Grande Prairie vice principal facing sexual assault charges after students’ allegations

Editor’s note: Global News originally misspelled the name of the man charged. This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling from RCMP. Global News regrets the error.

A northern Alberta man is facing sexual assault charges after police received “three reports from female students” on June 1 that they had been inappropriately touched by their vice principal.

Grande Prairie RCMP said the incidents took place during the latter part of the 2017-18 school year. The school involved wasn’t specified by police, but they did say it is part of the Grande Prairie Public School District(GPPSD).

Raymond Sylvester was arrested on June 27 and is facing sexual assault charges. The 55-year-old has been released from custody and is scheduled to be in court on Aug. 22.

A woman with a child at Isabel Campbell Public School confirmed to 630 CHED that Sylvester was a vice principal at the school during the time period specified by police. According to its website, Isabel Campbell is a kindergarten to Grade 8 school.

Sylvester was not listed on the staff directory of the school when the website was checked on Thursday, but a tweet from the school’s Twitter account in 2016 listed him as one of two vice principals.

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In an emailed statement, the superintendent of schools called the charges “serious criminal offences” and said the employee was no longer working for the district.

“I can confirm the employee is not currently rendering active service and has not been since May 31,” Sandy McDonald said. “As this is a matter before the courts, the district will issue no further statements related to this matter.”

RCMP did not provide the ages of the girls who came forward.

Grande Prairie RCMP are asking anyone with information to come forward.