Weekly Rights Digest (June 16-June 22)

17 June 2024

Trial begins for ex-Edmonton track coach, 75, accused of sexually abusing five teen athletes

Johnny Wakefield, Edmonton Journal

Keywords: Sexual Abuse, Track and Field, Alberta

"A man once considered among Canada’s top track and field coaches sat silently in an Edmonton courtroom as a former athlete accused him of sexually abusing him four decades ago.. Thomas Kenneth Porter, 75, began a trial on more than a dozen sex abuse charges in Edmonton’s Court of King’s Bench Monday. He has pleaded not guilty"...Read More

19 June 2024

'I thought I was being cool; now I know the difference,' N.L. skate coach tells court of his online interactions with young students

Tara Bradbury, The Telegram (St. John's)

Keywords: Sexual Assault, SnapChat, Figure Skating, Newfoundland

"In hindsight, being alone with young female athletes and engaging with them on SnapChat was not a good idea, a local figure skating coach on trial in St. John’s for sexual assault said in court Wednesday. Matthew Power, 30, took the witness stand for a second day and was cross-examined by prosecutor Nicole Hurley on the evidence he gave Tuesday"...Read More

19 June 2024

Trial continues for ex-Edmonton track coach accused of sexually abusing athletes

Johnny Wakefield, Edmonton Journal

Keywords:  Sexual Abuse, Track and Field, Alberta

"A third former track athlete has told an Edmonton court about the time his former coach allegedly molested him.The trial of Thomas Kenneth Porter entered its third day Wednesday with testimony from a 62-year-old teacher who claims the one-time track and field coach sexually touched him at a party in the late 1970s"...Read More

20 June 2024

R. v Boychuk, 2024 BCSC 1534 (CanLII)

Supreme Court of British Columbia

Keywords: Sexual Assault, Nanaimo Buccaneers, Hockey, Junior A, British Columbia

"I want it clearly understood that I am not making a positive finding that the alleged sexual assault did not happen. But, the evidence leaves me with significant uncertainty about which parts of the complainant's evidence can be counted on as reliable. And, it bears repeating that even if it might be said that the accused probably sexually assaulted the complainant, this would not be enough in law to convict. Stand, please, Mr. Boychuk. The evidence does not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt and I find you not guilty." Read More

21 June 2024

Canadian player racially abused online in wake of 2-0 Copa America loss to Argentina

Canadian Press, CTV News

Keywords: Racism, Soccer

"Canada's impressive performance in a 2-0 loss to top-ranked Argentina at Copa America has come at a cost. Canada Soccer says one of its players was a victim of online racial abuse following Thursday's tournament curtain-raiser at Mercedes-Benz Stadium"...Read More

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Weekly Rights Digest (June 9-June 15)

12 June 2024

Sex assault case of former Canada world junior hockey players back in court in August

Canadian Press, CP24

Keywords: Sexual Assault, Hockey Canada, Ontario, Hockey

"The sexual assault case of five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team is set to return to court in August. The case of Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton is due back on Aug. 13 to potentially set a date for trial. A judicial pretrial, which is closed to the public, is planned for July, and some hearings have also been scheduled for September"...Read More

12 June 2024

Gymnastics coach pleads guilty to sexual assault charges

Matthew Kupfer, CBC News

Keywords: Sexual Assault, Ontario, Gymnastics

"A former gymnastics coach who worked in Ottawa and Kingston, Ont., has pleaded guilty to sex crimes against children and sentenced to four years in prison. Benjamin Cooper, 28, pleaded guilty in Ottawa on Tuesday to five charges related to four victims. Their identities are protected by a publication ban"...Read More

12 June 2024

Student suing Université Sainte-Anne alleges school failed her after sexual assaults

Celina Aalders, CBC News

Keywords: Volleyball, Sexual Assault, Nova Scotia, Université Sainte-Anne

"Plaintiff Marissa Williams, whose name was previously protected by a publication ban that she had lifted, has studied arts and education since 2019 at the small francophone university in Church Point, N.S. In her statement of claim, she outlines that she was raped in separate incidents on campus in 2021 by two fellow students — one who played on the men's volleyball team and another who was employed by the university as a residential adviser"...Read More

13 June 2024

Sixty-three new charges for N.L. teacher, coach, accused sexual predator Markus Hicks

Tara Bradbury, The Telegram (St. John's)

Keywords: Volleyball, Sexual Assault, Child Pornography, Child Luring, Sexual Exploitation

"Police have charged high school teacher, volleyball coach and accused sexual predator Markus Hicks with dozens more offences. Hicks, 32, is expected to appear in provincial court in St. John’s sometime today, June 13, to be formally charged with 63 new charges of identity fraud, sexual assault and child pornography offences related to 11 new complainants, ranging in age from 12 years old to adult. He is now facing a total of 213 charges, including child luring, sexual exploitation, breach of trust by a public officer and others involving 25 complainants over 15 years"...Read More

14 June 2024

Three coaches with ties to Region of Waterloo identified on Abuse-Free Sport Registry

Colton Wiens, CTV News Kitchener

Keywords: Volleyball, Taekwondo, Gymnastics, Abuse-Free Sport

"Three coaches with ties to the Region of Waterloo have been identified in a registry aimed at highlighting alleged prohibited behaviour in sport. The Abuse-Free Sport Registry was launched in March and keeps track of someone accused of prohibited behaviour, to help organizations avoid that person taking on a similar role with another sport or region. The Coaching Association of Canada said it’s something they have wanted for several years"...Read More

Weekly Rights Digest (June 2-June 8)

3 June 2024

Andrew Bates, Kings Country Record

Coach accused of sex assault against child chooses jury trial

Keywords: Karate, Coach, Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Assault, Sexual Touching, New Brunswick

"A Sussex-area karate coach accused of sex assault against a child has asked for a jury trial. Terrance “Terry” Soucy, 51, of Foster Avenue in Apohaqui, chose a jury trial Friday in Saint John Provincial Court and will face a preliminary inquiry in June next year. Soucy is charged with sexual exploitation, sexual touching and sexual assault against a Kings County girl under 10. The charges are dated between June 1 and Oct. 31, 2023"...Read More

3 June 2024

Alberta Human Rights Tribunal (29 May 2024)

J.R. v University of Alberta, 2024 AHRC 82 (CanLII)

Keywords: Religion, Discrimination, COVID, Gymnastics, Alberta

"The complainant was a pre-teen, competitive gymnast who trained at the Saville Centre at the University of Alberta for an average of 20 hours per week. He and his family are devout Catholics. When the respondent implemented a mandatory vaccine policy, the complainant applied for a religious exemption because he and his mother claimed the vaccines were initially developed using aborted human fetal cell lines...I uphold the Director’s decision to dismiss the Complaint"...Read More

3 June 2024

Yukon Court of Appeal (31 May 2024)

R. v. Deuling, 2024 YKCA 7 (CanLII)

Keywords: Sexual Assault, Coach, Volleyball, Basketball, Yukon

"Paul Deuling (“Deuling”) was tried on one count of indecent assault and four counts of sexual assault against DM. The indecent assault was alleged to have occurred between 1980 and 1983 and the sexual assaults between 1983 and 1988. In reasons indexed at R. v. Deuling, 2022 YKTC 49, the trial judge acquitted Deuling on the indecent assault charge and all but one of the sexual assault charges (Count 4). He appeals from that conviction. I would grant the appeal for the reasons below"...Read More

4 June 2024

Sherbooke Record

Sherbrooke Adopts new policy on sports, physical activity, and outdoor recreation

Keywords: Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, Accessibility, Quebec

"Guided by five core values and principles, this policy sets the foundation for a future action plan being developed by the Sports, Culture, and Community Life Department alongside various partners. The key values include equity, diversity, inclusion, environmental protection, community action, accessibility, climate adaptation, partnerships, seasonality, and health." Read More

4 June 2024

Canadian Press, CBC

Lawsuit filed against Argonauts, QB Chad Kelly reportedly settled through mediation

Keywords: Sexual Harassment, Football, Ontario

"A lawsuit filed against quarterback Chad Kelly and the Toronto Argonauts by a former assistant strength-and-conditioning coach has been settled. Two league sources said the agreement was reached through mediation involving all of the parties. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity as there was no formal announcement about the resolution being reached"...Read More

5 June 2024

R. v. B.C., 2024 BCPC 138 (CanLII)

Provincial Court of British Columbia

Keywords: Sexual Assault, Football, Volunteer Manager, High School, British Columbia

"B.C. is charged on Information 9953 with the sexual assault of J.H., at or near [omitted for publication], B.C., on December 7, 2013, and between January 7, 2014 and February 7, 2014, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code. B.C. and J.H. were 17 and 16 years of age, respectively, at the time of the alleged offences. They both attended the same high school in [omitted for publication] (the “High School”). J.H. volunteered as a manager on a sports team on which B.C. played (the “Team”). The December 7, 2013 offence allegedly took place during a gathering at the residence of a classmate (the “Classmate’s Residence”). C.H. and J.B., friends of J.H., accompanied J.H. to this gathering (the “Party”).

The early 2014 offence allegedly took place in the basement of B.C.'s residence (the “Basement”). J.H. attended a smaller get together at the Basement with C.H." Read More

5 June 2024

Jessie Feith, Montreal Gazette

Alleged sexual-assault victims seek justice years after hockey coach's death

Keywords: Hockey, Sexual Assault, Coach, Quebec

"Four years after it was launched, the class-action lawsuit against Lamarre’s estate and the city of Longueuil will finally head to trial in September. The suit seeks compensation for anyone claiming abuse by Lamarre, a former Montreal police officer, while he was a hockey coach in Greenfield Park. Given that Lamarre coached in the South Shore community from the 1970s to at least the early 2000s, lawyers believe there could be hundreds of victims"...Read More

5 June 2024

Associated Press, CBC

NHL 1st major sports league to broadcast games in American Sign Language

Keywords: ASL, NHL, Accessibility

"The Stanley Cup final, starting Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, will mark the first time a major sports league airs games in ASL, with each game of the series between Edmonton and Florida featuring Deaf broadcasters doing play by play and colour analysis"...Read More

6 June 2024

Liam Britten, CBC

B.C.'s athletic commissioner granted expanded sanctioning powers

Keywords: Kickboxing, British Columbia, Unsanctioned

"Lei, through his mother who holds a committeeship to manage his affairs, is suing a number of people and groups allegedly connected to the tournament. The claims haven't been proven in court. The defendants named in the lawsuit have all denied wrongdoing. The lawsuit claims the kick light competition was actually unsanctioned kickboxing and needed the commissioner's blessing. The commissioner, who is not named as a defendant in the suit, told CBC News in February he didn't sanction the tournament but wouldn't say if he needed to"...Read More

7 June 2024

Court of Appeal for British Columbia

Langford (City) v. Matthews, 2024 BCCA 214 (CanLII)

Keywords: Spectator, Injury, Damages, Roller Hockey, British Columbia

"The respondent was struck in the head by a puck while watching a roller hockey game. The appellants admitted liability. The assessment of damages was tried before a jury. The appellants appeal the jury awards of $804,000 for loss of past earning capacity, and $175,000 for non-pecuniary loss. Held: Appeal dismissed. The award for past loss of earning capacity is supportable on the evidence and not wholly disproportionate. The award of non-pecuniary damages is not wholly disproportionate to the respondent’s circumstances, having regard to judge-made awards"...Read More

7 June 2024

Steve Bruce, Chronicle Herald (Halifax)

Sex-abuse charges dismissed

Keywords: Paddling, Voyeurism, Nova Scotia

"That’s not the end of Moriarty’s legal problems, however. Last July, Moriarty was accused of surreptitiously recording videos of females in a washroom at Abenaki Aquatic Club in Dartmouth. He was arrested at the paddling club July 20 and charged with six counts of voyeurism. He was released on bail the next day. Moriarty pleaded not guilty to the voyeurism charges in provincial court in November and is scheduled to stand trial this July"...Read More

7 June 2024

Bul­ly­ing, dis­crim­in­a­tion push stu­dent into sol­it­ary sport where she excels

Noah Brennan, London Free Press

Keywords: Track and Field, Ontario, Bullying, Racism

"One of London's star athletes in the Ontario high school track and field championships, Naomi Byam, wasn't always drawn to the track. Instead, the St. Andre Bessette senior says, track became a refuge from the struggles she had from an early age at school. There was “a lot of bullying and a lot of discrimination," which she attributes to being Black"...Read More