Skip to Main content

13.42°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Apr 24, 2025 12:39 PM - The Canadian Press

Six-year sentence restored for former Alberta school headmaster guilty of sex assault

Share On

six-year-sentence-restored-for-former-alberta-school-headmaster-guilty-of-sex-assault

Sheppard was sentenced to six years in prison, but the Alberta Court of Appeal ruled it was unfit and reduced the term to just under four years.

Canada's highest court has restored a six-year prison sentence for a former headmaster of a defunct boys' school in Alberta who sexually assaulted a student. Paul Sheppard was convicted in 2021 of sex offences against the Grade 7 student at Saint John's School of Alberta, southwest of Edmonton, between 1993 and 1994.

The victim, Steacy Easton, was granted a court application to have a publication ban on their name removed. Sheppard was sentenced to six years in prison, but the Alberta Court of Appeal ruled it was unfit and reduced the term to just under four years. The Supreme Court of Canada says the original six-year term is re-instated and Sheppard must turn himself in to authorities by Friday. Sheppard's trial heard he watched the victim shower and spanked the student as a means of punishment.

Latest news

some-residents-may-remain-in-b-c-landslide-evacuation-zone-after-road-access-cut

Some residents may remain in B.C. landslide evacuation zone after road access cut

Some residents may still be inside an evacuation zone in northeastern British Columbia after road access was closed due to landslide risk, according to the Peace River Regional District. In a social media update, the regional district said a co-ordinated evacuation took place Monday night in the community of Old Fort, about five kilometres south of Fort St. John, but some residents may not have left the area. Authorities are urging anyone still inside the zone to conserve supplies and stay away from the slide area. The district declared a state of local emergency and issued an evacuation order

afn-chief-asks-un-to-oppose-b-c-move-to-amend-indigenous-rights-law

AFN chief asks UN to oppose B.C. move to amend Indigenous rights law

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations called on the United Nations on Tuesday to support First Nations leaders opposing proposed changes to British Columbia’s Indigenous rights law. Speaking at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said the province’s plan to amend or suspend parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act violates international standards. According to her remarks to the forum, First Nations rights are protected under international human rights law and “cannot be suspended, amended or paused by

drug-package-disguised-as-grass-patch-found-inside-mission-institution-rcmp-investigating

Drug package disguised as grass patch found inside Mission Institution, RCMP investigating

Corrections officers at Mission Institution in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley seized a package containing suspected drugs and contraband after it was discovered inside the prison grounds earlier this month, according to police. The RCMP said in a news release that staff located the package on April 9 after it had been dropped over the facility’s perimeter fence overnight. The parcel was disguised to resemble a patch of loose turf, with real cut grass attached to the outside of a bubble mailer to blend in with the surrounding ground. According to police, the package contained more than 30

federal-government-tables-bill-to-regulate-space-launches-from-canada

CanadaApr 21, 2026

Federal government tables bill to regulate space launches from Canada

The federal government has introduced legislation that would establish a regulatory framework for launching spacecraft from Canadian territory. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon tabled the proposed Canadian Space Launch Act on Tuesday. According to a Transport Canada technical briefing, the legislation would give the federal government authority to oversee both launches and the re-entry of spacecraft. Officials said the proposed rules are intended to enable launches of satellites and rockets from within Canada, supporting both civilian and military applications. The framework would also set

surrey-memorial-expands-chemotherapy-capacity-with-six-new-treatment-chairs

Surrey Memorial expands chemotherapy capacity with six new treatment chairs

Surrey Memorial Hospital has added six new chemotherapy treatment chairs, bringing the total to 39, in an effort to address growing demand for cancer care in the region. According to health officials, the expansion will allow up to 420 additional patients to receive treatment each month. Dr. Sylvie Bourque, executive medical director at BC Cancer’s Surrey centre, said demand for chemotherapy services in Surrey continues to rise. She said the expanded capacity is expected to help the hospital meet a key target: starting first treatment for more than 90 per cent of patients within two weeks of

Related News

Federal government tables bill to regulate space launches from Canada

Federal government tables bill to regulate space launches from Canada

The federal government has introduced legislation that would establish a regulatory framework for launching spacecraft from Canadian territory. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon tabled the proposed Canadian Space Launch Act on Tuesday. According to a Transport Canada technical briefing, the legislation would give the federal government authority to oversee both launches and the re-entry of spacecraft. Officials said the proposed rules are intended to enable launches of satellites and rockets from within Canada, supporting both civilian and military applications. The framework would also set

Alberta, South Korea sign joint statement to remove tariff on crude oil exports

Alberta, South Korea sign joint statement to remove tariff on crude oil exports

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has signed a joint statement with South Korea that includes the removal of a three per cent tariff on crude oil exports from the province, according to an Alberta government release. The province says eliminating the tariff is expected to expand market access for Canadian energy producers exporting bitumen and other crude products. Alberta exported $400 million in crude oil to South Korea last year, and the government estimates that figure could increase to as much as $1 billion annually following the change. The agreement comes as Smith has set a target to doubl

Alberta legislature to vote on motion to revisit riding boundaries ahead of 2027 election

Alberta legislature to vote on motion to revisit riding boundaries ahead of 2027 election

Members of Alberta’s legislature are expected to vote today on a government motion to revisit proposed electoral boundary changes ahead of the province’s next general election in 2027. Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government has introduced the motion to reconsider a recent electoral boundaries commission report. Smith said the move follows a recommendation from the panel’s chair to examine adding more constituencies to better reflect representation in rural areas. According to statements from the premier, the government argues that population shifts and geographic consi

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital