Child sex abuse trial begins in Calgary

FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE YOUNG CANADIANS PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO CHILD SEX ABUSE

A longtime employee of a performance group that entertains each year at the Calgary Stampede has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges related to child sex abuse.

A trial for Philip Heerema, 55, began Monday on charges that include sexual assault, luring and child pornography.

Police began investigating in January 2014 after they received a complaint from a student and his parents of an inappropriate relationship with a “person of authority” in The Young Canadians troupe.

“The charges in this case are serious,” said Crown prosecutor Martha O’Connor in her opening remarks to the court.

“The Crown alleges that the accused, Philip Heerema, used his position as the business administrator of The Young Canadians School of Performing Arts, a school operated by the Calgary Stampede Foundation ... to commit sexual offences against the young people who were all at one time students at the performing arts school.”

After the initial complaint was made, another seven complainants came forward, who were all between 15 and 18 years old at the time of the alleged offences, O’Connor said.

Some 17 months later, in June 2015, police laid charges against Heerema.

Calgary police Det. Paul Ralstin apologized to Heerema for the delay when he sat down with him to inform him he was being charged.

“I know it’s taken awhile and it was not my intention to leave you twisting in the wind or anything,” Ralstin said at the beginning of the interview, which was played in court.

“It’s my approach with this file. I wanted to just do this once. I wanted to put forward the most complete investigation.”

Ralstin asked Heerema about his mental health to which the accused replied, “Fine, I guess.”

The detective also asked Heerema what his opinion was of the police.

“I respect them,” Heerema responded.