Province and church admit liability for priest's abuse at Edmonton youth jail
Alberta government and Anglican Church acknowledge vicarious liability for sexual assaults spanning 1985–1990 as survivors push for damages hearing.
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The Alberta government and Anglican Church admitted vicarious liability Tuesday for sexual assaults allegedly committed by priest Gordon William Dominey against children incarcerated at Edmonton Youth Development Centre between 1985 and 1990.
The admission came during a hearing in Edmonton Court of King's Bench in a class-action lawsuit certified against both defendants. Dominey, who died of cancer in 2019 before his criminal trial could proceed, had been charged in 2016 with more than 30 offences involving 15 complainants. He was never convicted.
Avnish Nanda, lawyer for the survivors, said Dominey had "full rein" of the youth facility and was subject to little oversight. Incarcerated youth were encouraged to seek out Dominey's services, Nanda said. "They should have acknowledged this at the outset, when criminal charges were laid by the Alberta government, rather than wasting a decade and putting survivors through so much trauma and grief, to reach this inevitable result," Nanda said after Tuesday's hearing.
Neither the province nor the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton would comment beyond citing the case before the courts. Both defendants are refusing to pay anything so far, Nanda said. A hearing to determine damages has not yet been scheduled. The Edmonton Youth Development Centre has since been demolished.
How much will the settlements total and how will damages be calculated for each survivor?
Why did it take a decade and a certified class-action suit for both defendants to admit liability after criminal charges were laid in 2016?
What systemic oversight failures at youth facilities have changed since 1990 to prevent similar abuse?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
Who committed the alleged assaults at Edmonton Youth Development Centre?
Priest Gordon William Dominey, who died of cancer in 2019 before his criminal trial could proceed. He had been charged in 2016 with more than 30 offences involving 15 complainants but was never convicted.
What did the Alberta government and Anglican Church admit on Tuesday, September 29, 2026?
Both admitted vicarious liability for sexual assaults allegedly committed by Dominey against children incarcerated at Edmonton Youth Development Centre between 1985 and 1990.
When did the alleged abuse at Edmonton Youth Development Centre occur?
The sexual assaults allegedly occurred between 1985 and 1990.
Will the defendants pay damages?
Both the Alberta government and Anglican Diocese of Edmonton are refusing to pay anything so far. A hearing to determine damages has not yet been scheduled.
