One of Canada’s most familiar faces for justice will speak at a Cochrane dinner this week to raise funds for children of inmates to receive Christmas presents from their incarcerated parents.
David Milgaard will share his story tomorrow evening at a Cochrane Alliance Church banquet hosted by Prison Fellowship Canada, a national faith-based outreach organization that facilitates connections with inmates, friends and families.
Milgaard was wrongfully imprisoned for 23 years for the murder of Saskatoon nurse’s aide Gail Miller. He was released in 1992 after DNA tests proved he did not commit the crime. Larry Fisher was subsequently convicted of the killing.
Prison Fellowship representative Tony Hilling said Milgaard is a friend, and he wanted to include his perspective in the collection of voices to speak at the charity event.
“It is quite a story,” said Hilling of Milgaard’s journey through the justice system.
At $60 a plate, money raised at the dinner will go toward Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree Christmas program, which purchases and delivers Christmas presents to the children of moms and dads behind bars.
“They’re the silent victims of the whole issue of crime,” said Hilling. “When a child gets a present from their father or their mother … (it says) even though they’re far away, they still love them. It helps the child through the dark times.”
Hilling said his organization focuses on restorative justice, which is built on the fundamental belief that people can find their way to a place of peace, regardless of their pasts.
“It’s a belief that each human being is precious and can be changed if they exert themselves and do their best, even though they’ve gone off the rails,” he said, adding the children’s programs help both the kids and their imprisoned parents.
“When (inmates) know there’s people out there that are willing to try and reach out to their children, I think it warms the heart and gives them more encouragement to walk the process of change.”
In addition to the more sombre elements of the evening, comedian Phil Callaway will also take the stage. CTV news reporter Darrel Janz will emcee the event.
Cochrane Alliance Church’s Pastor of People Care Larry Charter, a member of the fundraiser planning committee, said he expects more than 100 people to attend on Friday night. The congregation is excited to celebrate such a worthy cause for their first major function in the building’s recently renovated space.
“We’re really community oriented,” Charter said. “Groups like this, that have social causes that also have a spiritual element to them as well, we want to get behind them and help them.”
