Cumberland resident Linda Halliday-Sumner was honoured by the Rotary Cumberland on Saturday evening for her service to others.
An acknowledged expert in sexual abuse, sexual assault and sexual harassment, she was a victim of sexual abuse at the age of six years.
Halliday-Sumner published her first book, The Silent Scream, in 1981. The book is still being used today worldwide for training, personal development and in sex offender treatment.
She has worked tirelessly for the rights of victims and survivors of sexual abuse in Canada and has assisted groups in South Africa, Japan, Iceland and India to develop their own resources. In the past 30 years she has focused on victims in First Nations communities in Canada with special emphasis on isolated, remote communities.
She has appeared as an expert witness in court on 32 occasions and has published 24 books and pamphlets to provide resources for people dealing with the issues.
Because she has placed service above self during her career, the Rotary Club has named her a Paul Harris Fellow and presented her with a framed certificate and pin of identification at the club's eighth annual Extravaganza Italiana on Oct. 13.
— Rotary Club of Cumberland Centennial