A teacher’s license was revoked, and they were banned from the profession for life, after the regulatory board for teachers’ child pornography investigation concluded against the Fort St John man.
The ex-teacher was certified by the province in 2003. He worked at Margaret “Ma” Community School, where he was arrested in April 2021, a month after the RCMP searched his home. This move came after a Tumblr account with inappropriate images of grade school-aged children was linked to his email address.
“Several electronic devices were seized. One of these devices contained over 500 photos and videos of children, believed to be between the age of three and 13,” the decision from the British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulation said.
“Some of the Images were considered by the RCMP to be consistent with the definition of child pornography,” the regulatory group wrote. Officers explained they were able to confirm the device belonged to the man because it was linked to his account and had his documents, including his resume and teaching materials.
Despite this, the Crown did not approve the charges against the ousted teacher.
The BCCTR, however, acted immediately by placing him on administrative leave on the day of his arrest. They suspended his license a month later. In July of that year, the man was barred from teaching until a decision was made in his case, according to the provincial regulator of teachers.
Now, their final decision said he cannot teach and will never teach in the province of British Columbia again.
“The Director of Certification will never be required to issue to him, a certificate of qualification, an independent school teaching certificate or any other authorization to teach in the kindergarten to grade 12 education system,” the regulatory body said while outlining the consequences for his actions.
In the decision, the man agreed that the BCCTR’s recollection of events was accurate. He also admitted his behaviour was “unbecoming” and contrary to the professional standards educators are held to in the province.
