EDMONTON — The licence of an Edmonton group home has been temporarily suspended a month after a teen resident was charged in a fatal stabbing.
The CEO of E4C, which runs the Alberta Avenue group home, said the licence has been temporarily suspended for 90 days. Barb Spencer said the decision to suspend the licence was a joint decision with the province. The suspension came into effect Oct. 5.
The group home was thrust into the spotlight in early September after a 17-year-old girl who was living in the home was charged with second-degree murder.
The youth, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was also charged with possession of a weapon and robbery in Shawn Richard’s death. The 32-year-old was found lying in the middle of 95 Street between 117 and 118 Avenues at around 3:30 a.m. Aug. 31. He died of a stab wound to the chest.
READ MORE: Youth charged with second-degree murder after man found dead on central Edmonton street
After the girl was charged, Edmonton police Staff Sgt. Bill Clark had some harsh words for the way the group home was being run. He said the home had a curfew in place, but it appeared the residents weren’t following it.
“They were basically out all night and then they would sign in and sleep all day long. I’m not sure why we would have a group home system that operates in that fashion, but obviously those type of things were a factor in contributing to this incident,” Clark said in September.
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“It’s appalling the way this group home is run.”
READ MORE: Questions raised over Edmonton group home after youth charged with murder
In a statement to Global News Friday, a spokesperson for Alberta’s Human Services Minister Irfan Sabir confirmed the group home’s licence has been temporarily suspended and it is not currently operating.
“This group home is under review by the Ministry. Pending the outcome of the review, Child and Family Services, in consultation with E4C, will determine the future of the home,” said Aileen Machell.
“We did previously contract that group home for five beds. The need for placement of high-risk youth is addressed through existing contracts with other agencies. The youth are now at other group homes.”
Spencer said the group home was closed on Sept. 4 for scheduled maintenance. She added that the attention around the home also complicated their ability to protect the youth.
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