An Update from the Commissioners – June 30, 2022

What Happened at Proceedings this Week

This week, the Commission held three roundtable discussions that addressed the needs of family, community and first responders after mass casualty incidents as well as policing and crime in rural communities. These important discussions allow us to hear from people with relevant knowledge and experience so that we can develop and share well-informed recommendations based upon lessons learned. Recordings of the roundtables can be found on our website.

What is Happening Next Week: Public Proceedings Schedule for the Week of July 4

Wednesday, July 6

• Roundtable: Rurality and Community Well-Being
  • Ms. Robin Campbell, PhD Candidate at Dalhousie University with research focused on the mental health of volunteer firefighters in rural Nova Scotia
  • Ms. Madonna Doucette, Director, Youth Project
  • Ms. Natalie Doucette, Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services
  • Dr. Karen Foster, Associate Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Dalhousie University
  • Dr. Lesley Frank, Professor at Acadia University and researcher in the areas of family and children’s poverty, food insecurity, health inequality and social welfare and policy
  • Dr. Marilyn MacDonald, Professor at Dalhousie University’s School of Nursing, Director of JBI Centre of Excellence

Summer Schedule

Today, we are sharing information about our upcoming proceedings. More information is available in a press release and schedule, shared with media this morning.

Through July and August, the Commission’s proceedings will cover topics including community safety in rural areas, gender-based and intimate partner violence, the perpetrator’s history of violence and financial misdealings, and policing oversight. There will be witnesses as listed below, as well as more Foundational Documents, Commissioned Reports and roundtables.

The Commission will hear from senior RCMP members Superintendent Darren Campbell, Chief Superintendent Chris Leather, Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman, and Commissioner Brenda Lucki on the following dates:

• Supt. Darren Campbell, July 25-26, 2022
• C/Supt. Chris Leather, July 27-28, 2022
• A/Commr. Lee Bergerman, August 22-23, 2022
• Commr. Brenda Lucki, August 23-24, 2022

We will also hear from the perpetrator’s common law spouse, Lisa Banfield, on July 15, 2022. Following the Crown’s referral of Ms. Banfield’s charges related to the acquisition of ammunition to the Nova Scotia Restorative Justice Program in March, she participated in five interviews with the Commission and voluntarily shared evidence key to the Commission’s independent investigation. The interviews provide a large amount of information on a wide variety of subjects, including the violence, coercion and control she experienced during her long relationship with the perpetrator and her experiences as the first target of his violence on April 18, 2020. However, we are of the view that, given her unique situation as both a factual witness to the events and as one of those most affected, it is necessary to hear from her directly in proceedings.

As with other witnesses who are questioned during public proceedings, the Commission has subpoenaed Ms. Banfield to appear. She may be joined by support people. Commission counsel will question Ms. Banfield in their role representing the public interest and on behalf of Participant counsel, who will be invited to provide questions in advance, as well as during two caucus meetings before she is excused as a witness.

The Commission will also hear from the following witnesses in July and August. Dates for these witnesses will be confirmed the Friday before they are set to appear.

• Cst. Troy Maxwell
• Cst. Greg Wiley
• Brenda Forbes
• Dr. Deborah Doherty
• Witness Panel: Tristan Bridges and Tara Leigh Tober, authors of the Commissioned Report Mass Shootings and Masculinity
• Witness Panel: Jude McCulloch and JaneMaree Maher authors of Commissioned Report Understanding the Links between Gender-Based Violence and Mass Casualty Attacks: Private Violence and Misogyny as Public Risk
• Witness Panel: Kristy Martire and Tess Neal authors of Commissioned Report Rigorous Forensic Psychological Assessment Practices (Part I and II)

We know the proceedings have been long and have covered many difficult topics. This work will continue through the summer, and we greatly appreciate everyone who is contributing and watching as members of the public. We are confident the information being brought forward will position us to make recommendations that will help make Canadian communities safer in the future. Please remember that supports are available if you or a loved one need them, both on-site at the proceedings and through the Commission’s website.

Sincerely,

The Mass Casualty Commission

Hon. J. Michael MacDonald, Chair

Leanne J. Fitch (Ret. Police Chief, M.O.M.)

Dr. Kim Stanton