Former Mountie and Youth Sports Coach Granted Full Parole for Abuse What Survivors in British Columbia Should Know About Their Rights

Reporting has confirmed that a former RCMP officer and youth sports coach, Alan Davidson, who was convicted of abusing several boys in British Columbia and Saskatchewan, has now been granted full parole. He was previously sentenced to nearly six years in prison for offences against seven boys that took place in the late 1970s through the early 1990s, many of whom he met through coaching hockey and baseball.

According to the Parole Board’s decision, Davidson will serve the remainder of his sentence in the community under strict conditions. Those conditions reportedly include bans on alcohol and pornography, restrictions on contact with boys under 18, and geographic limits on where he is allowed to travel in British Columbia. The Board also acknowledged ongoing concern about the nature and gravity of his offending, even while granting release.

For many survivors of childhood abuse, news that an offender has been released is extremely distressing, especially when that person held a trusted role as a coach, teacher, clergy member, or police officer.

Why Parole Decisions Can Be So Difficult For Survivors

It can be confusing to hear that a convicted offender is back in the community. In Canada, full parole allows a person to serve part of their sentence in the community under supervision and conditions, if the Parole Board is satisfied that they do not present an undue risk and that their release will help them reintegrate safely.

For survivors, parole can feel like the abuse they experienced is being minimized. Feelings of anger, fear, anxiety, or being “re-triggered” by these headlines are common and completely understandable. There is also concern about more children being hurt by known predators. It is also hard to accept that someone only sentenced to under 10 years in prison for being a serial child molester and ruining countless lives could actually serve less than the already short sentence they were given.

If you are a survivor of abuse by a person in a position of trust, it may help to know that you still have options outside the criminal justice system, even many years later. Our Vancouver institutional abuse lawyers regularly work with survivors whose abuse happened decades ago, including in sports, youth programs, schools, and other institutional settings. We can help victims pursue financial compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial losses they may have incurred due to their past abuse.
Preszler Law Firm is handling several civil cases on behalf of survivors that Davidson abused through his role as a hockey coach.

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For more than 60 years, Preszler Injury Lawyers has been helping people across British Columbia pursue the compensation they deserve for their institutional abuse claims. As one of the country’s longest-standing personal injury law firms, our practice is devoted entirely to injury law and helping accident victims–it’s all we do.

Schedule a free consultation today to speak with our award-winning personal injury lawyers and find out if you have a case. Our legal team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call.

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Criminal Cases vs. Civil Lawsuits For Institutional Abuse in British Columbia

A criminal case against an offender, like a coach or police officer, will centre around whether they are guilty under the Criminal Code of Canada, and what criminal sentence they should receive. A civil lawsuit is different.

Through a civil claim, survivors may be able to pursue financial compensation for the harm they have suffered. This can include damages for pain and suffering, lost income, future care and therapy costs, and other losses that flow from the abuse. Civil claims can be brought not only against individual abusers, but also against institutions that failed to protect children in their care, such as schools, youth organizations, hockey organizations, or law enforcement agencies, depending on the facts of the case.

You do not need an active criminal prosecution or a conviction to start exploring a civil claim. In many institutional abuse cases in British Columbia, survivors have come forward even when their abuse was never reported to police or when charges were not laid.

All organizations working with children have an obligation to have policies in place to keep kids safe from abusers, and to report “red flag” behaviour to keep kids safe. Sadly, the firm has seen many cases where organizations have little no policies in place, or even take no steps to report a coach or authority figure who is acting inappropriately around children.

Our institutional abuse lawyers can explain how civil claims work, what evidence may be needed, and what accountability might look like in your situation.

No Limitation Period For Abuse Claims In British Columbia

One of the most important things for survivors to know is that in British Columbia, there is no limitation period for claims relating to sexual assault or sexual misconduct. That means there is no legal time limit that stops you from bringing a civil claim for abuse, even if the abuse happened many years or even decades ago.

The current Limitation Act of British Columbia specifically removes limitation periods for:
• Claims relating to misconduct of a sexual nature, including sexual assault
• Claims for sexual assault, regardless of when the events took place
• Claims for assault or battery that occurred while the survivor was a minor
The changes to the law reflect a recognition that many survivors are not able to disclose what happened to them until much later in life, often after years of silence and suffering.

If you were abused by Alan Davidson, or another authority figure in B.C., it may still be possible to pursue a civil claim, even if the criminal case has already concluded or the offender has been granted parole.

How Our Vancouver Institutional Abuse Lawyers Can Help Survivors Of This Coach

If you were abused by Alan Davidson when you were a child in British Columbia or another province, or by any other coach or person in a position of power, you are not alone. Our institutional abuse lawyers in Vancouver and throughout BC have experience representing survivors in cases involving youth sports organizations, scouting groups, cadet programs, schools, religious institutions, and other settings where adults are entrusted with the care of children.

When you contact Preszler Injury Lawyers, we can:

• Listen to your story in a confidential, trauma-informed manner
• Explain how civil claims for institutional abuse work in British Columbia
• Discuss potential defendants, including both the individual abuser and any institutions that may bear responsibility
• Outline the types of damages that may be available in your circumstances
• Give you some information on the amount of money you may be entitled to

You are always in control of how you wish to proceed. Speaking with a lawyer does not obligate you to file a lawsuit. It can simply be a way to understand your options and decide what is right for you.

Book a Confidential and Free Consultation With Our Vancouver Institutional Abuse Lawyers

News that a former Mountie and youth coach convicted of abusing boys has been granted full parole can reopen old wounds for many survivors. While the criminal justice system has its own rules about sentencing and release, your right to seek accountability and compensation through the civil courts is separate, and in many abuse cases in B.C., it is not limited by time.

If you were abused by this coach or by another trusted adult in an institutional setting, you do not have to carry that burden alone. To learn more about your legal options, contact our Vancouver institutional abuse lawyers for a free, confidential consultation. You can call Preszler Injury Lawyers at 1-844-373-8202 or fill out the contact form on our website.

There is no obligation, and there are no upfront fees. When you are ready to talk about what happened, we are here to listen and to help you explore a path toward justice and healing.

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