Man who helped lead fatal school trip testifies at teacher's negligence trial
A man who helped lead a school trip during which a teenage student drowned told an Ontario court Thursday he suspected something had gone wrong when he saw a helicopter hovering near one of the campsites on the third night of the outing.
Eren Howell, a longtime private sector wilderness guide now working as a firefighter, was in charge of one of the youth groups on the trip to Algonquin Provincial Park in July 2017.
Howell said he started to think "something was up" after spotting the aircraft, but only learned that there had been a "terrible accident" involving one of the other groups when one of the leaders paddled up to his campsite the next morning.
One of the students in his group was the older brother of Jeremiah Perry, the student who drowned, he said.
"We did wake up Marion (Perry), we did share the news," he said. "And then we did get him out of there ... to just be there and get ready for evacuation."
Jeremiah Perry, 15, disappeared in the water at Big Trout Lake on July 4, 2017, and his body was found the next day.
Nicholas Mills, a teacher at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute who organized and led the excursion, is charged with criminal negligence causing death.
The Crown alleges Mills neglected safety rules and requirements related to the trip, which was part of an ongoing program for underserved youth.
Court has heard students who signed up for the outing had to pass a swimming test in order to participate. The test was held in June at Sparrow Lake.
The trial has heard some students took the test with a life jacket on, even though regulations for overnight canoe trips required that they be tested without one.
Howell told the court Thursday he knew about the testing requirement but wasn't told the results of the assessment for the members of his group, nor did he inquire about them.
He testified that regardless of the results, he would have wanted to gauge the students' skills himself.
"That they had had some experience together in the water was more than enough for me," he said.
Wearing a life jacket was mandatory for all members of his group, whether in a canoe or while swimming, he said, adding that he also wore one himself when taking part in those activities.
Mills did not spell out any specific requirements related to life jackets prior to the trip, and did not discuss whether they had to be worn while swimming, Howell said.
To his recollection, all that was said on the topic was that the items would be provided and "expected to be worn," he said.
One of the students in his group who was serving as lifeguard questioned the rule at one point, suggesting he could swim without a life jacket because of his skills, Howell said.
"I suggested that's not an option ... it wasn't a discussion that lasted very long," he said.
Howell said he had the chance to meet the students who would be in his group prior to the trip but wasn't involved in setting the itinerary or making any preparations.
Under cross-examination, he agreed with the defence that swimming tests and pre-trip meetings aren't required for private-sector wilderness trips, though he noted those typically involve adults rather than youth.
On the day the excursion began, Howell said he received a call from Mills alerting him that another guide was no longer able to come, leaving him to manage his group on his own.
He then drove up on his own with two canoes and his dog to a prearranged spot to meet the rest of the participants. Howell said he had gotten approval from Mills in advance to bring his dog, and had experience on such trips with his pet.
Court has heard Mills also brought his dog on the excursion, and his then-principal testified earlier during trial he had told the teacher that was not allowed.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.