Holistic expo drops father convicted in son’s death

CALGARY• Organizer sofa holistic medicine expo have dropped David Stephan from the show after the event’s venue objected to his presence.

Stephan, who’s appealing a 2016 conviction of failing to provide the necessaries of life for his 18-month-old son Ezekiel, who died of a bacterial meningitis infection, was to have been a presenter at the Body Soul & Spirit Expo at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino.

But on Wednesday, the Calgary resort’s operators announced they had voiced concerns about Stephan’s role as one of 10 presenters, and that he had been dropped from the show.

“Effective immediately, Body Soul & Spirit has removed David Stephan from participating in the April 27-29 expo,” said a statement issued by event organizers.

The statement also said organizers were “reviewing the exhibitor application process in order to maintain the integrity of all future shows.”

The decision comes two months after the sponsors of a health and wellness show in Calgary pulled out because of Stephan’s role as a keynote speaker, which was then ended.

On Monday, Body Soul & Spirit marketing director Chandler Armstrong said Stephan’s legal issues were entirely separate from the event, adding “we don’t see ourselves qualified in any way to make judgments” on the southern Alberta father.

He said Stephan’s supplemental nutrition company, Truehope, had long been an expo participant, although recent objections from another exhibitor had organizers suggesting to Stephan that someone else represent the company in Calgary.

Calgary medical ethicist Dr. Juliet Guichon said she was surprised Stephan has any credibility left to sell his wares.

“People have a right to earn a living and he does have other children but he has disqualified himself as someone purporting to be a natural health expert,” she said, calling Ezekiel’s death in March 2012 “painful and preventable.”

Stephan’s wife, Collet, was also convicted in Lethbridge court in relation to the child’s death. For weeks, the couple treated Ezekiel with horse radish, onions, ginger root and hot peppers despite the warnings of a nurse that the boy appeared to be suffering from meningitis.

The Supreme Court of Canada is to hear their appeal on May 15 and David Stephan remains free on bail until then.

Stephan on Tuesday rejected any link between his conviction, his son’s death and his professional integrity.

“How does that reflect on me whatsoever on my involvement in the natural health industry?” he asked.

Stephan said he is being targeted and “exploited” by what he calls “pharma trolls” and their media allies, and that the court proceedings have been a travesty. He also said he’s made 30 presentations in the past year with few disruptions.