SQLFusion - Familiar faces from the Weave Shed

Familiar faces from the Weave Shed

CORNWALL PUBLIC INQUIRY -ENDGAME: KEN AND PEGGY PARKER WERE FIXTURES IN THE GALLERY

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

04 February 2009

Posted By TREVOR PRITCHARD

The question - what would be the best outcome of the Cornwall Public Inquiry - hangs in the air like the smoke trailing from Peggy Parker's cigarette.

For most of this cold January evening, Peggy and her husband Ken have been bantering back and forth, over lasagna and wine, about the labyrinthine testimony that's rung through the Weave Shed since 2006.

But now, Peggy is contemplative, leaning over her ashtray, half-hidden by the kitchen cabinets.

She mulls the question for about 10 seconds, before coming up with an answer: "That children feel safe and protected in Cornwall."

For those who tuned in regularly to watch the inquiry, either on television or over the Internet, Peggy Parker's face might be one of the most recognizable.

She's never taken the stand, however, or questioned a witness. Rather, it's because the spiky-haired 66-year-old has always occupied the same seat in the public gallery: the first seat on the left, in the front row, right in front of one of the flat-screen monitors that beam out exhibits to the public.

It's also in the direct line of the cameras. So when attorneys ask questions, there's Peggy - leaning forward, taking notes, occasionally furrowing her brow. (Ken's seat is two to the right of his wife's, which usually puts him just out of the camera's glare.)

Had it not been for an afternoon phone call 33 years ago, Peggy and Ken Parker might never have become involved with the Citizens for Community Renewal, one of the public interest groups with standing at the inquiry.

Cordial Parker-Dunlop relationship soured

In 1976, Peggy, pregnant with her second child, was sitting on the board of directors for the local Children's Aid Society. She got a phone call from Angelo Towndale, who at the time was the agency's acting executive director.

Towndale told her that children were running away from a group home on Second Street, and asked her to interview some of the kids to find out what had happened.

It turned out that the staff had been physically abusing children at the home. The employees were soon fired, and eventually the home was shut down.

"I'd been a teacher. I knew you didn't hit kids," says Peggy. "So that kind of started me in this saga - not knowing it would come back, decisions made 32 years ago would come back to be investigated at the inquiry."

Peggy and Ken were married in 1997 - the same year Ken, a history and political studies teacher at General Vanier Secondary School for the previous 29 years, decided to retire.

When asked what motivated him to advocate for a public inquiry, Peggy quickly chimes in.

"Because of me!" she says.

"Well, partly," Ken adds. "It was a bit of a logical extension from my love of teaching. I loved teaching youth, I loved teaching young people."

The Parkers also knew Perry Dunlop, the controversial former city cop who, during the inquiry, was described by the CCR's lawyers as the "go-to guy" in Cornwall for victims of sexual abuse.

A well-known local musician in his spare time, Dunlop frequently patronized Melody Music, the downtown music store Peggy owned from 1979 until the mid-1990s. He and his wife Helen were invited to the Parkers' wedding. Dunlop gained a reputation as a whistleblower after he turned over David Silmser's police statement to the CAS.

The Cornwall Police Service had closed its investigation into the priest who allegedly abused Silmser. Dunlop later faced charges under the Police Services Act for going outside the chain of command, but was exonerated."

In those days, we thought he was being persecuted, of course, for going to the CAS," says Ken. "And I had even written articles indicating that was his duty, as a professional policeman, to report."

"I really liked him," adds Peggy. "He was a nice young man, and a talented young man."

That cordial relationship, however, didn't last. Because Dunlop would go on to believe wholesale the allegations of people like Ron Leroux - who accused a number of prominent citizens, including priests and police officers, of being part of a pedophile clan in Cornwall - he was "complicit" in tarring people's good names, says Ken. One of the CCR's top priorities is to restore the reputations of people who were falsely accused of being molesters or sexual predators.

It's partly that reason that kept the two of them showing up nearly every day - that, and the gnawing need to discover how so many institutions failed so many children.

"It's as simple as we believed in finding out what really happened," says Peggy. "There are days, let me tell you, that we were really tired. There were days when your heart was broken."

Some of the most heartbreaking days were in June 2007, when former CAS ward Jeannette Antoine took the stand.

Antoine was one of the children who ran away from the Second Street home three decades earlier. She told the inquiry how she was routinely abused, both physically and sexually, while in foster care.

After Antoine left the stand, she and Peggy shared an intimate moment outside the Weave Shed. As they sat together under a large tree, Peggy told Antoine it was her bravery back in 1976 that led to the group home being closed.

They promised to stay in touch, and this year, Antoine sent the Parkers a Christmas card.

"I was looking at an adult face," Peggy reflects, "that was the same face that I saw as about a 12-year-old, y'know?"

"I came to the realization that, my goodness, the decisions that you make in your life are so important."

And speaking of decisions: even though Ken can list off the derogatory phrases people have used to describe the inquiry - phrases like "circus," "bonanza for lawyers," and "the latest chapter in the cover up" -you never get the feeling from the Parkers that they regret sticking it out to the bitter end.

"Most of the people who've spoken about the inquiry have spoken about it in extremely negative terms," Ken admits.

"But I think people are drawing conclusions based on what they hear other people saying," he adds. "They haven't been there to see what's happened. They're not talking from firsthand experience."

- - -

CALLING ALL READERS: We want to hear from you

Eagerly looking forward to the Cornwall Public Inquiry's final report?

Frustrated with its $40-million price tag? Were there times during the three years of testimony that you just couldn't believe what you were hearing?

Here's your chance to speak your mind about the inquiry. Today and Thursday, reporter Trevor Pritchard will be taking your phone calls between noon and 2 p. m.

Your comments will appear in Friday's newspaper or on our website at www.standard-freeholder.com. To phone in, call 613-933-3160, ext. 251. You can also send a short e-mail to tpritchard@standard-freeholder.com. Names and phone numbers must accompany all submissions. Phone numbers will not be published.

Article ID# 1418700

[theinquiry.ca: I think the beginning and/or Title of the following article is missing. This is what appeared in the Freeholder online edition. ]

Taxpayers became increasingly concerned about how far their wallets would be stretched as the inquiry stretched into its third year.

Figures obtained through the Freedom of Information act showed that, as of October 2008, the provincial government's costs had soared to $36,566,286.

Not included in that figure was a special $3.2-million grant given to the city in 2007 -bringing the total to nearly $40-million.

Including that grant, the bill for the Cornwall Police Service's involvement alone is expected to top $8 million.

So far, city taxpayers are on the hook for roughly $1.26 million, with the rest being covered by the province. Attorney General Chris Bentley has agreed to discuss the costs with the city once the inquiry has wrapped up.

"It's only fair (the province) pays the full cost," Coun. Denis Carr said in November. "Hopefully we'll get those funds returned to us."

One hundred hearings days were initially set aside for the inquiry in 2006, with the understanding testimony could easily take longer than that to complete.

But late last year, the Attorney General's office stepped in, mandating that testimony would wrap up by the end of January 2009.

Article ID# 1418686

Comments on the first part of the article which is posted on the Freeholder as "Familiar faces at the Weave Shed" - this includes text down to "Cordial Dunlop-Parker relationship soured."( scroll down for comments posted under the latter).

Weel dodger, james and wildone and the rest of us? How true are Peggy's words? Do you beleive "That children feel safe and protected in Cornwall." ?

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #1 By itinerant,

No miss peggy parker.ITS not so children feel safe and protected in cornwall.Most children wouldn,t no theres a promblem or ever come across one.It is so our parents and guardians can send there children off to school,off to church,out to the local parks or ice rinks or scouts etc.And if any persons dare abuse children thell be hell to pay.Please don,t blame this on the children or our young people.children expect all ready that thell be safe and always have.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #2 By luckyred,

And our great city officials only concern is there money issue.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #3 By luckyred,

itinerant.IF thats all mrs parker can say after sitting throught years of testimony.well she has wasted her time.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #4 By luckyred,

And heres the freeholder.Many many people in this city reading your article wouldn,t no what the hell LABYINTHINE TESTIMONY MEANS.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #5 By luckyred,

LABYINTHINE TESTIMONY tell people what it is red, if you believe your comment so strongly tell people. How much did owners of the weave shed earn out of this? There is an interesting scenario. Talk about old boys,...er girls club in this case.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #6 By itinerant

I know you are writing in english itinerant.But what do you mean? Whats your point.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #7 By luckyred,

I have know clue what it means.I guess i could look it up but my point is will the citzens of cornwall look it up.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #8 By luckyred

The owners of the weave shed, i would think donated the space for this inquirey.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #9 By luckyred,

Mr.&mrs. parker since you,s are board members for the citzens for community renewal were you paid members.Im just curious

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #10 By luckyred,

Well, I see the "bully boy" Itinerant is still at it, eh? Do the children in CornHole feel safe, I doubt it!! And any sane parent wouldn't feel that their kids were safe in that "diddlers paradise". Safe, my butt as I would allege that all the Inquiry did was cover the butts of a lot of those involved so it would give the CCR and their gang of no goods some TV exposure so they could look like they're doing something but tell me this. What happened when those so-called CCR held that meeting for those that were abused and no abused showed up, is that because there weren't any abused kids (now adults) or was it because they would become the showcase of the "Hole" and be centered out and not get the professional help because that very same CCR live in caves out of touch with reality. Why else would they hold a meeting for the abused and propose a "peace garden" or "peace rock" or whatever other than to soothe their guilty consciences? Hypocrites, the whole lot of them including you as well Itinerant and yes, I'm purposely not ignoring you as I would like to see if you EVER answer questions posed to you by many and then you proceed to not answer and try your best to intimidate. Anyways Itinerant, You and the rest of your ilk and the no-goods in CornHole soon won't be able to talk about anything of any great value once this is all said and done and that Hole that you live in will live on forever with the country knowing that people in the Hole could have done something many moons ago and instead turned their backs on all that was going on. Tell me that nobody didn't know about the chief's son or the CAS, CCAS and the diddlers in the church (one of whom was imported), I guess he had a specialty, eh?) May each and every one of you who knew and did nothing rot in that "hot spot" with the Devil and may each and every one of you have the greatest of difficulties with life as long as you live and may your life be long and painful. And it still wouldn't even compare to the life and pain of those who were abused and hung out to dry to this very day.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #11 By grimreaper_47

And by the way, don't the Parker's look so sanctimonious with the perfectly coifed hair-do and looking so neat and perfect looking with nothing to do but be there every day? And with something that was suppossed to be as serious as this Inquiry was SUPPOSSED to be seeing as how it was dealing with the diddling, diddlers and the abused and yet here we have those two clowns sitting there with half*ssed smiles on their pusses for the cameras and this is with an Inquiry about ABUSED KIDS! Maybe next time, they might have some respect and treat this with the seriousness that it deserved but didn't get.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #12 By grimreaper_47

Yeah I watched. The facial expressions and body language - the grimacing - the frowning - the mouthing of words when she didn't agree with something - the exchanges and whispering with Helen Daley certainly showed which side of the fence the Parkers sat on. I couldn't believe some of her reactions and expressions - it was NOT the place for those types of blatent responses in an inquiry or any court room for that matter. I found it disgusting! Who the heck are they anyway??? Certainly someone who liked the cameras!!! Well said grimreaper!!!

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #13 By RealityChecker

reality checker you are probably right on target about the camera comment. First impression set by thes two is less then stellar. red do you know who owns the weave shed? Donate not likely.
I was supporting your comment LABYINTHINE TESTIMONY. Even then you have to be derogatory. Maybe you should follow the old adage about being an ignoramus. : It is better to be thought a Fool than to speak and remove all doubt. ...” but in your case it is too late maaabee anuther tym i kan rit in wurds u kan reed and unnerstand k grimreaper_47 nice to see you back “I won't say more because you should never argue with a fool, they will lower you to their level and then beat you with experience."

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #14 By itinerant

Thanks "RealityChecker" and even though you know more about this whole taudry affair than I as I only dropped in a year or so ago, but you couldn't be more on the money!! It's nice talking with you and I'll send you an e-mail or give you a shout on the old "Alexander Graham Bell" in a few days. By the by "Itinerant" that's an old term for "telephone" and then we have that same idiot "Itinerant" who's talking about fools, have you looked in the mirror lately or have you cracked that one too?? What's that 40 or 50 you've cracked already and I'm just being kind in the numbers as I'm sure it numbers in the 1000's judging from your comments! Have a good day, eh and just think, in another few months you'll only have yourself to speak to and of course that only means one thing, it'll be one fool talking to the other fool, YOUR-SELF. And you'll still be just another sad, lonely, ignorant fool like you always have been. See ya later sweetie-pie. I know you love it you little rascal you! What was that about diddlers????

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #15 By grimreaper_47

Oh grimreaper, do you really think he was?

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #16 By oacas

Ladies and gentlemen it is over. Millions spent lives ruined and to what end is yet to be determined.

I do hope that it provides enough information to begin prosecution of the offenders. We may not have shared opinions and traded offensive barbs but thus is the nature of this venue. I do wish all of you a better and brighter future. Remember the offense we all may have faced is between the individual and the offender not Cornwall. Focus your efforts and monitor anger as it is often a person’s demise. Remember we can always wallow in the past or work for a better tomorrow. “Life is what you make it” Let’s not be grim and stupid as it is passed onto family and friends and is how we are governed by others. Misery loves company and we are all a prime example of that! Good luck everyone

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #17 By itinerant,

Comments on second half of the article published as “Cordial Dunlop-Parker relationship soured".

I have investigated numerous sexual crimes for the Montreal Police Dept as a former investigator with the Youth Section, now am retired. I was taught to see the victim(s) take there statements bring to hospital for examination, try and get the clothes they were wearing at the time of the crime (if they were not washed) bring the proof to the crime lab for forensic tests. Also see any witnesses take there statements, then after all this see a crown attorney who will talk to everyone involved then and only then after examining all the proof, issue an arrest warrant to pick up the perpertrator. Not have a Professional Police officer question people with other people who are not Police Officers then make all this public with statements that implicate innocent people who now have there reputations tarnished for the rest of there lives, once tarnished with the name sexual predator innocent or not this reputation will stay with them for the rest of there lives especially in a small city like Cornwall. Perry Dunlop ruined his own career and should not have proceeded in the way that he did. I respect him as a former Police Officer, but in this case he went overboard and should have testified.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #1 By rkake,

Maybe sir in Montreal and other places but things are done diffrently around cornwall.What sir would you do if somebody falsely accused you of abuse or any other crime?Would you not Do everthing possible to prove your innocents?You sir can not blame victims because some one like ron leroux said he made it up.I personal think if thats the real case he should be arrested.Why do you even respect perry dunlop at all if you think he did so bad.We certainly could of used your expertize at this inquirey so the commisioner could get and idea how investagation should work.THANKYOU FOR YOUR POINTS OF VIEW.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #2 By luckyred,

I will agree that puting peoples names on a web site was wrong.Even for the discusting low lifes that prey on children.And the authoraties should of shut that down soon than later.MR nadeau should of know that would create a big promblem for the victims.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #3 By luckyred,

red are you saying that never disagreed with some one and still respected them?

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #4 By itinerant,

Hey Parkers, I too was abused and if you think that most of the people who didn't know what was going on but instead only listened to stories from what other people were saying, what planet have you been living on for all these years? I guess because no abused people came to your "rock garden" or "peace garden or rock" or whatever you want to call it that there was NO abuse, eh? Got news for the two of you clowns, it happened, the abused have been and are in hiding as they don't know how to deal with it themselves and to expect them to come out to a public meeting to sing "Kumbaya, My Lord, Kumbaya!" just shows how very little the whole lot of you do-gooders know or care about the abused. And Itinerant, I still see the same old B.S. with no answers, aren't you just so proud of yourself? You must be one lonely piece of sh*t!

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #5 By grimreaper_47

"One of the CCR's top priorities is to restore the reputations of people who were falsely accused of being molesters or sexual predators." WHO was falsely accused of being a molester or sexual predator??????? And how do they know it was a FALSE allegation???
WHO WHO WHO? Unbelievable!!! - Give your head a shake guys! All this says is the victims ARE NOT TO BELIEVED!

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #6 By RealityChecker,

GET OUT OF THE DARK AGES - PLEASE!!!

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #7 By RealityChecker

i was one off the victims toss out of the inquiry it turn out to be a sham. i wonder if there any body out there who can tell me the name off that mean coach in alfred the tall one back in 1964 i sure would appreciate it tu

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #8 By sad day

i asked the commission dumais to ask cas how many crown wards was sent to alfred after 1958or1960 because in those years allegations of sexual abuse in alfred was all ready being investigated but he wouldn,t not enough questions were asked that,s why i say it was tax payers wast off money and a sham

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #9 By sad day,

grimreaper, you should really quit posting. You are abusing yourself with these unintelligent and slandersous comments. It is a great way to get support..keep up the good work

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #10 By itinerant

He's got my support Itinerant - and why shouldn't he? He's got more support going for him than the Parkers I would say!

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #11 By RealityChecker

most would support him more if he wrote a little better

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #12 By itinerant,

I understand Peggy Parker wasn't even in the Weave Shed or anywhere around when Perry Dunlop took the stand and testified. What's wrong Peggy? Don't have the guts to face Perry and look him in the eye and say what you have to say???

SPEAKS VOLUMES!!!

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #13 By RealityChecker,

Tell me if im wrong.. but looking at all that has gone past here I feel that the victims were victimized all over again to a certain extent through this inquiry.. I know that reading all the articles etc.. brought back some very unpleasant memories for myself. 30 somthing years of alcohol/drugabuse self loathing... I dont need to go on.. Until I got lucky and found a person who helped me get through all the emotions/feelings about what happened and made me understand I wasnt to blame for being a victim.. SOme im sure still blame them selves for what happened.. Some may never recover for others its too late for anything.. They should take a good look at things and re think how to handle complaints etc in the future or else all this was for nothing

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #14 By OutWest,

Well said outwest!!!

How is AB?

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #15 By itinerant,