A member of Parliament says he’s calling on the federal authorities to halt funding to the Calgary Stampede.
Liberal member George Chahal, who represents Calgary Skyview, says the Stampede has misplaced folks’s belief.
A partial settlement was reached this week in a class-action lawsuit alleging the group allowed a efficiency faculty staffer to sexually abuse younger boys.
Phillip Heerema is serving a 10-year sentence for luring six boys into sexual relationships when he labored for the Stampede’s Young Canadians School of Performing Arts.
The lawsuit’s three dozen plaintiffs are all males who have been college students, staff, contractors or volunteers with the efficiency faculty.
The Stampede apologized in a press release and stated it takes accountability within the hopes of serving to the victims heal.
Chahal stated authorities funding ought to solely be restored when the victims really feel there was real accountability.
“The Calgary Stampede must recognize that they have lost the trust of many Calgarians,” Chahal stated in a letter posted Thursday night time on social media.
“It is not about enhancing their image or salvaging their brand; it is about ensuring justice, safety and a commitment to never allow such heinous acts to happen within their ranks again.”
The Stampede stated it has taken steps to boost the protection and wellness of its younger contributors.
“Our commitment to those impacted is to do everything possible to guard against anything similar ever happening again,” it stated in a press release Wednesday.
