Alberta government and Anglican Church accept liability for priest's abuse at youth jail
The Alberta government and the Anglican Church have acknowledged vicarious liability for sexual assaults allegedly committed by the late priest Gordon William Dominey at the Edmonton Youth Development Centre.
Representatives of the Alberta government and the Anglican Church appeared in Edmonton's Court of King's Bench and accepted vicarious liability for sexual assaults allegedly perpetrated by the late priest Gordon William Dominey at the Edmonton Youth Development Centre from 1985 to 1990. Dominey, who died of cancer in 2019 before a criminal trial could proceed, was accused of abusing young inmates who were urged to approach him for spiritual counsel.
The court subsequently certified a class-action lawsuit on behalf of men claiming abuse by Dominey. Lawyer Avnish Nanda, speaking for the class, condemned the prolonged legal wrangling and noted that both defendants have so far refused to provide any compensation. He argued the liability should have been acknowledged when criminal charges were first laid. A separate hearing to determine damages remains unscheduled, leaving survivors awaiting restitution.
Why it matters
The admission of liability highlights systemic failures in oversight of vulnerable youth and may set a precedent for future institutional abuse claims.
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