A jury in Saskatoon has convicted 68-year-old Duff Arthur Friesen of assaulting three former students at a private Christian school using a wooden paddle. Friesen, the former principal of Christian Centre Academy, was found guilty of three counts of assault with a weapon. The charges involved former students Andrew Watson, Robynne Randall, and Jillian Kudryk. However, he was acquitted on two counts related to Coy Nolin and Sean Kotelmach.
During the trial, one juror initially dissented from the guilty verdict, but after further deliberation, the jury unanimously maintained the guilty verdict. The school, initially known as Christian Centre Academy, later changed its name to Legacy Christian Academy, and is currently operating as Valour Academy, closely affiliated with Encounter Church, formerly Mile Two Church.
The court proceedings involved detailed testimonies outlining how the school operated with strict rules, including restrictions on media consumption. Discipline at the academy ranged from demerits to paddling, with paddles escalating in size based on the student’s level of offense. Witness accounts described the paddling as a form of “scriptural discipline,” administered by the school director or principal for various infractions.
In a separate trial last year, Friesen faced similar assault charges and was convicted on one count. He received a community-based sentence. Friesen is one of several individuals associated with the school facing criminal charges following allegations from former students.
Another individual connected to the school, John Olubobokun, was found guilty of multiple assault charges and received community-based sentences. The use of paddles on children was deemed harmful and degrading by the judge overseeing Olubobokun’s case.
Furthermore, Ken Schultz, facing assault and sexual assault charges for incidents at Christian Centre Academy in the early 2000s, awaits trial. Aaron Benneweis, a former athletic director, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault involving a student at the school.
Former students have initiated a proposed class-action lawsuit against Mile Two Church and several former employees, including Friesen, Olubobokun, Schultz, and Benneweis, seeking damages exceeding $25 million. The lawsuit, initially dismissed but later reinstated on appeal, highlights the ongoing legal battles stemming from alleged misconduct at the private Christian school.
