Tuesday, December 23, 2025
ADVT 
National

Judge to decide on approving $9.5M-settlement in Stampede abuse class-action lawsuit

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Apr, 2024 12:03 PM
  • Judge to decide on approving $9.5M-settlement in Stampede abuse class-action lawsuit

The agreement is related to the case of Phillip Heerema. 

Heerema received a 10-year prison sentence in 2018 after pleading guilty to charges including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, child pornography and luring. 

Heerema admitted he used his position with the Young Canadians School of Performing Arts — which performs each year in the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show — to lure and groom six boys into sexual relationships between 2005 and 2014, as well as in 1992. 

The Stampede has agreed to pay $9.5 million in damages and Justice Paul Jeffrey will decide on June 28 whether to approve it.

The majority of the money will go to the roughly two dozen complainants who most impacted by the abuse.

MORE National ARTICLES

Fear of avian flu on BC farms

Fear of avian flu on BC farms
The threat is avian flu, which has resulted in the deaths of millions of birds from infection or culling, and has become a pervasive fear for farmers as infections spread, said Brittain, chief information officer with the BC Poultry Association.

Fear of avian flu on BC farms

Man dies in Vancouver stabbing

Man dies in Vancouver stabbing
Vancouver police are investigating the city's latest homicide. A 34-year-old man was fatally stabbed yesterday afternoon on the city's Downtown Eastside and was found lying on a sidewalk at about 3 p.m.

Man dies in Vancouver stabbing

B.C. opposition parties heat up climate debate with attacks on NDP's plans

B.C. opposition parties heat up climate debate with attacks on NDP's plans
Climate change has become a hot button political issue in British Columbia with opposition parties launching election-style attacks on the New Democrat government's clean climate policies. B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad told a news conference at the legislature that the NDP's climate policies are taxing people into poverty and they don't do anything "to change the weather."  

B.C. opposition parties heat up climate debate with attacks on NDP's plans

Israel-Hamas hostage deal offers hope for longer-term peace in Gaza: Trudeau

Israel-Hamas hostage deal offers hope for longer-term peace in Gaza: Trudeau
The Israeli government said it would extend the truce by an additional day for every 10 hostages released, while Hamas is promising that hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including fuel, will be allowed to enter Gaza.

Israel-Hamas hostage deal offers hope for longer-term peace in Gaza: Trudeau

Fighting inflation half-heartedly would be ‘huge mistake,’ BoC's Macklem warns

Fighting inflation half-heartedly would be ‘huge mistake,’ BoC's Macklem warns
The central bank opted to hold its key interest rate steady at five per cent at its last two decision meetings as economic growth halts. It has said it is also taking into consideration that many Canadians will have to renew their mortgages at higher interest rates, meaning more economic pullback is on the way.

Fighting inflation half-heartedly would be ‘huge mistake,’ BoC's Macklem warns

Immigration minister welcomes news Canadians can get tourist visas to India again

Immigration minister welcomes news Canadians can get tourist visas to India again
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says he's happy to hear that Canadians can once again apply online for tourist visas to India after two months of diplomatic tensions. The decision, which is effective as of today, was confirmed in a statement on social media by the High Commission of India in Ottawa. 

Immigration minister welcomes news Canadians can get tourist visas to India again