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SEN ER NT "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 9, 2001 - 3 By Rik Davie Special to the Star A member of the Wiccan Church has accused public school trustee Susan Shetler of discrimination, according to documents filed with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC). In OHRC documents obtained by The Star, Devon Gillette, a member of the Wiccan Church in Oshawa, claims that Ms Shetler called the church "a cult" during a conversa- tion about the recent debates on the Harry Potter series of books. The childrens' books were briefly restricted in Durham District School Board classrooms after for- mer trustee Jane Wiest said she had received complaints from parents about references to witch- craft in the works. Mr. Gillette said that when he called Ms Shetler, an Oshawa trustee, to find out her views on the books, he was taken aback by her response to his reli- gious beliefs. "Trustee Shetler man- aged to express to me in no uncertain terms that she is greatly prejudiced against the religious group to which I and my family belong," Mr. Gillette said in an interview. Mr. Gillette wrote in a letter and in his Human Rights claim that Ms Shetler told him she did not represent his interests. "She said to me, you are The Durham Regional Police Service has been named in a $5 million civil suit which states the force failed to prevent a crash north of Port Perry last summer that killed three people. The suit, filed by an Oshawa family, claims that - Durham Police "failed 'to heed prior warnings" that Robert Bonenfant was operating and failed to arrest him, even though officers were nearby. The claims have not been proven in court. About a half-hour after leaving Oshawa on July 23, 2000, Mr. Bonenfant's GMC pickup crossed the centre line on Hwy. 12 north of Port Perry and slammed head-on into a southbound minivan. Donald Gainer, 49, of Oshawa, and his 11-year- old son, Bryan, were killed in the accident. Mr. Bonenfant also died. Two other passengers in the minivan, including Eva Gainer, 41, were criti- cally injured. The Oshawa family has filed the $5 million suit. Listed as plaintiffs are Eva Gainer, her two sur- viving children, and Mr. Gainers parents, broth- ers, sisters, and his maternal grandparents. Named as defendants are the estate of Mr. Bonenfant, the Durham Regional Police Service, 'GMAC Leaseco Limited (the owner of Mr Bonenfant's pickup), and a vehicle while impaired Police named in S5 million lawsuit The Halifax Insurance Company, the Gainers' insurer. The 10-page docu- ment blames the colli- sion on the "combined negligence" of Mr Bonenfant and the police. The suit alleges the police force "failed to deploy adequate resources to prevent (Mr. Bonenfant) from operat- ing his motor vehicle when it knew or ought to have known that he was not competent to do so under the circum- stances." It has been confirmed by police that an Oshawa woman placed two calls to 911, informing police that a friend had been drinking and was about to drive away. A marked police cruis- er was nearby, but police dispatch failed to send that officer to -the address. Police later stat- ed that it was against pro- tocol to send an officer on one call to another call unless it's an emergency. The force later put out a general broadcast to all cars with the pick-up's license plate number. Three days prior to the accident, Mr. Bonenfant was arrested in Oshawa for impaired driving. He had also been charged with drunk driving in 1997. The civil suit claims damages for numerous major injuries, some per- manent, suffered by Mrs. Gainer as well as the loss of future income and enjoyment of life. BR ---.e ..ee s a ed Dispute arose from Harry Potter debate not a religion, you are a cult, a cult , a cult," Mr. Gillette wrote in the OHRC claim. "She went on to tell me, I am not your representa- tive. | am a pro-family val- ues Christian candidate just like (three other trustees not named in the complaint)," Mr. Gillette said. Mr. Gillette stated in a letter to the board later: "It is terrible enough to hear this sort of stereotypical (statement) coming from anyone, but from a repre- sentative of our education- al system, it is particularly galling." Wicca is a religion that predates Christianity, and uses herbal remedies as well as earth-based teach- ings similar to First Nations religious beliefs. Mr. Gillette wrote a for- mal letter of complaint to the board, and said he has met with board represen- tatives requesting an explanation or apology from the Oshawa trustee. "That (apology) was not forthcoming, and | feel that a complaint by way of the Human Rights Commission is the next logical course of Wicca devotee claims board discrimination action for us," Mr. Gillette said. Mr. Gillette said that the board has, in his opinion, an obligation to recognize that, "these statements by Ms Shetler fly in the face of their own anti-discrimina- tion policies." Ms Shetler refused to comment on the claim, referring inquiries to board officials. BR@®CK'S 168 Queen Street, Port Perry 0()5-9K5 1&1 BIC AE SIR E010] Bh