A British Columbian man has been charged with sexual assault from a series of incidents in the 1980s. The RCMP has received reports of numerous instances occurring between 1985 and 1988 at the Christ Church Surrey Centre.
While the man was not working at the church nor did he have a role with the Sunday school, the police state that he was an active member of the church committee.
The assaults involved a girl as young as 10 years old who was attending the Sunday school program at the time. The police believe that individuals in the surrounding area and community may know more information that could be valuable to their investigation. Additionally, the RCMP is asking any individuals who attended the Sunday school program to contact the Surrey RCMP line. They have emphasized that all information could be valuable to the investigation.
In Canada, claims of sexual assault are not limited by prescribed time limits. This means that even though the sexual assault occurred in the 1980s, survivors and victims can still claim and achieve the justice they deserve. This rule has been instituted due to the severity of the crime and allows for survivors to take their time to come forward on their own terms.
