All governments must hold Calgary Stampede accountable after sex abuse settlement: MP

The abuse dates back to at least 1992. Joel Cowley, the Stampede’s chief executive officer, has said the organization took immediate action when it learned of allegations in 2014.

“The Calgary Stampede takes responsibility and acknowledges that we should have known much sooner. For this, we are truly sorry,” he said in a statement Friday.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs, in a release Monday, said the Stampede’s apology is half-hearted.

“In 1988 there was a clear and specific complaint arising from Mr. Heerema’s sexual abuse, to a senior Stampede official, made by a member of the Young Canadians. This was not acted upon. Further complaints of impropriety were made involving Mr. Heerema, which should have been investigated, and which were apparently ignored.”

The Stampede did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawyers’ statement.

Chahal said the Stampede’s expressions of remorse, while they may be sincere, are inadequate. The public deserves to know what happened and someone needs to be held accountable, he said.

“I’m focused on continuing to ensure that accountability is provided to the public and that this organization is being transparent, but also on reconciliation with the victims.”

The lawsuit is still before the courts. Damages are to be worked out later this summer, pending the approval of the settlement from a judge at an upcoming court date on Sept. 25.

Chahal is the only Alberta politician so far to directlycall for financial consequences for the Stampede.

Ron Liepert, the only one of nine Calgary Conservative MPs to respond to a query from The Canadian Press on Monday, said Chahal is grandstanding.

“(Chahal) knows how unpopular the Trudeau Liberals are in Alberta. He can’t defend their record so is looking for other issues to try and change the channel.”

Liepert said he has no evidence that the Stampede board has lost public trust.

On Friday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Stampede funding from the province’s United Conservative government would continue. Tanya Fir, Alberta’s minister of arts, culture and Status of Women, said she would meet with the Stampede to discuss the safety of youth involved with the festival.

The province grants the Stampede about $6 million a year.

In a statement, provincial New Democrat Opposition Leader Rachel Notley said: “The Calgary Stampede has enjoyed tremendous support from multiple levels of government and from all Calgarians.

“A full and clear accountability for the Stampede’s role in this abuse and resulting trauma is needed.”

Also Friday, when asked about the Stampede’s settlement, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said: “Any time that a victim steps forward, especially when it’s a young person and they describe something terrible has happened to them and we don’t take action, that’s an absolute travesty.”

“And in this particular situation, the fact that children were not listened to when they came home with their stories is the tragedy.”

“I am happy that accountability has been accepted by the Calgary Stampede,” she added.

She said council will look “very carefully” at whatever measures the Stampede puts in place to ensure such abusenever happens again.

Heritage Canada did not respond to requests for comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2023.

— By Bob Weber in Edmonton

The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version misspelled the first name of Philip Heerema.

by The Canadian Press

All governments must hold Calgary Stampede accountable after sex abuse settlement: MP

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