Former principal of Legacy Christian Academy facing 11 assault charges

The second former staff member from Saskatoon’s Legacy Christian Academy to face criminal charges appeared in court Thursday.

Duff Friesen, the school’s former principal, made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon in Saskatoon Provincial Court. He’s facing 11 charges of assault with a weapon after turning himself in to police the same day.

Friesen was conditionally released to answer the charges at a court date in July. The conditions imposed by the court include Friesen being unable to seek, obtain or continue with any employment or volunteer work. He was also prohibited from contacting anyone on a list of people which included former students at the school and their families.

During his appearance, Friesen looked serious.

Sean Kotelmach, a former student at the school, took a photo of Friesen during the proceedings, but court security made him delete it and escorted him out of the courtroom. After the appearance, Kotelmach said he wanted the photo for his own closure.

Another former student, Caitlin Erickson, said seeing her former principal in court was a validating experience.

“It was a pretty validating call to get today,” she said. “Obviously it’s a bit surreal that this day has finally come.”

It’s been 731 days, by Erickson’s count, since she filed her own criminal complaint with Saskatoon Police Service, raising allegations of abuse she suffered during her time at Legacy Christian Academy.

Erickson, who is also a lead plaintiff in a civil suit against the school and several individuals affiliated with the school and Mile Two Church, said the criminal charges support her group’s civil claims.

“It’s been a long wait to get some more charges,” Erickson said, adding that she’s looking forward to seeing more former staff members charged criminally.

Before Thursday, the former students at court — including Erickson, Kotelmach, Jen Beaudry and Robynne Cuthbert — said they hadn’t seen Friesen in at least a decade.

“Our stories are being heard,” Cuthbert shared. “People are recognizing just how severe the abuse was, and it’s nice to see the shift in the power dynamic.”

Friesen’s next court appearance will be on July 17.