UBC SHIFTS STANCE, WELCOMES FURLONG

Controversy over unproven allegations

VANCOUVER • John Furlong’s on-again, off-again speaking gig at the University of British Columbia is on again.

The former CEO of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics has been reinstated as the keynote speaker at a university fundraising breakfast for student athletes.

UBC had earlier cancelled Furlong’s engagement at the Feb. 28 event, apparently to avoid controversy over past unproven allegations against him.

On Monday, UBC president Santa Ono, who had apologized to Furlong last Tuesday, said his decision to reverse course and re-invite Furlong was “simply the right thing to do.

“With today’s decision, we are making right the fundamental wrong at the heart of the issue: a well-intentioned but incorrect decision to cancel John’s speaking engagement in the first place,” Ono said in a news release.

“John Furlong has an extraordinary record of public service and accomplishment, and is the holder of an honorary UBC doctorate degree.

“He has been, and continues to be a champion for amateur sport in Canada and around the world. In this regard, he is especially qualified to speak at this event for the benefit of our aspiring student athletes. We confirm that Mr. Furlong has graciously accepted our invitation.”

The allegations against Furlong arose in a 2012 Georgia Straight article in which freelance writer Laura Robinson reported claims that Furlong had physically abused First Nations students in northern B.C. decades earlier.

The Georgia Straight story set off a chain of legal actions that included Furlong suing Robinson, three people filing sexual-abuse lawsuits against Furlong — which were all later dropped or dismissed — and Robinson launching a counter lawsuit, alleging he had damaged her reputation in public statements.

Furlong denied the allegations in Robinson’s story and while he initially sued both her and the Georgia Straight for defamation, he dropped the suit, leaving the claims in the article untested. The B.C. Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that Furlong did not defame Robinson.

Glynnis Kirchmeier, a former UBC student who has filed a human rights complaint against the university over their handling of sexual assault reports, had written the institution asking that Furlong not speak at the athletic fundraising event.

After Ono’s apology last week, Kirchmeier said in an interview that she was outraged. She said then that it appeared the university cancelled Furlong’s speech to avoid controversy, but once the cancellation caused controversy, administrators began scrambling in the other direction. “It’s really appalling, and it really shows how careless they are about the issue of … violence against aboriginal people. Everything they say they care about is just a fabrication.”

In a statement Monday, Furlong said his invitation to speak at the school was “both a privilege and an honour.”

The 66-year-old sports administrator also expressed gratitude to those who have supported him during the past two weeks.

“It’s been very humbling and helped immensely in keeping spirits up. As most everyone can understand, this has been a terribly difficult time for us; however adversity is a force in sports, in business and in life that can reveal uncommon strength and humanity. I respect and appreciate that president Ono and board chair Stuart Belkin have shown decisive leadership, making a wrong decision right,” said Furlong.