Ex-Young Canadians official going to trial on sex charges
A judge on Tuesday determined there is sufficient evidence to order former Young Canadians senior official Philip Heerema to stand trial on allegations he molested boys in the troupe.
Heerema will appear in Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench Sept. 23, for the purpose of setting a trial date.
Provincial court Judge Albert Skinner committed Heerema to stand trial on 20 of the 22 charges he faced at the beginning of his preliminary inquiry on July 18.
Defence lawyer Allan Fay, who was granted a publication ban on the evidence when the hearing began, challenged the evidence of two of the complainants on charges of Internet luring.
But Skinner found that there was some evidence on which a properly instructed jury could convict on those allegations. Crown prosecutor Martha O’Connor called 10 witnesses over the course of the seven-day hearing.
Heerema, 53, faces allegations involving eight different complainants, all male, who were members of the Young Canadians, the group that does annual performances at the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show.
Among the allegations are charges of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and making child pornography.
The charges involve allegations of inappropriate relationships with teenage boys with the performance troupe between 1997 and 2014.
Heerema, who held many positions with the Young Canadians over a 36-year period, was an administrator with the group at the time he was charged in June 2015.
He was immediately suspended and resigned two days later.
Heerema was released on bail shortly after his arrest.
The hearing was scheduled to last a full two weeks but concluded early.
The charges involve allegations of inappropriate relationships with teenage boys with the performance troupe between 1997 and 2014.