Regina mom alleges assault by staff at Carmichael Kids Camp

A Regina mother is speaking out after her daughter was allegedly assaulted at a Carmichael Outreach kids summer camp last month.

According to Carmel Crowchild, on Aug. 31, her daughter, Edith, was dragged 50 feet by the non-profit’s staff after a disagreement.

“One of the statements that I have here actually says they dragged my child, and that they knew they had done wrong,” explained Crowchild, referencing a written statement given by one of the staff members involved.

She also has documentation from their family doctor, outlining each of the 28 scrapes and bruises her daughter allegedly sustained during the incident.

Before that happened, Crowchild said the 11-year-old was involved in pranking — squirting water and shampoo on other campers’ beds. After getting caught by Carmichael staff, Edith, along with the five other girls in her cabin, were apparently taken down to the fire pit area and scolded for their actions.

It was at that point Crowchild believes Edith began to ask to go home, but was turned down multiple times. She said it was later that night, when Edith refused to go to bed in protest, that she was apparently dragged from the bottom of a hill and dropped on her cabin floor at the top.

Now, Crowchild is calling for an apology and mandatory training for Carmichael staff.

“If (Carmichael Outreach) is working with the vulnerable sectors of our community, they also need to be respectful towards everyone,” she said.

Cora Gajari, Carmichael Outreach’s executive director, admitted that her staff did not have any formal training to be working with kids as they’ve never had any issues in the past. But now, she’s considering it.

“We haven’t needed this kind of training before, it’s all been going really smoothly until this year,” she explained. “Now, we will be exploring our options.”

Crowchild said that she’s asked Carmichael to have those staff members fired. However, when asked about the non-profit’s plans, Gajari said that that won’t be the case.

“Maybe (the staff members involved) will have more chance for training, but no — not termination,” Gajari confirmed.

At this time, she added that the central focus is repairing the emotional damage that’s been done.

“I’m glad (Edith) is okay,” said Gajari. “I’m working with my staff right now to make sure they’re okay because they feel bad, too.”

Gajari added that the next step for both parties is a healing circle, which Crowchild has agreed to participate in.

However, Crowchild stressed that it would be in addition to a formal police investigation.

Lumsden RCMP have confirmed that members are actively investigating this incident.