'Not celebrating yet': Stampede abuse lawsuit reaches $9.5 million settlement

CALGARY – The Calgary Stampede has agreed to pay $9.5 million in damages to plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit alleging the organization allowed a school employee to sexually abuse young boys.

The agreement is related to the case of Phillip Hirema.

Herema was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2018 after pleading guilty to charges of sexual assault, sexual exploitation, child pornography and deception.

Hirema admitted that he used his position at the Young Canadian Arts School, where he performs annually in the Grandstand Show at the Calgary Stampede, to sexually assault six boys between 2005 and 2014, as well as in 1992.

The school is run by the Calgary Stampede Foundation.

Last fall, the Stampede admitted negligence and breach of fiduciary duty and agreed to pay all damages, but a final figure has not been settled.

Attorney Corey Ryan, representing the Calgary Expo and Stampede and the Calgary Stampede Foundation, said Tuesday that the amount has been decided in advance.

“The representative plaintiff and the Stampede defendants have reached a preliminary settlement of damages and costs, subject to court approval and setting forth an approved claim and distribution process,” Ryan said in a statement.

“The decision includes an obligation to pay the Stampede defendants' insurers an all-inclusive $9.5 million to settle the class members' claims.”

Ryan said the deal also includes a commitment to additional measures and programs.

It said in a statement that the resolution was agreed after extensive settlement discussions with the help of two judges of the Crown Court.

“If formalized, the parties hope the resolution will provide a measure of closure to the affected class members and assist in the healing process,” he said.

Initially, about three dozen plaintiffs joined the lawsuit.

One of them, who did not identify as a victim of sexual violence, told The Canadian Press on Tuesday that the settlement was good news, but still tentative and many questions still needed to be answered.

He said the amount is based on the initial number of claimants and tries to account for people who have not yet joined the lawsuit.

Herema was recently granted a one-day parole and admitted during a hearing that there were other victims.

“Based on Herema's admission at his parole hearing that he 'knew' there were many victims, I see the class growing significantly in the coming months,” the plaintiff said.

He said it's been a long road for everyone involved in the case.

“The Stampede victims had every opportunity to make it easier, but they chose to drag it out,” he said.

“It's positive momentum, but I'm not celebrating yet.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 6, 2024.

Bill Graveland, Canadian Press