SEX CHARGES ROCK YOUNG CANADIANS
Charges of sexual assault and child pornography possession against 52-year-old Phillip Heerema, inset, has stunned the renowned Young Canadians troupe of performers.
In many ways, Phillip Heerema embodied the values often espoused by the Young Canadians.
Hardworking, dedicated, a great mentor and friend — those were some of the words used to describe Heerema, who had spent nearly four decades in key roles with the performance group.
In fact, a Facebook post on the Young Canadians’ page declared Dec. 13, 2013 to be “National Phil Heerema Appreciation Day,” and encouraged members to send a note of thanks to the “real life St. Nick.”
But charges of sexual assault and child pornography possession laid this week against the 52-year-old Heerema rocked the renowned troupe of young performers, who have been a mainstay of the Calgary Stampede’s daily Grandstand Show for 47 years.
Police allege — in court documents and a news conference — that beneath the jovial veneer was a man who abused his position of authority to get close to young male performers in an attempt to elicit graphic photos and sexual contact.
“He was in a position of authority. Whether he be a coach or someone within management within the organization, he was put in a position of trust with the performers,” Staff Sgt. Melanie Oncescu told reporters Friday.
Some former performers with the group were stunned to learn of the charges.
“I never had any problems with Phil. He was always outgoing and good with everybody and I’m kind of shocked about the allegations that have come out,” said Jonathon Thiessen, who performed a “strongman” routine with Heerema at the 1988 Grandstand Show when he was 11 years old.
“He would just be working in the backstage in and out, doing office stuff. He was very likable,” added Gustavo Ferman, who sang and danced with the group in 1989 and 1990.
But others were not surprised by the news.
“Not that there had been whispers about it being a thing, but I think a lot of people, especially parents, were a little wary of his closeness with the cast,” said Lauren Busheikin, who sang with the Young Canadians from 1992 to 2003.
“Hearing the name and hearing the allegations, it’s not like my jaw dropped, like that would never happen.”
Police launched an investigation in January 2014 after a recent student approached police with his parents to file a complaint about an inappropriate relationship with an “authority figure” within the Young Canadians.
According to court documents, the teenager told police he added Heerema as a Facebook friend and a friendship blossomed.
The conversations over social media were casual to begin with but “became uncomfortable” when Heerema asked for the teen to send photos of himself, which the teen interpreted to mean inappropriate photos.
“As our investigators conducted their interviews, more people were identified and spoken to, and then as a result, seven victims ( have been identified) to date,” Oncescu said, adding it’s possible more will come forward.
The seven victims are male and were, at one point, performers with the Young Canadians. They were between the ages of 15 and 18 at the time of the incidents, which took place in Calgary between 1997 and 2014, “some on site and some off site,” Oncescu said.
Court files indicate one of the victims was asked to dance naked on one occasion, and another evening, was directed to strip and was sexually touched.
“Heerema directed him to strip which (the victim) did as he felt threatened and had no way out due to Heerema’s size difference,” the documents said.
The victim was later urged to erase between any the online two. communication
“Like face to face conversations, once you’re done, they’re over. I’ve never saved texts, FB chat and think you should delete our history as well as we just start over today,” Heerema wrote in text messages to the victim, according to the documents.
According to its website, the Young Canadians School is comprised of 120 young Calgary members who train with professionals in voice, dance and performance.
Heerema held various titles over his 36 years with the group, most recently business administrator and production services co-ordinator, court files detailed.
For a time, Heerema was known as the first aid and medical attendant, said Myles Munroe, who sang with the group from 1988 to 2001.
“He took care of all injuries, anything that we had during performances or even during the training sessions,” Munroe said.
Munroe said around 1997 and 1998, Heerema started using his own company to start doing fitness evaluations for all the Young Canadians.
“We’d have to go to his physiotherapy-type clinic and they would administer fitness tests, evaluations and then they would design fitness protocols and diet to keep us all in shape, to make sure that we could perform all year.”
Kurt Kadatz, director of corporate communications at the Calgary Stampede, said the Stampede learned of the allegations when the student and his parents came forward in January 2014.
“Within 30 minutes of becoming aware of that allegation, we suspended the employee, removed him from the premises, and directed him to have no further contact or communicate with anyone involved in the program,” Kadatz said, adding the employee resigned two days later.
The Stampede started its own investigation as soon as the allegations were brought to them, and contacted the police.
“The results of that investigation clearly showed he was in breach of our code of conduct and frankly, would have been terminated had he not resigned.”
Kadatz said his organization is “extremely shocked and saddened by the situation.”
“We all care very deeply about our students and their families,” he said, adding the members and families directly affected are being offered support and confidential counselling. “It’s a difficult situation for the Young Canadians team,” he added. “They have a lot of family, friends of the Calgary Stampede and community support behind them.” Dave Pierce, creative producer of the Grandstand Show, stressed the Grandstand and the Young Canadians are separate entities, adding he was surprised by Friday’s developments. “I’m as blindsided as someone on the street, really,” Pierce said. Heerema was arrested Thursday and charged with three counts of child pornography, two counts of sexual assault, six counts of child luring via computer, and two counts of inciting sexual contact with a youth by a person in author-ity He appeared in court via CCTV on $2,000 cludingthe Friday victims, bail havingand the with Youngwasno conditions,contact released Canadians, within- on the under Calgary18 without Stampede, anotheror any adult child present. He cannot seek employment or volunteer work in a position of trust or authority over children under 18. He must not be in possession of or use any computer or mobile device, and cannot access the Internet unless it’s for work purposes.
His next court appearance is scheduled for July 8.
Heerema, who lives with his parents at their home in the quiet northwest community of Montgomery, must also have all computers locked up at the home.
His mother said Heerema, one of four sons, has lived at their home for 50 years. But she was “not really” aware her son was being investigated by police.
She declined to comment further on the advice of Heerema’s lawyer.
I never had any problems with Phil. He was always outgoing and good with everybody and I’m kind of shocked about the allegations..