Dan Hilborn
Burnaby Now

A national cycle racing
champion was denied
membership in the
Burnaby Velodrome
Association (BVA)
recently after it was
revealed he had a 1989
conviction for sexual
offenses against young,
people.

Joc Hailey, oa 9 West
Vancouver resident who served
six months in jail after being
convicted of two counts of
indecent assault and one count
of sexual assault against minors,
said he is disappointed but
unlikely to take further action
after the 38-10 vote ata special
general mecting of the associa-
tion Wednesday night.

The vote came more than
wo years after Hailey initially
applied for membership in the
club, which sub-leases the
wooden indoor tack at the
Harry Jerome Sports Centre
from the B.C. Vollevbail
Association.

The meeting was called after
Hailey’s application to join the
club won the written support

of 10 per cent of the club's
members. However, Hailey
admits some of those initicl
supporters changed their minds
after learning, about the ten-
year-old criminal conviction.

Hailey, who currently serves
on th: Suard of directors for
Cycling B.C.. said even though
he believes the meeting was
poorly run and due process was
not followed, he is unlikely to
appeal the decision.

He also said his faith in God
is helping him to cope with his
past criminal actions and the
recent rejection by his peers.

“As we go through life, one

of the things that life does is
bring to cach of us a greater
sense Of purpose and a greater
sense of awareness,” he said. “fF
believe in a higher power, very
much so, and our good Lord
has. a purpose on earth for me.

“Do T know what that pur-
pose is? No TF don’t. Bat am |
prepared to accept the direc-
tion that he provides for me}
Yes Fam.”

During a sevies of telephone
interviews this week, Hailey
described at length his neo-vear
fight to join the association.

When asked if he poses a
danger to voung people at the

ffender denied cycle ci

club, Hailey said: “Absolutely
not. Yes, F made mistakes, took
responsibility for thent and
moved ahead. 1 spent tour vears
in counselling on a one-to-one
basis and what more assurance
can T give? {f any person has
questions about what hap-
pened, T have nothing to hide.
T haven’t shied away, But on a
personal basis, people who
know me know there's been
nothing further to this. When I
teflect back on what happened,
that is not part of what TI per-
ceive my make-up to be. To me
I'm sure what happened 10
years ago will never happen

Judge: scout leader violated trust

JOSEPH Robert Hailey
was sentenced to six
months in jail in
February of 1989.

The former West
Vancouver Scout leader plead-
ed guilty to three charges: one
count of sex assault and nvo
counts of indecent assault.

Hailey was originally
charged with four counts of
indecent assault and one count
of sexual assault in connection

with incidents that were
alleged to have occurred
between January of 1979 and
January of 1988 in) West
Vancouver, Alice Lake provin-
cial park, Lillooet, at Meager
Creek near Pemberton and in
Kelowna.

One of the charges of inde-
cent assault involved a boy
who had joined Hailey’s Scoui
troop at age 12.

The youth was a victim ofa
number of indecent assaults.

Fake fundraiser afoot in NV

The B.C, Paraplegic
Foundation is warning
residents about a
bogus door-to-door
canvasser selling sailing
packages.

B.C. Paraplegic
Foundation (BCPF)
spokesman May Low said the
bogus canvasser knocked on a
door near West Braemar

Road and Lonsdale Avenue
on New Year's eve. The
bogus canvasser was
described as being in his late
20s with a medium build
Since November, legiti-
mate BCPF canvassers with
identification have been
working in North Vancouver
city and district selling a gold
discount card for
Grabbajabba, Dairy Queen

and Subway stores. The
BCPF canvassing is to contin-
ue until the end of the
month,

BCPF representatives ask
residents to call police if a
canvasser withou. BCPF
identification comes to their
doors. For more information,
contact the BCPF foundation
at 324-3611.

— Anna Marie D’Angelo

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The majority took — place
between 1980 and 1982 at
various non-Scouting cycling
events throughout the
province.

Said West Vancouver Judge
Reginald Grandisen in his rea-
sous for judgement at the
time: “The facts are not in dis-
puie. The mest significant fea-
ture about these allegations is
that you’ve ben involved with
these youths through vour
role as a Boy Scout Ieader and
thar you have certainly violat-
ed the trust of the community
in general and that of these
youths in particular.”

The judge said he was con-
vinced of Hailey’s remorse and
noted that Hailey had made
no effort to hide his culpabili-
ty, had made positive contri-
butions to the community,
and had the support of friends,
relatives and colleagues.

— Michael Becker

Solve

Friday, January 22,

ub entry

again.”

Former BVA director Ken
Legge, admitted to spearhead-
ing the effort to block Hailev’s
membership because of con-

1999 — North Shore News - 9

cerns for the safety of young
club members.

“The board of directors has
to stand up and judge what's
good for the club,” Legge said.

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