Parole granted for former health official in B.C. and Alberta who sexually assaulted boy
The former chief medical health officer for British Columbia's Interior Health Authority has been granted full parole from a sentence for sexually assaulting a boy.
Albert de Villiers served less than two years of a 5-1/2-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 of sexual interference of the boy in Grand Prairie, Alta.
The Parole Board of Canada says in a decision issued in April that de Villiers repeatedly sexually touched the young male between 2018 and 2021, sharing pornographic videos to 'groom' the victim.
The board's ruling says de Villiers was granted day parole in October last year, and has since begun rebuilding his relationship with his wife and sons, working with his wife's online business, the name of which is redacted from the decision.
The board says de Villiers, a top public health official in northern Alberta before his move to B.C. in 2020, has a supportive network of family, friends and 'faith community,' which included continuing sessions with his rabbi.
Story continues below advertisement
The decision says de Villiers had no issues while behind bars, and assessments determined him a very low risk to reoffend.
1:27
Former IH top doctor convicted of sexual assault
His parole conditions prohibit him from accessing pornographic materials, and from being in locations where people under 16 are likely to be.
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 board ruled that de Villiers caused 'serious harm' to the victim.
'The impacts on the victim and your betrayal of trust and authority on him and his family cannot be overstated,' the decision says.
'With that said, you have no prior criminal history and have otherwise lived a pro-social life with positive family and a good reputation in the community.'
The board's ruling says de Villiers had no criminal history before his 2021 arrest, but he faced a separate charge of sexual assault in February 2023 that was later stayed and he was placed under a peace bond.
Story continues below advertisement
Parole board decisions are not posted publicly at the time they are issued. The ruling was provided to The Canadian Press upon request.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Man arrested after Utah ‘No Kings' rally shooting is released
A man accused of brandishing a rifle at a 'No Kings' rally in Utah — prompting an armed safety volunteer to open fire and accidentally kill a protester — has been released from jail while the investigation continues. Salt Lake District Attorney Sim Gill's office said Friday that it was unable to make a decision on charges against Arturo Gamboa, who had been jailed on suspicion of murder following the June 14 shooting. Salt Lake City police had said Gamboa brought an assault-style rifle to the rally and was allegedly moving toward the crowd with the weapon raised when a safety volunteer for the event fired three shots, wounding Gamboa and killing a nearby demonstrator, Arthur Folasa Ah Loo. Gamboa did not fire his rifle and it is unclear what he intended to do with it. His father Albert Gamboa, told The Associated Press earlier this week that his son was 'an innocent guy' who was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time.' Story continues below advertisement 3:04 Innocent bystander killed after being mistakenly shot by security volunteer at Utah 'No Kings' rally Utah is an open-carry state, meaning people who can legally own a firearm are generally allowed to carry it on a public street. The volunteer has not been publicly identified as investigators have worked to determine who was at fault. 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 Judge James Blanch said in the release order that Gamboa must live with his father and is forbidden from possessing firearms. The conditions terminate after two months or if criminal charges against him are pursued, Blanch wrote. Gamboa's attorney, Greg Skordas, did not immediately respond to a telephone message left for him seeking comment. Police said the day after the shooting that witnesses reported seeing Gamboa lift the rifle when he was ordered to drop it and that instead he began running toward the crowd. He fled but was arrested nearby, accused of creating the dangerous situation that led to Ah Loo's death. Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen Arthur Folasa Ah Loo was shot at a 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City on June 14 and died at a hospital. @ Salt Lake City police said in a statement the next day that Gamboa 'knowingly engaged in conduct … that ultimately caused the death of an innocent community member.' But three days after Gamboa was booked into jail, with no formal charges filed, police acknowledged that the circumstances surrounding the shooting remained uncertain. They issued a public appeal for any video footage related to the shooting or Gamboa, and said detectives were still trying 'to piece together exactly what happened.' View image in full screen A woman lays flowers Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at a makeshift memorial for Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, known to friends and family as Afa, on the city block in Salt Lake City, where Ah Loo was fatally shot during a 'No Kings' protest on Saturday, June 14. 2025. Hannah Schoenbaum / The Associated Press The volunteer who confronted Gamboa was described by event organizers as a military veteran whose role as a safety volunteer was to maintain order. Story continues below advertisement Experts say it's extremely rare for such individuals, often called safety marshals, to be armed. They typically rely on calm demeanor, communication and relationships with police and protesters to help keep order, said Edward Maguire, an Arizona State University criminology and criminal justice professor. Police said the permit for the protest did not specify that there would be armed security. Protest organizers have not said whether or how the safety volunteer who shot Ah Loo was trained or explained why he was armed. All attendees, including those in safety roles, were asked not to bring weapons, according to Sarah Parker, a national coordinator for the 50501 Movement. Parker's organization on Thursday said it was disassociating from a local chapter of the group that helped organize the Utah protest. The demonstration involving some 18,000 people was otherwise peaceful. It was one of hundreds nationwide against President Donald Trump's military parade in Washington, which marked the Army's 250th anniversary and coincided with Trump's birthday.
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Israel-Iran conflict enters a second week with renewed strikes
The second week of the Israel–Iran war started with a renewed round of strikes targeting an Iranian nuclear research facility near Isfahan. Talks in Geneva on Friday between European foreign ministers and Iran's top diplomat failed to produce a breakthrough. U.S. President Donald Trump continued to weigh his country's military involvement as concerns spiked over potential strikes on Iranian nuclear reactors. Still, European officials expressed hope for future negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was open to further dialogue but stressed Tehran wasn't interested in negotiating while Israel continued attacking. Iranians are left with no internet access again Internet-access advocacy group reported on Saturday that the limited internet access that had come back up in Iran has once again 'collapsed.' Story continues below advertisement The group said on X that the disconnect came after 'a brief period when residents could exchange messages with the outside world.' ⚠️ Update: Internet connectivity has again collapsed in #Iran following a brief period when residents could exchange messages with the outside world; Iran's nation-scale internet shutdown remains in effect, limiting access to information as the conflict with Israel continues — NetBlocks (@netblocks) June 21, 2025 A nationwide internet shutdown has been in place for several days, isolating Iranians. Iran cited concerns about Israeli cyberattacks for the shutdown of mobile and web services. But many Iranians and activists see it as another example of state information control and targeted internet shutdowns the Islamic Republic has deployed during periods of protests and unrest. Internet slowly trickles back in Iran Iranians on Saturday began to see some internet access restored, giving people the opportunity to call friends and family for the first time in days. Story continues below advertisement Those in the diaspora posted on social media about connecting to FaceTime or WhatsApp to call relatives they had been worried about. Government officials had disconnected phone and web services earlier in the week for the more than 90 million people who live in Iran, citing cybersecurity threats from Israel. That left civilians unaware of when and where Israel would strike next and if their family or friends were among the victims. Tasnim News Agency, closely affiliated with Iran's government, quoted the information minister as saying that access to 'international' internet should be restored across the country by 8 p.m. Turkey urges Islamic unity against 'Israeli problem' 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 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says the Middle East is faced with an 'Israeli problem' and called on Islamic countries to take a collective stand and show solidarity with Iran. 'Israel's ongoing aggression and occupation policies clearly show that there is an Israeli problem in our region that needs to be addressed,' Fidan said in an opening speech at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul on Saturday. He also warned that Israel's actions could trigger broader regional instability. 2:26 Is Iran close to a nuclear weapon? Why Israel's Netanyahu thinks they are Italians evacuated from Iran arrive in Azerbaijan The Italian foreign ministry said the 24 Italians are the second group to evacuate via Azerbaijan's Baku. Story continues below advertisement 'After about nine hours of travel and a very long wait at the border, the group was welcomed by representatives of the Italian Embassy in Baku, and then moved to the airport of the Azerbaijani capital to wait to return to Italy with the first available flights,' the ministry said. The group included an Italian doctor and his partner, an Iranian woman, and their 18-month-old child, the ministry said. Another convoy from Iran could depart from Tehran as early as Monday. The first group that arrived in Italy via Baku in recent days had 34 Italian nationals. Italy's foreign ministry also said it chartered a flight to help evacuate its citizens from Israel via Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Sunday. 1:54 How Iranian-Canadians feel about Israel's war Evacuees in Cyprus recall missiles flying overhead Noah Page says it's one thing to watch missiles crisscrossing the sky on the news and another to experience it firsthand. Story continues below advertisement 'You see it on the news, you see everything, but you never really expect it to actually hit you when you're there,' the Ohio-native told the Associated Press. 'As someone who grew up in Canada, it's so foreign to me to even think about missiles or a war and you hear about it on the news and it's just so separate from you,' said Pe'er, a 23-year-old who didn't want to give her last name. 'It sort of felt like fireworks at first until the reality of the situation set in. I need to run or I might end up hurt.' Page and Pe'er were among an estimated 1,500 other young people from around the world visiting Israel who were evacuated by cruise ship on Saturday to Cyprus, the closest European country to Israel, at around 270 kilometers. It was the second such trip by the cruise ship bringing people out while ferrying stranded Israelis back to their homeland. Florida native Alex Rosenblum had been in Israel before in times of war, when the sounds of sirens urging citizens to rush to shelters had become almost routine. But he says this time it was different. 'This situation with Iran has been a lot scarier because there's a big difference between a rocket and a missile,' he said. The three young people found safety in underground shelters when digital alerts were sent out. Story continues below advertisement Iran's Araghchi says it will be 'very dangerous' if US gets involved in warIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it would be 'very, very dangerous for everyone' if the United States becomes actively involved in the war with Israel. View image in full screen Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi listens to speeches as he attends the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting, in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, June 21, 2025. Khalil Hamra / The Associated Press He spoke to reporters in Istanbul on his way home from talks in said American military involvement 'would be very unfortunate.' UN refugee agency calls for de-escalation The UNHCR said Saturday that the intensity of the attacks is already triggering population movements in Israel and Iran: Some from Tehran and other parts of Iran have crossed into neighboring countries while shelling has caused people in Israel to seek shelter elsewhere in the country and, in some cases, abroad. The agency urged states in the region to respect the right of people to seek safety where needed and to facilitate humanitarian access. 'This region has already endured more than its share of war, loss, and displacement — we cannot allow another refugee crisis to take root,' the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said. 'The time to de-escalate is right now. Once people are forced to flee, there's no quick way back — and all too often, the consequences last for generations.' Story continues below advertisement Tehran vows to make Grossi 'pay' A senior adviser for Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, vowed in a social media post Saturday to make the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency 'pay' once the war with Israel is over. Ali Larijani's threat comes as IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has become a major target for many Iranian officials who say his conflicting statements about the status of Iran's nuclear program incited the Israeli surprise attack last week. Grossi told the United Nations' Security Council Friday that while Iran has the material to build a nuclear bomb, it appears they have no plans to do so.
Global News
12 hours ago
- Global News
Interior Health won't rule out pediatrics closure extension
What was supposed to be a six-week closure of the pediatric ward at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) will likely extend beyond that. 'The service interruption itself is really stressful for parents but the uncertainty is even more frustrating,' said Gavin Dew, Conservative MLA for Kelowna-Mission. With the closure of the 10-bed unit now in its fourth week, Interior Health (IH) is still unable to say when it will reopen. In a statement to Global News, IH CEO Susan Brown stated, 'Interior Health leadership is fully committed to restoring full services and the entire team at Kelowna General Hospital are committed to addressing the current challenges and reopening the unit as quickly as possible.' Brown went on to say that reopening will happen as soon as it is safe and feasible but stopped short of providing a more concrete timeline other than stating, 'to build towards reopening, one new pediatrician is starting this summer with two more joining in September.' Story continues below advertisement 3:18 Kelowna General Hospital pediatric unit's troubled history The ward closed on May 26 so that the few pediatricians left working at the hospital would be available to cover critical services, such as high-risk deliveries. 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 Since the ward's closure, 14 young patients have needed a hospital admission and had to be transferred to other hospitals. Five of those patients were transferred to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, nearly 170 km away. The other transfers involved hospitals in Vernon and Penticton. 'That's just not acceptable especially for how fast and big Kelowna is growing to not have that for people,' said Brent Watson, a Kelowna father of two young children. 'I just can't get my head wrapped around it.' Story continues below advertisement KGH doctors have gone public in recent weeks, claiming the current crisis is the result of an inadequate staffing model that often has one pediatrician on shift and makes it impossible to properly care for all the children needing their attention. However, they say the calls for change were ignored for years and prompted specialists to resign. Those resignations culminated in occasional service disruptions and now the lengthy pediatric ward closure. 'Now that they've started speaking out, they've started asking for better,' Dew said. 'I don't think this is going to stop until there's a really serious reset in the system.' That reset many doctors say has to in part involve dual pediatrician coverage 24/7. 2:01 Calls for Interior Health CEO to step down On Friday, Global News asked IH if it will commit to the change. Story continues below advertisement 'We have been moving to that split service delivery model for some time, with contracts, compensation and other solutions in place to support it, with the goal of having pediatricians assigned to both areas, one each at both the NICU and the pediatrics unit,' Brown stated. 'We remain committed to ensure all potential compensation strategies are in place to enable the additional capacity in the pediatrics unit and support a collaborative and sustainable model.' Brown is slated to retire in December. There have been calls from the BC Conservatives to fast-track the leadership transition in order for a new CEO to begin implementing long-term solutions to the crisis.
