THUNDER BAY — A man who worked at the east end Thunder Bay Boys and Girls Club in the 1970s and 80s has been found guilty of indecent assault involving four complainants.
Wayne Gilberds, 64, appeared before Justice Chantal Brochu in a Thunder Bay Courtroom on Friday, where she found him guilty of four counts of indecent assault.
The verdict follows a trial that opened earlier this year with Gilberds pleading not guilty to the charges.
The charges date back to incidents that occurred between March 1975 and December 1982 at the Thunder Bay Boys and Girls Club in the city’s east end, known at that time as the Wayside, where Gilberds was working as a counsellor.
During the trial that opened in June and continued in the fall, the four complainants, who ranged in age between six and 14-years-old at the time, testified to being sexually assaulted by Gilberds inside the Wayside.
One complainant also testified to being afraid to come forward because of alleged threats Gilberds made, including saying he would blow up the complainant’s house with dynamite.
Gilberds' defense counsel argued the testimony of the four complainants was inconsistent and that there was collusion amongst the complainants to secure a conviction against him.
In her decision, Brochu disagreed that the testimony of the complainants was inconsistent.
“This is a case where the essential issue for determination is an assessment of credibility and reliability of the complainants,” Brochu said. “All witnesses were testifying to extremely historical events that occurred some 40 years ago. Memory fades in time. But I accept the core memories.”
Brochu added that given the complainant’s testimony was found to be reliable and credible, there was no room for reasonable doubt.
Brochu’s full reasons for the verdict will be released to counsel in January.
The verdict comes after numerous delays in the case, including Gilberds initially pleading guilty to the charges in December 2022 only for the pleas to be struck because he was unclear about the court process.
A fitness assessment was ordered, and Gilberds was found fit to stand trial.
A pre-sentence report has been ordered. The matter will return at the end of January to set a date for a sentencing hearing.
