Latest news with #MacDougall
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Man sues over claim of sex abuse by priests
A Winnipeg man who claims he was repeatedly sexually violated by at least two Catholic priests while growing up in Stony Mountain is suing over the alleged abuse. In a statement of claim filed in Manitoba Court of King's Bench earlier this month, the man accuses the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Winnipeg and its corporate arm of failing to protect him from abuse while he was a child. The man, now 62, alleges the abuse began when he was five years old and continued until he was 13, between 1967 and 1974. The court papers allege the two named priests — Rev. Harold J. Bedford and Rev. Robert L. MacDougall, both Jesuits who died more than 20 years ago — were pedophiles. Both also served as chaplains at Stony Mountain Institution, the federal prison. 'The priests assaulted the plaintiff by, among other things, exposing themselves to the plaintiff, molesting the plaintiff, performing fellatio on the plaintiff and sodomizing the plaintiff,' the lawsuit alleges. 'The plaintiff says there were over 100 total assaults.' The archdiocese has yet to respond to the claim with statements of defence and the allegations have not been heard in court. The court papers claim, in addition to MacDougall and Bedford, other priests abused the plaintiff in his youth, too, but he forgets the particulars due to his age, the trauma and the passage of time. The lawsuit claims priests were given unfettered access to members of St. Joseph's Church in the town, at their homes and elsewhere. The man alleges the priests separately and repeatedly abused him at different points. Bedford was the priest at the church and served as a chaplain at Stony Mountain prison from about 1936 to 1971. He died in 2004 at the age of 98. He was later honoured in 1983 at a reception at the prison, said a Free Press story that named Bedford as the longest-serving chaplain in the federal corrections system. The court papers claim Bedford began to abuse the plaintiff when he was about five in 1967, spending an 'exceptional amount of time' at the victim's house. Bedford would molest the boy while tucking him into bed, the court papers claim. He alleges he was sexually and physically assaulted on multiple occasions at the church, and once while attending a church service at the prison, when he was molested and sodomized in a bathroom. The plaintiff claims he reported the assaults to community members and church officials, but was called a liar and told not to say anything. He also alleges he witnessed Bedford sexually assault his mother and sisters. He alleges Bedford and other church officials 'employed a practice of intimidation' to stop him from speaking about the assaults. MacDougall was priest at the church and chaplain at the prison beginning around 1970, the court papers say. His Free Press obituary said the chaplain term lasted from 1970 to 1974. He died in 2004 at the age of 81. The plaintiff claims MacDougall molested him in his car beginning in 1971. He also alleges MacDougall would watch him urinate and would molest and sexually and physically assault him during lunchtime catechism classes at the church. In 2023, MacDougall was named by the Jesuits of Canada on a list of priests or brothers 'credibly accused' of child sex abuse. MacDougall was accused of 'inappropriate relationships' with minors between 1973 and 1975 while he was a pastor in Winnipeg, a spokesman for the Jesuits said in 2023. He was assigned to the St. Ignatius Parish in 1975. The Free Press is not naming the plaintiff due to the nature of the allegations. His lawyer, Faron Trippier, did not return a request for comment Monday. The court papers allege the archdiocese had a practice of hiring and employing priests it knew or ought to have known were sexual offenders, demonstrating reckless and callous disregard for children's well-being. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. The man accuses the archdiocese of failing in its duty to protect him and failing to act after hearing of the alleged abuse. The court papers also accuse the archdiocese of negligence by placing the priests in positions of trust, failing to prevent abuse, failing to investigate and failing to warn members of the church community. The lawsuit argues the archdiocese should be held vicariously liable for its priests' alleged actions. The plaintiff claims to have suffered mental and emotional trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for his suffering, lost income and the costs of future treatment. Erik PinderaReporter Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik. Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Ottawa Citizen
7 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Charlottetown Islanders' Jardine, P.E.I.'s MacDougall win CHL awards
Charlottetown Islanders defenceman Max Jardine made franchise history while P.E.I.'s Gardiner MacDougall joined select company at the 2025 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Awards Luncheon in Toronto on June 13. Article content Jardine became the first Islanders' player to be named the CHL humanitarian of the year, which is presented annually to a 'player judged to have made the most notable contribution to his community,' noted a media release. Article content Article content Article content 'It's a great honour,' said Jardine during a media availability after accepting the award. 'It's hard to take credit for it all. Article content Article content 'A big thanks primarily to the Charlottetown Islanders for making all this possible and to Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish and Crime Stoppers for getting me involved this year. I'm happy to do it.' Article content Article content Article content MacDougall. from Bedeque, is only the third winner of the Brian Kilrea Trophy as coach of the year in their first year with a CHL team along with fellow Prince Edward Islander Gerard (Turk) Gallant of Summerside and Craig Hartsburg. Gallant won the award with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in the 2009-10 season while Hartsburg accomplished the feat in the 1994-95 campaign with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Article content Article content The coach-of-the-year award honours Kilrea, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame who coached the OHL's Ottawa 67's for 32 seasons and is the winningest coach in CHL history. Article content 'It's obviously a historic, significant honour when you look at the names on the trophy; just the tradition of that,' said MacDougall. Article content Article content The CHL awards feature the award winners from the QMJHL, OHL and Western Hockey League (WHL). Jardine and MacDougall were named the QMJHL winners for their respective awards in Quebec City on June 5. Article content Islanders general manager and head coach Jim Hulton said Jardine winning the national award is 'an extremely proud moment' for the entire organization.
Ottawa Citizen
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Wildcats' MacDougall named Canadian Hockey League coach of the year
Gardiner MacDougall, whose seamless transition from coaching university hockey to the major junior ranks resulted in another championship for the Moncton Wildcats, was named the Brian Kilrea Trophy winner as Canadian Hockey League coach of the year Friday in Toronto. Article content In his first year behind the Wildcats' bench after retiring from 24 seasons as head coach at the University of New Brunswick Reds men's hockey team, MacDougall led the Wildcat to a franchise record campaign that resulted in a 53-9-2-0 regular-season record and a 16-3 slate en route to winning the Gilles Courteau Trophy as QMJHL champions in May. Article content Article content Article content The impressive credentials produced regular-season franchise records for most wins (53), most points (108), fewest regulation losses (9), fewest goals against (144), and best points percentage (.844). Article content Article content During his career at UNB, MacDougall's teams won nine University Cup titles, including back-to-back crowns in 2023 and 2024, the latter an undefeated season that culminated with the title in Toronto. He earned hi third U Sports men's hockey coach of the year for that remarkable accomplishment. Several months later, he retired from the UNB post and took over the Wildcats team. Article content He led the Cats to their first title since 2010 and advanced to the semifinal of the Memorial Cup in Rimouski. Article content The team's winning percentage was the eighth-best all-time in the QMJHL and 10th-best in the CHL since 2000. As all championship teams appears to accomplish, the Wildcats were staunch defensively, yielding the CHL-best defensive showing with a 2.25 goals-against average, which ranked fifth in QMJHL history. Article content Article content MacDougall is the third coach in CHL history to win the CHL coach of the year award in his first season, joining Craig Hartsburg (Guelph Storm, 1995) and Gerard Gallant (Saint John Sea Dogs in 2010). Article content In additional to his University Cup success, MacDougall also led the Sea Dogs to the 2022 Memorial Cup when the event was held at TD Station. Article content Two other Wildcats were finalists for national CHL awards. Article content Berkly Catton of the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL was named the sportsman of the year, a category in which Julius Sumpf of the Cats was a finalist. Newly named Wildcats captain Caleb Desnoyers was a finalist for the Top Prospect award, which went to Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters.
Hamilton Spectator
13-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
A Legacy of Love: Bethell Hospice Celebrates 15 Years
Bethell Hospice celebrated 15 years since opening its doors with a themed Garden Party. Invitees were invited to bask in the history of Bethell Hospice palliative care and walk the surrounding therapeutic gardens. Lorna Bethell, the driving force behind Bethell Hospice in Caledon, during the event, was remembered for her unwavering belief that everyone deserves to die with dignity, surrounded by loved ones and free from pain. Inspired by personal loss and her husband Tony's experience as a survivor of The Great Escape during the Second World War, Lorna was determined that no one should face death alone. Her vision for a hospice residence was also shaped by her own experiences sleeping upright in a hospital chair beside her stepson, Jamie, and caring for Tony at home before his death from cancer in 2004. Encouraged by her daughter Elizabeth, a VON (Victorian Order of Nurses) nurse who saw the need for hospice care firsthand, Lorna spearheaded the creation of the ten-bed Bethell Hospice residence. Following its opening, she focused her efforts on ensuring hospice services remained free for residents and families, becoming a tireless advocate for fundraising and personally engaging with residents until she died in 2013. Her legacy lives on through the care and comfort Bethell Hospice continues to provide. Bethell opened its doors in the Inglewood community in April 2010. Adrian Horwood shared during the event that over the 15 years, more than 2,000 people have resided in Bethell, and another 11,000 have been impacted by their community programs. 'I know that many of the supporters and staff and volunteers are here today because of a strong desire to contribute to all that Bethell stands for based on our personal understanding of the hospice. Many of you were really fundamental to getting this organization going 15 years ago. Many are here who are essential to sustaining the ongoing work through your volunteerism and philanthropy and work,' shared Horwood. 'To date, you and the community have raised over $14 million to support Bethell.' Bart MacDougall, Lorna's brother, also shared a few words at the event. 'Nothing gives me more pleasure or makes me prouder than to be asked to pay tribute to your community for the creation of this wonderful place we know as Bethell Hospice. I've wanted the opportunity to do just that since it opened 15 years ago,' shared MacDougall. MacDougall shared that what makes Bethell special is the team of approximately 145 volunteers who provide support for those employed there and help prepare meals, sit with residents, and maintain the garden. 'Dare I suggest that you are the envy of any community that is aware of your accomplishment. You have earned the thanks and admiration of those you have served. You are to be congratulated as a community for creating a model hospice facility that deserves ongoing support in the years ahead,' said MacDougall. He also shared that the genesis of the hospice rests with Lorna's daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth Birnie served on the Residences Building and Design Committee, and then as Chair of the Bethell Hospice Foundation Board from 2011 to 2013. Since retiring as a Board Member, Birnie continues her involvement with Bethell Hospice as a kitchen volunteer, cooking and serving meals to residents and their families. Birnie, wearing the same purple jacket she wore 15 years ago on opening day, addressed the room of friends, families, volunteers, and other attendees. She told stories of how Bethell began as a 10,000-square-foot house in a hay field with a few apple trees and mostly rocks and gravel on site. 'This landscaping committee, over the course of 15 years, have taken this four-acre property and turned it into this most magnificent oasis where our families and people can come out in their beds and experience the surroundings,' shared Birnie. Birnie said her mother loved high tea, thus sparking the idea for the Garden Party High Tea event that day. Bethell Hospice also acknowledged the Foundation team and the volunteers and staff who brought Bethell to where it is today. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Ottawa Citizen
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
MacDougall thrilled to build on tradition of P.E.I. coaches in QMJHL
Article content Gardiner MacDougall said winning the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) coach-of-the-year award is a tremendous honour and privliege to follow in the footsteps of previous winners from P.E.I. Article content 'It's nice to follow and keep up the Island tradition of top coaches in this league,' MacDougall told The Guardian in a phone interview on June 5. '(Charlottetown Islanders general manager and head coach) Jimmy Hulton got it a couple of times and (former Saint John Sea Dogs head coach) Gerard (Turk) Gallant (of Summerside) got it a couple of times. Article content Article content MacDougall, from Bedeque, was named the award recipient during the QMJHL's Golden Pucks Awards in Quebec City on June 5. Article content In his first season with the Moncton Wildcats after 24 years as head coach of the UNB men's hockey program, MacDougall led the team to a franchise record of 53 wins and 108 points while scoring a league-best 294 goals and allowing a league-low 144. The Wildcats recently won the franchise's third QMJHL championship and its first in 15 years. At the Memorial Cup Canadian major-junior hockey championship tournament, the Wildcats were eliminated in the semifinals by the eventual-champion London Knights. Article content 'One guy gets the recognition but it's a full team effort, ' said MacDougall. 'The head coach gets the honour but I had the best staff as well. Article content 'I had a terrific assistant coaching staff, training staff, fitness staff and obviously I had a pretty good GM (MacDougall's son, Taylor MacDougall) and a tremendous owner (Robert Irving).' Article content Article content 'We said this year the strength of our team is the team and when you get team success, there is a lot of recognition for different players and in this case a coach.' Article content Article content MacDougall praised the contributions of the entire staff, noting everyone bought in from the opening practice. Article content 'We played better hockey the second half and had a tremendous playoff,' said MacDougall. 'It's always disappointing to come up a little short at the Memorial Cup but, overall, it was a pretty special year, especially for the players.' Article content Asked if there was anything in particular that stuck out from his first season with the Wildcats, MacDougall acknowledged there were a lot of 'wow' moments.
