Carmel Pelly is a resilient survivor, author, and life coach who overcame childhood trauma and addiction to build a fulfilling life helping others heal from similar experiences. She testifies about her experiences of childhood sexual abuse, drug addiction, and involvement in the human trafficking and sex industry in Alberta, her eventual escape, and her journey to recovery through faith and a 12-step program, and how she now uses her past to help others as a life coach.
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The transcript for this witness testimony is currently in production by our volunteers. It will be available soon here on this page and as a downloadable PDF.
Summary
Carmel Pelly testifies about her experiences of childhood sexual abuse, drug addiction, and involvement in the sex industry. She describes being first abused at age 6 or 7, which led to substance abuse at a young age to cope with the trauma. At 12 or 13, she was sexually abused again at a party, which further damaged her trust in others. Carmel shares how she ran away from home at 13 or 14 and became involved with older men who introduced her to drug use and the sex industry.
She recounts being taken to Edmonton and exposed to human trafficking situations, though she was not directly trafficked herself. Carmel describes working in strip clubs, dating club owners for protection, and becoming heavily involved in drug use and sales. She details the physical and emotional abuse she endured during this time.
Carmel shares how she eventually left that life behind, moving to Edmonton with her son Austin. However, she struggled to adjust to normal life and relapsed into drug use. A chance encounter at a police station led her to a 12-step program, where she found sobriety and faith on December 15, 2004.
Since then, Carmel has built a new life with her husband Chris, raised her sons, and become a life coach helping others overcome similar traumas. She expresses gratitude for her transformation and the ability to use her past experiences to support others in their healing journeys.
Credentials
Carmel Pelly is a 44-year-old wife, mother, entrepreneur, author, and life coach specializing in addiction and sexual abuse trauma counseling. She has been sober for nearly 20 years and is married with two sons – Austin, 26, whom her husband adopted, and Asher, 9. Carmel is a former competitive figure skater who now dedicates her life to helping others overcome trauma and addiction. Despite facing health challenges with multiple sclerosis, she maintains a positive outlook and credits her faith for her transformation and ability to help others.
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