Judge to decide June 28 on final settlement in Calgary Stampede abuse lawsuit
A Calgary judge will determine in June if he will approve a proposed settlement for complainants in a class-action lawsuit that alleged the Calgary Stampede allowed a performance school staffer to sexually abuse young boys.
The agreement is related to the case of Phillip Heerema.
Heerema received a 10-year prison sentence in 2018 after pleading guilty to charges including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, child pornography and luring.
Heerema admitted he used his position with the Young Canadians School of Performing Arts — which performs each year in the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show — to lure and groom six boys into sexual relationships between 2005 and 2014, as well as in 1992.
The Stampede has agreed to pay $9.5 million in damages and Court of King's Bench Justice Paul Jeffrey will determine if the deal is approved on June 28.
"This isn't the end of the case, but we hope it's the beginning of the end," the plaintiffs' lawyer Carsten Jensen told court Tuesday.
"We also hope it's the beginning of a new future for the class members, many of whom have been severely impacted by Mr. Heerema and the failure of the Stampede to protect them," Carsten said.
Three of the plaintiffs were in the courtroom to watch the proceedings.
Jensen said if the deal is approved the $9.5 million will be held in trust and eventually handed over to an independent claims adjuster with a "trauma-informed" background.
There are about 300 plaintiffs that could be eligible for some of the money.
Jensen said there are three categories of plaintiffs: students who were abused; students who were not directly victims but were in The Young Canadians; and those not directly harmed but who may have seen something.
Jensen said the bulk of the settlement will go to about two dozen individuals who were more seriously impacted by their experiences with Heerema.
"There will be a point system established based on the relative harm and the remaining funds will be distributed to the most harmed members in accordance with that point system," he said.
Heerema, who was named in the class action, was granted day parole in January and admitted during his hearing that there were other victims who did not come forward.
He was expected to return to Calgary.
This report by The Canadian Press was first
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.