Beaufort Delta educator removed from website following sexual assault charges

An assistant superintendent with the Beaufort Delta's education councilhas been removed from its website following sexual assault charges.

Richard McKinnon, 44, was arrested by RCMP and charged withtwo counts of sexual assault, sexual interference, two counts of sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching, making sexually explicit material available to a child, assault and breach of trust.

The charges are in connection with incidentsalleged to have happened in Inuvik, N.W.T., and Ulukhaktokbetween 2018 and 2020,RCMP say.

None of the allegations against McKinnon have been proven in court.

McKinnon is the former principal of Helen Kalvak Elihakvik School in Ulukhaktok. At the time of his arrest, McKinnon was employed as an assistant superintendent with the Beaufort Delta Divisional Education Council.

Beaufort Delta education officials did not respond to CBC's questions about McKinnon's employment status. McKinnon was listed on theeducation council'swebsite as recently as Thursday morning.

The Beaufort Delta Divisional Education Councilreleased a statement on its website on Aug. 14titled, "public response."

Signed by council superintendent Devin Roberts, the statement says, "We are deeply shaken by the recent allegations against one of our staff members. Please know that we find this behaviour wholly inexcusable and it starkly contrasts the values we hold dear."

A Facebook page that appears to belong to Richard McKinnon shows his work employment history with the Beaufort Delta Divisional Education Councilstarting in 2009, with the most recent entry stating his current role as assistant superintendent based in Inuvik started in July 2020.

The N.W.T.'sDepartment of Education sent a statement to CBC on Aug. 9, but declined to confirm McKinnon's employment status in a follow-up email.

"The department cannot comment on personnel matters," according to a department spokesperson.

The statement read,"All students deserve to learn in a safe environment. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment takes these matters extremely seriously and will assist the RCMP if/as needed."

"The department would also like to reiterate that the RCMP encourages anyone who feels they may be a victim or has concerns about another person who may be a victim to contact their local RCMP detachment or police of jurisdiction or Crime Stoppers."

In his statement, Beaufort Delta superintendent Roberts said the new school year is quicklyapproaching and has been sharing counselling supports on its Facebook page.

"We understand that incidents like these shake our community and erode trust. Please know that we are committed to transparency and accountability, and dedicated to ensuring that our schools uphold safe and nurturing spaces for all students," Roberts wrote.

He told CBCon Saturday that the Beaufort Delta education councilis also working with the critical incident team atTELUS Health, the N.W.T. government's virtual mental healthcare provider, to offer supports. Trauma counselling will be available for education staffin both Inuvik and Ulukhaktok in the coming weeks, Roberts said.

A prosecutor has been assigned to McKinnon's case.

The prosecutortold CBCMcKinnon has obtained a defence lawyer, and the case is proceeding.

McKinnon's first court appearance is in Inuvik on Sept. 24.