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Former Swim Instructor Faces 66 Charges of Sexual Abuse at Nova Scotia Youth Centre

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A 75-year-old former swim instructor, Donald Williams, has been arrested and faces 66 charges of sexual abuse after working at a provincially run youth detention centre in Nova Scotia for nearly three decades. Williams is accused of sexually assaulting more than 300 victims between the ages of 12 and 18, with the alleged abuse taking place between 1980 and 2017. The RCMP's investigation into the matter began in 2018, with 14 team members interviewing hundreds of survivors and witnesses and reviewing thousands of documents.

Key Takeaways:

  • Donald Williams, a 75-year-old former swim instructor, has been arrested and faces 66 charges of sexual abuse at the Nova Scotia Youth Centre in Dartmouth.
  • The charges relate to 30 victims, all but one of whom are boys, and Williams is accused of sexually assaulting more than 300 victims between the ages of 12 and 18.
  • Williams worked at the youth detention centre from 1980 to 2017 and is scheduled to appear in Kentville Provincial Court on September 26.
  • The RCMP's investigation, which began in 2018, involved 14 team members interviewing hundreds of survivors and witnesses and reviewing thousands of documents.
  • A class-action lawsuit was filed against the province in 2019 alleging that residents at the detention centre made multiple reports of sexual abuse and misconduct, but no action was taken.
  • The province filed a notice of defence in 2020, denying negligence and breach of duty.

Statistics:

  • 66 charges filed against Donald Williams
  • 300+ victims allegedly assaulted by Williams between the ages of 12 and 18
  • 30 victims named in the charges, all but one of whom are boys
  • 14 team members involved in the RCMP's investigation
  • Thousands of documents reviewed during the investigation
  • 2018: start of RCMP's investigation
  • 2017: Williams stopped working at the Nova Scotia Youth Centre
  • 2019: class-action lawsuit filed against the province
  • 2020: province filed notice of defence denying negligence and breach of duty

Sources:

  • "Former swim instructor faces 66 charges of sexual abuse at Nova Scotia youth centre" by The Globe and Mail (no date provided)
  • Class-action lawsuit filed against the province in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, 2019 (no date provided)
  • Notice of defence filed by the province in 2020, signed by counsel for the Attorney-General of Nova Scotia, Peter McVey, July 13, 2020 (no date provided)
  • Statement from Nova Scotia's Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Becky Druhan, provided to The Globe and Mail (no date provided)

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