A Survivor Finds Her Voice
For Kayla Deveau-Adams, sitting in a Nova Scotia courtroom as a judge sentenced the man who sexually abused her was more than a legal outcome — it was a moment of profound, hard-won validation.
The judge's words were direct and unsparing: Deveau-Adams, who was just 14 years old when the abuse occurred, bore absolutely no blame for what happened to her. The actions of Bruce Hatfield were described from the bench as "cruel" and "repulsive" — language that cut through years of silence and self-doubt.
"That moment meant everything," Deveau-Adams said, reflecting on hearing those words spoken aloud in open court.
Breaking the Silence
Deveau-Adams has decided not to stay quiet after the sentencing. Instead, she is speaking out publicly — a decision that, for many survivors of childhood sexual abuse, is one of the most difficult steps in the healing process.
Her goal is straightforward: to raise awareness, and to reach anyone else who may be carrying a similar secret, afraid to come forward or convinced — as she once may have been — that somehow they were responsible for what was done to them.
The message she wants survivors across Canada to hear is the same one the judge delivered in that Halifax courtroom: you are not to blame.
The Weight Survivors Carry
Childhood sexual abuse leaves lasting psychological scars, and experts consistently note that victims often internalize shame and guilt for years — sometimes decades — before seeking help or reporting to authorities. Many never do.
In Canada, sexual assault remains one of the most underreported crimes. Studies suggest that fewer than one in ten sexual assaults are ever reported to police, with fear of not being believed and self-blame among the top barriers survivors cite.
Deveau-Adams's decision to speak publicly — attaching her name and face to her experience — is the kind of act advocates say can shift that dynamic. When survivors are visible, others feel less alone.
Justice, Delayed but Real
The road from a 14-year-old girl being abused in Nova Scotia to a courtroom sentencing is rarely short or easy. That Deveau-Adams reached this moment — with a judge explicitly validating her experience and condemning her abuser in unambiguous terms — reflects the work she, and the justice system, had to do to get there.
Hatfield's sentencing closes one chapter. But for Deveau-Adams, the work she's chosen to do now — speaking out, spreading awareness, refusing to let her story disappear into silence — may be the most meaningful chapter yet.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, you can contact the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or Crisis Services Canada at 1-833-456-4566.
Source: CBC News Nova Scotia
