WHITEHORSE — A substitute teacher in Yukon, who served at 10 different schools over five years, is facing charges related to the possession of child pornography.
Education Minister Jeanie McLean stated that the teacher had been employed in Whitehorse-area schools until Oct. 24, when the department became aware of the allegations and halted their employment.
The Department of Justice confirmed on Tuesday that a search warrant had been executed, resulting in the teacher being charged with a criminal offense.
McLean mentioned that on-call teachers must undergo a vulnerable sector criminal record check every two years, a requirement the teacher fulfilled during their five-year tenure with the district.
The department is actively reaching out to the 10 school communities where the teacher worked to ensure they are aware of the available support systems.
While McLean’s statement did not indicate whether children at the schools were involved in the investigation, Yukon RCMP did not provide further details about the case upon contact.
“Child pornography investigations are intricate and usually involve extensive forensic analysis of electronic devices, followed by additional investigative procedures,” stated the RCMP.
The charged individual was not named by the police.
McLean acknowledged the concerning nature of the information and its potential emotional impact on students, parents, and members of the school communities.
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of Yukon students is our utmost priority. Support and services are accessible to all students, parents, and Yukoners,” McLean assured.
The government has made significant strides in enhancing student safety in schools and is dedicated to refining its protocols and policies, according to McLean.
Last year, Yukon’s ombudsman Jason Pedlar released a report criticizing the government’s failure to inform parents about a teaching assistant at a Whitehorse school facing sexual assault charges. The report deemed this silence unfair to parents, especially considering that other parents came forward with accusations involving their children after the charges were made public through the media.
Pedlar’s report suggested that if not for the media coverage, the department would likely have remained silent about the allegations.
