Close X
Sunday, November 17, 2024
ADVT 
National

Calgary Man, 52, Facing Sex Charges Involving Young Canadians Performance Group

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Jun, 2015 07:18 PM
    CALGARY — A longtime administrator with The Young Canadians performance group at the Calgary Stampede is facing sexual charges dating back to the 1990s involving several teenage performers.
     
    Philip Heerema, 52, faces 13 charges that include child pornography, sexual assault, luring a child via a computer and inciting sexual contact with a youth.
     
    The Young Canadians performance school involves 120 students from the Calgary area. They train to deliver public performances, most notably during the grandstand shows at the Calgary Stampede.
     
    Police say they received a complaint from a student and his parents in January 2014 of an inappropriate relationship with a "person of authority" with the troupe.
     
    "The investigation began with one victim coming forward initially and, as our investigators conducted their interviews, more people were identified and spoken to," Staff-Sgt. Melanie Oncescu said Friday.
     
    As a result, there are now seven alleged victims, she said.
     
    One of the complaints dates back to 1997. All seven complainants are male and were between the ages of 15 and 18 at the time of the alleged encounters.
     
    "The offences took place in Calgary — some off site and some on site."
     
    Heerema worked with The Young Canadians for 36 years. He resigned after the investigation began, but was listed on the school's website as business administrator and production services co-ordinator.
     
    A cached profile from the troupe's website details how Heerema worked with the program in many areas including costuming, props, sets and lighting.
     
    "Acting as trainer, Phil consults and co-ordinates physical therapy to The Young Canadians cast. He joins the rest of the TYC staff and crew in making sure the show goes on and that the cast enjoys a quality experience with the program."
     
    Oncescu said he was in a position of authority.
     
    "Whether he'd be a coach or someone within management within the organization he was put in a position of trust with the performers."
     
    Officials with the Calgary Stampede said the organization is "shocked and saddened" by the news.
     
    "In late January 2014 a student and a parent approached us with serious allegations of inappropriate communications between an administrative employee of the program and some students," said Kurt Kadatz, director of community engagement and communications.
     
    "Within 30 minutes of becoming aware of that allegation we suspended the employee. We removed him from the premises and directed him not to communicate with anyone involved with the program."
     
    Kadatz said the Stampede immediately began its own investigation and contacted the parents of the students to inform them about what was happening.
     
    Oncescu said it's possible more alleged victims will come forward.
     
    "The Young Canadians were made aware — and I believe they've done their own information sharing in relation to this event — in hopes that if there were any other people they would come forward."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Neil Bantleman, Canadian Teacher, Found Guilty, Sentenced To 10 Years On Jakarta Child Sex Charges

    Neil Bantleman, Canadian Teacher, Found Guilty, Sentenced To 10 Years On Jakarta Child Sex Charges
    JAKARTA, Indonesia — An Indonesian court has found Burlington, Ont., teacher Neil Bantleman guilty of child sexual abuse and sentenced him to 10 years in prison Thursday.

    Neil Bantleman, Canadian Teacher, Found Guilty, Sentenced To 10 Years On Jakarta Child Sex Charges

    Safety Oversight Funding Due To Expire For National Energy Board

    Safety Oversight Funding Due To Expire For National Energy Board
    VANCOUVER — Temporary funding for safety oversight programs at the National Energy Board is set to expire as scrutiny of major pipeline projects winds up.

    Safety Oversight Funding Due To Expire For National Energy Board

    No New Passport For Famhy In Egypt Until He Is Cleared To Travel: Nicholson

    OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson says Mohamed Fahmy can only get a new Canadian passport once Egyptian authorities give him the green light to travel.

    No New Passport For Famhy In Egypt Until He Is Cleared To Travel: Nicholson

    Fahmy Shocked At Ottawa's Refusal To Issue Passport Due To Travel Ban

    A Canadian journalist on trial in Egypt on widely denounced terror charges expressed shock and anger Wednesday over Ottawa's refusal to issue him a passport while he awaits the outcome of his case.

    Fahmy Shocked At Ottawa's Refusal To Issue Passport Due To Travel Ban

    Jason Kenney Blames Briefing Error For Slip-up Over Smart Bombs In Syrian Skies

    OTTAWA — Defence Minister Jason Kenney delivered a mea culpa Wednesday for his erroneous claims that Canada was the only nation outside of the United States with smart-bomb technology that was willing to launch airstrikes in Syria.

    Jason Kenney Blames Briefing Error For Slip-up Over Smart Bombs In Syrian Skies

    Killing Of Oct. 22 Parliament Hill Gunman Was Justified, Report Concludes

    Killing Of Oct. 22 Parliament Hill Gunman Was Justified, Report Concludes
    OTTAWA — An independent report into the Oct. 22 storming of Parliament Hill concludes security forces were justified in using lethal force against gunman Michael Zehaf Bibeau.

    Killing Of Oct. 22 Parliament Hill Gunman Was Justified, Report Concludes