Latest news with #ChristianCentreAcademy
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
Former Saskatoon Christian school leader found guilty of assaulting students
A former director of Christian Centre Academy in Saskatoon has been convicted of assaulting multiple students over several years. John Olubobokun was found guilty on all nine counts of assault with a weapon in provincial court on Monday. For former student Caitlin Erickson, the guilty verdict is a long-awaited moment of justice. 'It was just very emotional to hear the judge validate everything that happened,' Erickson said. 'This was the first time to actually have a judge sit there and just be like, this was not OK, and this was abuse.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The assaults occurred during Olubobokun's tenure as the school's director from 2003 to 2007. Charges were not filed until 2023, when several former students came forward, sharing accounts of being struck with a wooden cricket bat-like paddle while attending the private Christian school. Story continues below advertisement Erickson, who was among those who came forward, believes the school's multiple name changes over the years, including to Legacy Christian Academy and now Valour Academy, were attempts to distance the institution from the allegations. However, she remains hopeful that accountability will ultimately be taken. 'This is one person, but there was a lot of people… the school leadership, the church leadership that knew what this man was doing,' Erickson said. 'Some of them facilitated or were party to it as well.' While Olubobokun's conviction is seen as a victory, Erickson emphasized that this is just one step in a much larger fight for justice. She and other former students continue to press forward with additional criminal trials still to come, as well as an appeal of a judge's dismissal of a class-action lawsuit filed back in June. 'We're just gonna continue down this path of just showing up for court, continuing to be there, continuing to have the strength to testify against these people,' Erickson said. 'We'll continue to see this process through.' Olubobokun will be sentenced later this month.
CBC
3 days ago
- CBC
Former Saskatoon Christian school director found guilty of assaulting students
A Saskatoon judge has found John Olubobokun, former director at Christian Centre Academy in Saskatoon, guilty on all nine counts of assault with a weapon. Former students say they were struck with a paddle while attending the school.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Former Christian school director found guilty of assault with a weapon
A former private Christian school director has been found guilty on all nine charges of assault with a weapon. During her two-hour decision, Justice Lisa Watson found John Olubobokun, 65, hit students with a wooden paddle while he was a director at Christian Centre Academy from 2003 - 2007. The school has since changed names twice, first to Legacy Christian Academy, and is now known as Valour Academy. Olubobokun's trial began in June 2024 with nine former students testifying that he hit them with a wooden paddle. The trial then resumed in March with testimony from defence witnesses including Olubobokun himself. During his testimony, he denied paddling any students. He agreed paddling was part of the disciplinary process, but said it was carried out by the principal. He testified wooden paddles were removed from the school in 2004, following a Supreme Court ruling that banned corporal punishment. In her decision, Watson said she found Olubobokun was not credible, citing several inconsistencies in his testimony. She also found he changed demeanour during his testimony and was evasive in cross examination. Watson believed paddles continued to be used in the school following the supreme court ruling. She found the crown's witnesses credible and believed all nine students were hit with a wooden paddle. Former student Caitlin Erickson said hearing the verdict was validating. A sentencing date has yet to be set.
Global News
12-05-2025
- Global News
Former Christian school principal on trial for assault charges in Saskatoon
A former principal at a private Christian school in Saskatoon is now facing trial on multiple assault charges. Duff Arthur Friesen's trial began Monday at the Court of King's Bench in Saskatoon, with jurors selected that same morning. The trial is set to run until May 21. Friesen, 67, who elected to be tried by a judge and jury, is facing 11 counts of assault with a weapon. However, this trial will address four of these charges, which were laid in June 2023. The charges stem from allegations reported to authorities in 2021 and 2022. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The reported incidents are alleged to have taken place during the 2003-04 school year at what was then known as Christian Centre Academy, later renamed Legacy Christian Academy, and now called Valour Academy, operated by Mile Two Church. Friesen is one of several former staff members named in a $25-million class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by former students, claims there was a long-standing history of physical and sexual abuse at the school. Story continues below advertisement A second jury trial related to the remaining charges against Friesen is scheduled for September. Before the trial, Friesen requested a publication ban on all court proceedings, including the verdict. A hearing on this request took place in March, with some media organizations opposing the ban. In April, Justice Natasha Crooks granted the request, and the publication ban will remain in effect until the conclusion of Friesen's second trial in September.
CBC
02-05-2025
- CBC
Lawyers make closing arguments at assault trial for former director at Saskatoon Christian school
Lawyers have made their closing arguments at the trial for a former director of a private Christian school in Saskatoon. John Olubobokun, 64, is charged with nine counts of assault with a weapon for allegedly using a wooden paddle to hit students. The charges date back to when he was the director at Christian Centre Academy for four years starting in 2003. The school was later renamed Legacy Christian Academy, then Valour Academy. The trial in Saskatoon provincial court began in June 2024 with testimony from nine students and other Crown witnesses, then continued in March with defence witnesses. On Friday, defence lawyer Ron Piché argued the testimony Olubobokun gave in his own defence, as well as the testimony of other defence witnesses, raises reasonable doubt. "He was very clear that as director, he was not responsible for this type of conduct, this type of discipline," Piché said. Piché questioned why the students didn't go to their parents or to police at the time of the alleged paddlings and why there are no photographs of bruising. Judge Lisa Watson interjected to note that Piché's musings were "speculative," particularly given the insular nature of the community of the school and its associated church. Piché also insinuated the former students have a financial interest in the outcome of the case, as there is a separate civil case — a proposed class-action lawsuit — against the school and connected church. There was some discussion about Section 43 of the Criminal Code, which reads: "Every schoolteacher, parent or person standing in the place of a parent is justified in using force by way of correction toward a pupil or child, as the case may be, who is under his care, if the force does not exceed what is reasonable under the circumstances." In 2004, a Supreme Court of Canada ruling narrowed the scope of the section, including by saying an object cannot be used. It defined "reasonable" force as that which would have a "transitory and trifling" impact on the child. Referencing the use of objects, Watson asked Piché if he had any case law where an instrument is used and it falls within the parameters of Section 43. "No," Piché answered. Crown prosecutor Sheryl Fillo argued that by virtue of the allegations, "with the implement being used," there is no defence under Section 43. She said it was important for the court to hear about the "unique situation" of how the school was run and interconnected with the church, and the consequences students and their entire families would face for speaking out. The school and the church are in the same building. "These were people that were at the church almost daily — at the school, at the church, at this building, almost daily," Fillo said. In response to Piché's reference to the civil suit, Fillo pointed out how, during their testimonies, she asked each former student about when they decided to come forward to police, and that they all had reasons for doing so when they did. The judge is scheduled to give her decision on July 21.
