Saskatoon residents call for city councillor's resignation, other action in wake of abuse allegations
CBC
Some Saskatoon residents are calling for longtime city councillor Randy Donauer to resign after allegations of physical and emotional abuse have come out against him.
Two former students of Christian Centre Academy and the adjacent Saskatoon Christian Centre church, now called Legacy Christian Academy and Mile Two Church, allege Donauer hit them with a large wooden paddle in a discipline process known as paddling.
One former student says Donauer paddled them nearly a dozen times, sometimes while the student's pants were off.
Other students say a normally mild-mannered Donauer would suddenly become enraged and threaten children during Sunday school or other events.
Donauer declined interview requests, but denied any wrongdoing.
"If there are rumours being shared about me, I vehemently deny any wrongdoing," he wrote in a statement to CBC News.
"If any legal claims involving me are made I will vigorously defend [against] them."
Coy Nolin is one of the students who said he was physically abused by Donauer. In a police statement, Nolin said the abuse occurred in the summer of 2003 when he was 16 years old working as a counsellor at a bible camp run by Saskatoon Christian Centre.
Nolin said he is going to file a formal complaint against Donauer to try to get him removed from council. Nolin is scheduled to meet with his lawyer Thursday to figure out the best way to make the complaint.
"[I'm] doing whatever I need to do to voice my opinion that I don't agree with this person being on city council," Nolin said in an interview.
Others have taken to social media to call for Donauer's resignation.
Todd Cocks, a Saskatoon resident and computer programmer, wrote to city council asking for Donauer to be removed from all boards and positions where he represents the City of Saskatoon.
"To have someone represent Saskatoon while these allegations are being brought public is abhorrent," Cocks wrote in a letter.
"I believe Mr. Donauer has the right of due process but, in the interim, it is my belief that he should be removed from any privileged positions he holds."
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