Former BC Pride Group President Facing Child Pornography, Exploitation Charges

A person uses their computer keyboard to type while surfing the internet in North Vancouver, B.C., in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward)

The former president of a B.C. pride society is facing sexual exploitation and child pornography charges, according to the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS).

Sean Gravells was charged following incidents that occurred last month near Fort St. John, a small city roughly 800 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, BCPS spokesperson Daniel McLaughlin said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times.

Mr. Gravells is facing charges of sexual interference and sexual exploitation in connection with events on Dec. 29, 2023, Mr. McLaughlin said. He is also facing possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography charges in relation to a New Year’s Eve incident.

The prosecution service said it had no further comment because the matter is before the courts.

The North Peace Pride Society (NPPS), where Mr. Gravells held a board position, said in a Jan. 5 social media post that the group acted quickly to vote him out on Jan. 3.

The statement called the charges “severe” and said it was “inconsistent with the North Peace Pride Society’s mission and code of conduct.”

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“We want to clarify that the society itself is not implicated in any charges; these are isolated to the individual,” the post said.

NPPS also said that Mr. Gravells did not work directly with youth as part of his activities with the group and that all members who work with youth undergo criminal record checks. It is now expanding that requirement to include all board members.

Mr. Gravells made his first court appearance on Jan. 1 and is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on Jan. 29.

B.C. RCMP said there has been an increase in reports of online child exploitation in recent years. Statistics released by police show there were 4,600 reports of exploitation received in 2021. That number rose to 9,600 in 2022. In the first three months of 2023, the RCMP had received 5,790 total reports, according to a news release.

Yukon Teacher Charged

The charges against Mr. Gravell come just days after an on-call teacher in the Yukon was charged with possession of child pornography.

The teacher had worked at 10 different schools over the past five years, but that stopped on Oct. 24, 2023, when the department became aware of the allegations, according to a statement from Yukon Education Minister Jeanie McLean.

She said that on-call teachers were required to complete a vulnerable sector criminal record check every two years. The teacher charged complied with the policy, the statement said.

“The Department of Education is reaching out to school communities, including parents, administrators, and school councils, at schools where this individual worked to inform them of this issue and ensure that they are aware of available supports,” Ms. McLean said.

She said the news could trigger an “emotional response” from students, parents, and staff, adding that support would be in place for anyone who needs it.

“Our top priority will always be the safety and well-being of Yukon students,” she said. “While we have achieved great progress to ensure student safety in places of learning through the work of the Safer Schools Action Plan, the Yukon government remains committed to working to improve our processes and policies and working with partners to ensure student safety.”

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.