Final payments determined in class-action lawsuit against Calgary Stampede

Payouts in a class-action lawsuit in relation to sex abuse charges against Philip Hereema, who worked for the Young Canadians School of Performing Arts, have been finalized and will be distributed by the end of March 2025.

A class-action lawsuit against the Young Canadians and Calgary Stampede has determined the amount each eligible class member will receive.

The law firm representing the victims in the lawsuit posted an update on March 14 that all claims have been assessed and final determination letters have been issued.

The agreement is related to the case of Phillip Heerema, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2018 to multiple charges including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, child pornography and luring.

Hereema admitted that he used his position with the Young Canadians School of Performing Arts to lure and groom six boys into sexual relationships between 2005 and 2014, as well as in 1992.

The Stampede agreed to pay victims $9.5 million in damages, to be distributed to victims according to a points system devised by an independent claims adjuster with a “trauma-informed” background.

The adjustor assessed each victim in the class-action lawsuit and assigned a number of points to their settlement figure.

It was determined that each point is worth $16,917.89.

“To calculate how much you will be receiving, multiply the number of points you received (in your assessment), with the point value,” the law firm said in its update.

There are about 300 plaintiffs who participated in the lawsuit, who were classified into three different categories: students who were abused, students who were not directly victims but were in the Young Canadians, and those not directly harmed but who may have seen something.

Carsten Jensen, who represented the victims, said in 2024 that the bulk of the settlement would go to about two dozen individuals who were more seriously impacted by their experiences with Heerema, who was granted day parole in January 2024 and has admitted there were other victims who didn’t come forward.

Payments are expected to be issued to victims by the end of March.

Stampede apology

The Stampede issued an apology in 2024, following the announcement of the final settlement.

“As organizations committed to youth achievement, volunteerism, and community, we take our responsibility to provide a safe and caring environment seriously. We acknowledge that we failed class members, we accept responsibility for the harm suffered, and we are sincerely sorry,” it said.

It added that since 2014, the organization have made significant operational changes in its operating procedures, to create “an enhanced culture of safety, wellness and caring.”

It said that as part of its settlement, the Stampede is providing trauma-informed training for youth programming leaders and employees, and hosting a safety and wellness best practices learning forum with youth-serving organizations in Calgary.

The organization said it planned to reach out to class members to seek input on the new initiatives, at their option, “in a trauma-informed environment.”

For more information, go here.

With files from the Canadian Press.