider how, after he testified in court, the farmer who found Christine’s body joined George and Melinda for lunch, then stayed in court to show support for them. Or how, on Wednesday morning, Winnipeg police Chief Danny Smyth met the family privately, to offer his condolences before the jury began deliberating.  There have been countless stories like that on this journey. Those who walked alongside the Woods saw it at every step: Christine was loved beyond measure. She still is, because that bond is something violence cannot sever, and while court heard painful testimony during the last week, the light of that love shone so much brighter.  If striving towards a more perfect justice means not only counting who is responsible, but who is remembered, then their eorts were not in vain. They once scoured the city, hoping to bring their daughter home safely; when that could not happen, they drew together a community of people who helped ensure she would not be forgotten.  After the verdict, Christine’s family and supporters gathered at Candace House, a refuge for those touched by violence that’s a short walk from the courthouse. Every seat in the place was taken. Sta put on coee next to plates of moose stew and fried pickerel from the north that one supporter had brought with her.  For over an hour, they shared stories, looked at photos, or just held each other. Over the low hum of conversation, occasional bursts of laughter rang out at one end of the room or another. Even the air seemed to grow lighter, as if cleared of an invisible mist that had weighed it down: Christine’s memory can y free, now.  This part of George and Melinda’s journey is almost over. Now they can go home, back to the comfort of the forest and lakes that surround Bunibonibee Cree Nation. Back to the grave where they laid their daughter to rest, back to their three sons and the grandchildren they cherish, back to the community that rallied around them.  When they go, they will take part of Winnipeg’s heart with them. They showed us what the true face of justice can look like: a justice that is rooted in community, one that is dignied and tenacious and loving. That’s a gift they brought to this city, where their own was taken from them. It will not soon be forgotten.  [email protected]
Candace House: a safe place to call home
A space for survivors of violent crime and victims’ families, finds location minutes from downtown Law Courts building
​Candace Derksen's legacy
By: Katie May 



WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Cecilly Hildebrand at 183 Kennedy St., home to Candace House. The place for survivors of crime and victims’ families was created in memory of Candace Derksen.
After years of preparation, Candace House has found a location for its long-planned victim-support refuge in downtown Winnipeg.
A safe space for victims’ families and survivors of violent crime is expected to open this fall in a comfort suite at 183 Kennedy St. — a two-minute walk from the Law Courts building. The close proximity is key to the non-profit organization’s mission to provide a place for families to relax while they participate in the court process on behalf of their deceased family members.
The need is definitely very large. I mean, Winnipeg and Manitoba unfortunately continue to have some of the highest rates of violent crime, and so I think being able to offer a place like this is really important"The focus will be on supporting families who have lost a loved one, through homicide or a driving-related offence, but we’ll definitely be working with other victims’ services organizations and agencies to ensure that our space is used to the max that we can," said Candace House executive director Cecilly Hildebrand, who is set to formally unveil the new location today, coinciding with Victims and Survivors of Crime Week.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Plans for the future home of Candace House in Suite 1B at 183 Kennedy Street. This existing space will be completely renovated.
This year alone, there were 590 court days set aside for 40 homicide cases in Winnipeg, including murder, manslaughter, impaired driving causing death and criminal negligence, according to court statistics provided by Candace House.
"The need is definitely very large. I mean, Winnipeg and Manitoba unfortunately continue to have some of the highest rates of violent crime, and so I think being able to offer a place like this is really important. And it’s the first of its kind — there’s nothing like this at all in Canada," Hildebrand added, "so being able to offer service in a space like this is something we’re definitely very excited about."
The suite will be furnished with comfy chairs, pillows and blankets, as well as a dining area and fridge and stove-equipped kitchen for meal preparation during lunchtime court breaks. There will be a private washroom with toiletries where guests can freshen up. They’re also working toward ensuring the ventilation systems can allow for traditional smudging ceremonies. Candace House got the keys to the new location at the beginning of the month and, after a round of renovations, the doors are expected to open in the fall.
Once that happens, Hildebrand said Candace House will look to offer workshops on topics affecting victims, such as how to deal with reporters, how to access the justice system and where to go for support.
Candace House consulted with Manitoba Justice in 2014 to determine what programs and services it should provide, a Justice spokeswoman said in a statement. The department gave $40,000 for program development, consultations and startup costs.
Many of the organizations that already work to help victims through the court process don’t necessarily have a spot to meet with families, Hildebrand said. A small room in the courthouse has been the only existing space for families to decompress and meet with supporters between court sessions, but it’s not ideal — especially considering the volume of court cases that pass through the criminal-justice system, each with their own set of victims, families and survivors.
"The need for Candace House is evident in the impact of crime in terms of the physical and mental health problems, as well as spiritual and relationship concerns, and economic and financial struggles — all often triggered again following interactions with the court process," Hildebrand said.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Cecilly Hildebrand, executive director with plans of the future home of Candace House.

Candace House is bringing to life the legacy of Candace Derksen, the 13-year-old who went missing on her way home from school in November 1984 and was found dead, frozen and bound, in a lumber yard shed less than two months later. Her accused killer, Mark Edward Grant, has just completed his second trial for second-degree murder in her death. He was convicted after an initial trial in 2011, but that conviction was later overturned on appeal, and a new trial was ordered. Now, more than 32 years after Candace’s death, the Derksen family awaits a judge’s verdict for the second time. As they wait, Candace House is coming alive. The timing isn’t lost on Hildebrand.
"The timing in this is particularly interesting given that closing arguments for the Mark Edward Grant case just took place, the verdict is pending, it’s Victims and Survivors of Crime Week," she said. "You can make of it what you will, but it is interesting how things have come together."
[email protected]
Read more by Katie May .
A tragedy leaves a vital legacyBy: Volunteers / Erin Madden
This article was published 18/1/2010 
As a Free Press columnist who writes regularly about volunteers, I highlight as many different groups as possible. Today, it's personal.
My day job is communications co-ordinator at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, a group that marks an important milestone this week.
It's been 25 years since Candace Derksen was found murdered. Abducted on her way home from school in December 1984, the 13-year-old's body was found seven weeks later.
Derksen's teenage face will be forever ingrained in the memory of many Winnipeg residents who remember the missing-person posters and media coverage.
But Candace left an even bigger legacy. Her mother, Wilma Derksen, and supporters established Child Find Manitoba, which helps other families suffering the heartbreak of a missing child. The non-profit agency has since helped thousands of families and developed innovative programs such as Cybertip.ca and Kids in the Know, which have expanded across Canada.
In 2006, to better reflect its national role, the organization was renamed the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. Child Find Manitoba now runs as a program of the umbrella organization.
Although she did not know Candace, Child Find Manitoba volunteer Lori Williamson remembered her case well. They attended the same school and shared friends.
Williamson is helping plan a 25th anniversary fundraiser on April 23, that will honour Candace and all other missing children.
"Everyone who I've ever talked to about it, they remember Candace," said Williamson, a mother to two sons who works in administration and human resources at Seccuris.
Andrea Wolters, another gala committee volunteer, is 23 years old and wasn't born when Candace went missing. She hopes the younger generation remembers.
"Sometimes kids think they're invincible and I think it's just a good reminder that we aren't," said Wolters, a human resources assistant at the Winnipeg Airports Authority.
Abbey Sanchez David knows that all too well. In 2002, her brother, Ed Sanchez, went missing. His body was located 14 months later. Since then, she's volunteered for Child Find Manitoba to thank the agency, which she said helped her family so much while her brother was missing.
"I think it's important for people to realize that something like this could bring a whole community together," she said.
If you would like more information about Child Find Manitoba events or programs or would like to become a volunteer, please call 945-5735.


If you know a special volunteer who strives to make their community a better place to live, please contact Erin Madden at [email protected]
Candace’s legacy A few years ago, I was looking for an inspirational speaker for a business event. My wife suggested Wilma Derksen. She told me that Wilma’s daughter Candace had been murdered in 1984 and Wilma had a powerful story to share about dealing with terrible loss through forgiveness. I met Wilma and she subsequently did the talk. She was inspiring.
I have since spoken with Wilma many times, watched her TEDx talk, read her book on forgiveness, The Way of Letting Go, and read the chapter about her in Malcom Gladwell’s book, David and Goliath. But most importantly, I have watched Wilma and her husband Cliff navigate life with grace. Their example is inspirational to me and has changed my outlook on the world. The most recent and perhaps most powerful example they have provided was their reaction to the release of the man accused of killing Candace after he was found not guilty in October 2017 following a re-trial. They have made no secret of the fact that they think he is guilty, yet they have chosen to move on. They have made public their desire for the process to end; they have expressed the hope that the accused offender would take this as a second chance, whether he committed the crime or not; and they have chosen to focus on what is good and right in their lives instead of on what is dark. They have done all of this while also reminding us all that Candace was murdered and expressing their hope that her legacy would live on.
Candace’s legacy does live on in so many ways. For me, her legacy is the forgiveness I have in my heart where there was so little before. These last few years I have learned to forgive easily based on the Derksens’ example. Nothing anyone has ever done to me even remotely approaches what was done to the Derksen family. If good can come from the Derksens’ experience, then I can certainly make good from anything in my life. I am a better husband, father, leader, friend, son, brother, and person than I ever would have been without knowing the Derksens’ story. Others I know have found similar power in knowing about Candace, and generations more will feel her legacy in the example of kindness and forgiveness set by those of us who were inspired directly to change our outlook.
Candace’s legacy does live on.


If you too would like to help keep Candace's legacy alive please consider one of the following: