Indigenous prof quits committee after university brings back Furlong

VANCOUVER – An indigenous professor has resigned from a sexual assault policy committee at the University of British Columbia after the school brought back John Furlong to speak at an upcoming fundraiser.

Daniel Heath Justice says in a letter to university president Santa Ono that the decision "silenced and erased" allegations that Furlong physically abused First Nations children while teaching at a Catholic school in Burns Lake, B.C., decades ago.

The former Vancouver Olympics CEO has vehemently denied the allegations, which first emerged in a 2012 newspaper article.

The journalist later lost her defamation lawsuit against Furlong with a judge strongly criticizing her reporting.

The RCMP has said an investigation into abuse allegations concluded without charges.

The university cancelled Furlong's speech last month after a graduate student circulated a letter that was critical of him, but Ono reversed the decision this week, calling Furlong a "champion for amateur sport."

Ono's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment but he told Vancouver's Roundhouse Radio that he stands by the decision to bring back Furlong.

Justice released the letter he sent to Ono on his Twitter account.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Brendan Kergin

Brendan grew up down on the coast before moving to Kamloops to pursue a degree in journalism. After graduating from TRU in 2013 he moved to Toronto to work as an editor, but decided to move back west after a couple years. With a big interest in politics, Brendan will be covering city hall. Outside of council chambers he’ll write about anything; if you have a story you think people might be interested in, contact him at bkergin@infonews.ca


Brendan Kergin's Stories