Key Takeaways
- Geri Bemister was the victim of s*xual abuse, which affected her childhood as well as ended her career as a pitcher for the fastball.
- She pursued a master’s degree in criminology and behavioral science at the University of the Fraser Valley.
- She also supported the improvement of child protection legislation and increased assistance for survivors of child se*ual abuse.
Born on June 24, 1969, Geri Bemister was raised in Langford, Canada, by her parents, Kathy and Garry. She grew up alongside her sister Keri and brothers Dan and Shayne.
Despite growing up in what appeared to be a stable household, her family had a history of substance abuse and even more troubling issues.
In her childhood, she excelled in sports. She played as the top pitcher for the fastball team, always participated in the provincial championship, and trained alongside the national team.
Even though she was outstanding in sports and enjoyed playing at home, she encountered mistreatment from close male family members from the age of five to thirteen. The three trusted male relatives harassed her, causing a traumatic shift in the little girl’s life.
Following the trauma, she got involved in substance abuse and even ended up committing a crime.
As a result of increased substance abuse, she became intoxicated and lost her ability to pitch a fastball, a skill at which she excelled. Everything went downhill as the trauma took its toll, and her family fell apart.
At 19, she was the youngest woman in a federal prison sent to the women’s unit of the infamous Oakalla Prison. She was facing 16 criminal charges for breaking into the pharmacy and stealing pills.
After spending six weeks in Oakalla following the s*xual assault, she felt eager to leave and ended up accepting a plea deal for lesser charges.
Instead of serving additional time in prison, Bemister returned to Victoria and started dealing substances.
That’s how she established herself as the top dealer in Victoria at 20 and later married a 22-year-old man with two daughters.
Unfortunately, the man was abusive, and their relationship only ended after their home on Saturna Island, which was being used as a illegal substances growing operation and housed a collection of firearms, was destroyed in a fire.
When she was 27, she decided to disclose her abuse to her mother and sister, and they reported it to the authorities. The men were never prosecuted, although one confessed and contributed to covering the cost of her counseling.
Afterward, she moved to Burnaby and began working at a bar. Despite attempting to manage her addiction, she continued to engage in illegal deals behind bars.
Her condition continued to worsen as she went without eating or showering for nine days.
Seeing her life coming to an end, her mother and sister arrived at her home with a pen and paper; they asked her to write down the names of the people she wanted at her funeral.
This unexpected request made her realize the risks she was taking and prompted her to reflect on her life choices.
At the urging of her family, she agreed to enter rehab. Even though she wasn’t fully prepared, she knew it was time to make a change and work towards living a normal life.
The New Phase of Bemister Life
After spending three months in residential care, Bemister left. Two days later, she began her freshman year at Vancouver Island University, working as a part-time lecturer in the criminology department.
It was a challenging journey for her due to her struggle with short-term memory and difficulty in staying awake while reading for extended periods. Despite improving in school, Bemister was diagnosed with cancer. During her treatment, she had both breasts removed due to the disease.
In spite of facing numerous challenges, she remained determined and outstanding.
In her first year, she earned a scholarship and pursued a master’s degree in criminology and behavioral science at the University of the Fraser Valley. While there, she applied for and was granted a federal pardon.
CCSA #addictionmatters with Lisa Simone, Geri Bemister & Annie McCullough pic.twitter.com/9df6MyfT8J
— Susan B. Raphael, Sustainable Recovery (@SusanRaphael1) November 18, 2015
Aside from teaching criminology at Vancouver Island University and North Island College, Bemister actively contributed to the recovery committee at the B.C. Centre for Substance Use, ran a consulting business, was a certified therapist, and was showcased on the TV documentary series Interventions Canada.
She also advocated better child protection laws and more support for victims of child se*ual abuse.
Additionally, her novel path made her a uniquely qualified criminology instructor, behavioral scientist, and addictions counselor.
She accomplished something positive for herself, setting a powerful example of how one’s challenging past can serve as a lesson and inspire the world to undertake more meaningful actions.
On June 24, 2023, the inspirational figure Geri Bemister sadly passed away at the age of 53.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Geri Bemister worked as an interventionist on the television series Intervention, which twice won the Primetime Emmy Award.
- She served as the director of operations at the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre in Calgary.
