Victim no more: Tyler Pelke turned his trauma into a platform for helping others

Tyler Pelke has come to Saskatoon with a harrowing tale of triumph over evil and a promise to victims of crime that things will get better. 

Pelke, from Red Deer, Alta., is set to speak at the Saskatchewan Association of Police Affiliated Victim Services conference.

He knows what he's talking about. Pelke was the victim of a horrific crime when he was 14 years old.

At the time, Pelke was new in Altona, a small Mennonite community not far from Winnipeg.

"Mom had moved me there for a better life," Pelke told CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning.

One weekend, Pelke and a friend were home alone. Altona was the sort of community where people don't bother to look their doors. That trust was violated by a vicious predator.

Earl had a gun

Earl Giesbrecht, an older boy, showed up at the door dressed in black around midnight. He was carrying a mysterious duffel bag. The boys let Giesbrecht in.

Pelke asked what was in the duffel bag. That's when things went from awkward to terrifying.

"He pulled a gun on us," Pelke said. "[He] tied us up, put our hands behind our back, put masking tape over our eyes and separated us."

It's the last time Pelke saw his friend alive.

Over the next few hours, Pelke was sexually assaulted, had his throat slit and was set on fire. After playing dead for some time, a voice in his head said to get out, and so Pelke jumped up, fought off his attacker, made it out the front door, and found safety at the neighbours' house.

Giesbrecht was convicted of murder and attempted murder and is serving two life sentences.

Victim no more

Giesbrecht did not kill Pelke and he did not destroy his ability to survive and overcome adversity. Pelke healed his physical and emotional wounds and went on to become the deputy fire chief in Calgary. He is bringing a message of strength and resiliency to the conference in Saskatoon.

I forgive you and that has nothing to do with you, that's about me.- Tyler Pelke 

His big breakthrough came in a face-to-face meeting with his attacker. 

"For me it was it was very powerful," said Pelke.

"As a victim or a survivor to be able go back and say, I've closed that book … I'm going to deal with the emotions that go with that and I want to tell you I forgive you and that has nothing to with you, that's about me."

Pelke credited his family, who remained strong. He also found purpose in pursuing a career as a fire fighter, armed with great compassion for burn victims, and his unflinching commitment to helping victims of violent crime.  

Fighting for change

Pelke said he recognizes great progress has been made in helping victims, from front line supports up through the justice system.  

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But he said barriers still exist. 

"When you think of our northern communities, our Aboriginal and First Nations communities [there is] still a huge gap with respect to how that care gets there and how information gets there," he said.

That need to help all victims of crime keeps Pelke going, speaking out at venues like this week's conference, telling his story of survival in hopes that others will also be also inspired to demand better.

"There is still a long ways to go," Pelke said. "I think the best thing is people are talking about it and how to make that better."