BUDGET REACTION
SJHL PLAYOFFS
MLA responds to new budget
A2
A15
Bruins split in Nipawin
Issue 50
SERVING THE ENERGY CITY SINCE 1903
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
www.estevanmercury.ca
Mailing No. 10769 | Publication No. 40069240
Ruzicka guilty of professional misconduct
Former Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) teacher Troy Ruzicka has been found guilty of professional misconduct by the Saskatchewan Professional Teachers’ Regulatory Board (SPTRB), and won’t be able to teach in Saskatchewan again. The board held a hearing on Feb. 14 to discuss Ruzicka’s future, and released its decision on Thursday. Ruzicka was not able to attend the hearing in February, as he is currently serving a five-year prison sentence at the Prince Albert penitentiary for crimes he committed while he was teaching at ECS. He was not represented by legal counsel at the SPTRB hearing. Ruzicka pleaded guilty last September to two counts of sexual assault, one charge of committing an offence of sexual touching while being in a position of trust or authority, three charges of using telecommunication to communicate with someone under 18 years of age for the purpose of facilitating the commission of an offence with respect to that person, and one charge of accessing child pornography. Several other charges were stayed. The crimes involved three students. Ruzicka held a temporary teaching permit, issued annually, since 2012. The purpose of the permit was to allow Ruzicka to teach an auto body course for Grades 10 through 12 at the school. His permit was terminated by the school division on March 16 of last year, after he had been charged with the crimes. In its report, the SPTRB noted that Ruzicka was not a registered teacher. But those on temporary teaching permits will carry out the general functions and duties of teachers, be subject to the same standards of conduct as registered teachers, and be subject to the same disciplinary procedures as registered teachers. “In conclusion, the evidence and disclosure from the three … students supports the allegations that Mr. Ruzicka was engaged in gross misconduct of inappropriate sexual relationships with students,” said the report. These inappropriate relationships ranged from friending students on a social media platform, and communicating online with them about material that is pornographic in nature, as well as using deception to enter into relationships with students. “Mr. Ruzicka also had a sexual relationship with a student that included extreme practices and possible violent elements,” the report said. The SPTRB said evidence from the investigation demonstrates that Ruzicka crossed a significant ethical line regarding the studentteacher relationship. He was in a position of trust and power, and used that position to manipulate relationships that led to acts that jeopardized the safety and security of the children in his care. “By any measure, Mr. Ruzicka’s conduct is disgraceful and dishonourable,” the report said. Ruzicka will be prohibited from holding a temporary teaching permit, or any certificate, now or in the future, the SPTRB said. The discipline committee considered imposing a fine in the amount of $5,000, but they ultimately decided against it.
The Bruins hold a prayer circle at the memorial for the Humboldt Broncos crash site Friday evening.
Bruins have sombre visit to Humboldt Broncos bus crash site By Corey Atkinson sports@estevanmercury.ca
On a sign just north of Tisdale on the way up to Nipawin, some children used bright yellow posterboard to draw a black spoked B, with the message on the sign: “Please Drive Safe, Bruins.” If you didn’t realize you were within moments of driving to the site where the Humboldt Broncos bus crashed, that would undoubtedly have brought it home. A sombre visit to the crash site by the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins Friday evening had players, coaches and team staff in tears, inside and outside of prayer circles, in advance of their Canalta Cup final Games 1 and 2 against the Nipawin Hawks. “It was really tough coming through here,” said Kaelan Holt, one of the Bruins’ assistant captains. “A lot of the guys had really good friends out here and we’re kind of paying tribute the best we can. It’s good that we were able to do that this trip.” The team gave gifts and greetings to some members of the Nipawin Fire Department, representing the first responders to the crash, before going to the memorial itself just off the highway. “I’ve heard all the stories about how amazing they were and how they got here and did everything they could and stayed as long as they had to,” said Bruins captain Jake Fletcher. “They were giving their coats to the players who
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needed them and they were freezing out here. They’re the real heroes here.” With mud and ice all around, the site stands apart on a large rubber mat with crosses, gifts and momentos from others who have been there. The ride up for the Bruins was largely the same as many other long road trips they’ll do over the course of the season. “We tried to stay in good spirits,” Holt said. “Getting on for the first time after that is really tough. I think being here (at the site) makes it better. We’ve got a really tight knit group of guys. “It’s real and it actually happened... Once you get here, there aren’t any words to describe it.” Fletcher agreed that they knew it would be tough emotionally to get to the site.
“We were trying to keep it out of our heads as much as we could but as soon as we stopped in Tisdale, and it got closer and closer, it really started to hit,” said Fletcher. “I know lots of guys are feeling really nervous on the bus... it was pretty tough.” Once it was realized that the Bruins would play in the final against the Hawks, Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood made sure the team would be able to have a moment at the site through the provincial Ministry of Highways. “It took awhile to get to the point where we were thinking about (coming here),” Lewgood said. “Of course the initial thoughts were just about the tragedy itself and the people involved. When we started looking at the logistics of the trip, it was a no-brainer
for us. We knew we had to stop and pay tribute.” It was an extremely emotional week, Lewgood said, for the entire country. One of his good friends in the coaching circles was Darcy Haugan and Lewgood spent a lot of time reading what was written by a family member at a cross with his name. Despite the cold breeze, the Bruins lingered there for a while and some even left their own mementos before reboarding the Bruins team bus. While the hurt is still there, for the Bruins at least, the healing process will include playing the game again. “I think us playing again is going to be huge,” Holt said. “I think lots of us are looking forward to getting on the ice and with those guys in our mind, play our best and finish hard.”
Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood reads closely the words written in memory of Darcy Haugan, his Humboldt counterpart and friend.
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