By Canadian Press

‘Morally despicable:’ Judge sentences former Young Canadians worker to 10 years

May 2, 2018 | 11:43 AM

CALGARY — An Alberta judge has sentenced a man who worked for decades with a young people’s performance group to 10 years in prison for “morally despicable” sex offences against some performers.

Justice Larry Ackerl accepted a joint sentencing recommendation Wednesday after Philip Heerema, 55, pleaded guilty midway through his trial in January.

Heerema resigned in 2014 from The Young Canadians School of Performing Arts in Calgary when police began investigating several complaints. The six victims were male students between the ages of 15 and 17 who were at the school between 1992 and 2013.

Heerema pleaded guilty to charges that included sexual assault, sexual exploitation, luring and making child pornography.

“In that formal position of trust and authority, Heerema ingratiated himself into the personal lives of these young men. He became a mentor, a father figure and a perceived friend,” Ackerl said.

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“His persistent, sophisticated ingratiation moved deliberately to unsettling sexual innuendo and ultimately degenerated into sexual abuse.”

The school works with students between the ages of 11 and 18. Their training in dance, voice and performance culminates with grandstand shows during the Calgary Stampede every July.

Ackerl said Heerema “identified, targeted, relentlessly pursued and groomed” the young men who the judge said were both especially talented and vulnerable.

“Mr. Heerema recognized, manipulated and preyed on their vulnerability in abusing his position of trust,” said Ackerl.

“He resoundingly betrayed the trust that these boys had reposed in him. His calculated conduct was morally despicable and ultimately criminal.”

Ackerl said Heerema’s remorse for his actions was limited and not considered a mitigating factor in sentencing.

“His abuse was serious, tactical and calculated. It arose not from spontaneous, isolated miscalculations. Rather, it revealed a pattern of deliberate and escalated conduct.”

Ackerl suggested that Heerema follow the treatment plan laid out by the court psychologist.

“I understand through your counsel that you have an interest in exploring access to that treatment. I hope your interest is legitimate and I hope that it is pursued.”

The mother of the first victim to come forward with allegations said 10 years isn’t long enough.

“I appreciate the judge’s comments. They were very thoughtful, but I wish he had actually done more to admonish Phil. He had an opportunity to say in words that he was a monster and that he still did not accept responsibility,” the woman, who cannot be identified, said outside court.

“His apology was not genuine. He never said once he was sorry to the children. He never said I am sorry for what I’ve done,” she said.

“What he said was, ‘I’m sorry for the choices I’ve made’ and he made it sound like he was taken down a path by the children and that he went willingly with them.”

— Follow @BillGraveland on Twitter

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press