$9.5 million settlement reached in Calgary Stampede abuse lawsuit

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.

Stampede lawyers said in a statement that the deal is subject to court approval and hopes to help heal the plaintiffs.

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

He was recently released on parole for one day.