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