SQLFusion - Ex priest violin virtuoso and paedophile

Richard Hickerson

Roman Catholic Priest. Ex priest. Canada Manpower employee. Violin virtuoso. Paedophile.

27 August 1991: Richard Hickerson & Leo Courville defend Bob Rae NDP government budget

My information on Richard Hickerson the priest is sketchy and, as you will see, at times a little confusing and/or intriguing. The following will be updated as I get more information and if and when some of the pressing questions are answered.

Richard Hickerson surfaced in Cornwall, Ontario around 1968. He told one of his Cornwall victims who confronted him years after the fact that he had been kicked out of the priesthood after he had sexual involvement with a boy in Saskatchewan.

Hickerson was Roman Catholic priest with an order of priests known alternately as Marianists, Marianistes or the Society of Mary. That means that his name was listed with “s.m.” after his name, the s.m. designating his order.

Prior to ordination he studied in various univerisities in Europe, the United States and Canada. Hickerson, said to be a large man with thick glasses, was desciribed as extremely literate, well educated, a violin virtuoso and a man who spoke impeccable French.

FATHER Richard Hickerson

Where and when Hickerson was ordained is in question. In fact, there is a little confusion and intrigue surrounding Richard Hickerson the priest when it comes to tracking his whereabouts. His name is not in the 1959 Canadian priest’s directory. In fact at that time there are no priests in Canada with the name Hickerson.

I don’t have ready access to directories from the early 60s, however both the 1967 and 1968-69 directories show an A. Hickerson at Notre dame College in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (Diocese of Prince Albert) and a Richard Hickerson s.m. at the Academie Provencher ( a Grade 1 – 12 school for boys) in St. Bonifice, Manitoba. The former, A. Hickerson, was ordained 17 July 1960. There is no date of ordination for the latter, Richard.

(note 2010: I received confrimation in 2008 that Father Richard Hickerson was teaching at Provencher School, a boy’s school in St. Boniface, Manitoba (beside Winnipeg) during 1961-1962 and 1962- 1963 school years. The boys called him “homo-priest.” I have a source who tells me that Hickerson also taught at the school in the mid 50s before he pursued the priesthood.)

Richard Hickerson was definitely serving as a priest in the Diocese of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in the mid 60s and was probably at Note Dame College in Prince Albert for at least some of those years. I have asked my source if there were perhaps two Father Hickersons in Prince Albert but to date can not confirm that there was any other Hickerson but Richard Hickerson serving in Prince Albert. However, I am told that Richard Hickerson had a brother named Allan. Was Richard Hickerson's brother a priest? Is that the A. Hickerson? That I don’t know. It may well be.

I understand also that Richard Hickerson’s second name was Francis so that seems to negate the confusion which occasionally transpires in the directories when a priest goes by his second name.

So, were there two Father Hickersons - brothers - in the priesthood in Canada in the 60s? Or was there one and there is an error or mix up in the directories? And, was Father Richard Hickerson teaching at a Roman Catholic boy’s school in St. Bonifice in the late 60s? After it was known that he was a molester? If yes one can only wonder how many victims he left in his wake.

Perhaps in due time we shall find out the fine points. For now what is a given is that Richard Hickerson was a priest in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan between 1964 and 1966.

Another given is that by 1971 both names A. Hickerson and Richard have disappeared from the directories. There is not hint of either name afterwards. They are gone.

Father Richard Hickerson in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

- He was recognized as an “amazing” and accomplished violinist.

- probably taught at Notre Dame College in Prince Albert.

- Priest at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Prince Albert. Had an apartment in the Bishop's palace adjacent to the cathedral

- The altar boys called him “homo-hick” (paedophile was not part of their language)

- According to one source he probably molested just about every boy in the altar boy guild. That statment is amended to perhaps 10% of the 146 boys. To date none has come forward publicly.

- There were stories circulating that Hickerson sexually abused one very young boy, perhaps five years of age. That incident was reported. I believe it was after this that he disappeared.

- When Hickerson disappeared from the diocese the word was that he had been sent back or had been called back to the seminary. In point of fact it seems he was off to the boy's school in Manitoba.

(the bishop of Prince Albert from 1959 to 1983 was Laurent Morin, a close friend of Bishop Alexander Carter one of the influential Gang of Five who mentored Bishop Adolphe Proulx. Proulx was bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria when Hickerson, by then a known molester, arrived in Cornwall, presumably as a layman)

MR. Richard Hickerson

- What and/or who took Richard Hickerson, to Cornwall, Ontario? A big question which begs an answer. At this time I don’t have it. It seems however that prior to his arrival in Cornwall Hickerson spent a year in nearby Ottawa, Ontario. What he was doing in Ottawa and who he spent the time with is unknown at this time.

- Hickerson said he arrived in Cornwall, Ontario in 1968 and that appears to be fact. The impression he conveyed was that he was no longer a priest. However since his name appears in the 1968-69 directory it is entirely possible that he was not yet “laicized” (defrocked) when he arrived. That raises the question was he actually laicized (officially defrocked) and if so when? And did Bishop Proulx know Hickerson before his arrival as a 'layman' in Cornwall and what, if anything, did Proulx know of Hickerson's background as a paedophile?

- Hickerson’s affiliation with L’Ecole Musica, the music school operated by the Holy Cross sisters in Cornwall, seems to have begun shortly after his arrival in Cornwall. Did someone knowing of Hickerson’s musical prowess open the doors for him with the sisters? Was it Proulx? Or someone else? Who opened the doors?

- Richard Hickerson landed a job with Canada Manpower. It is unknown at this time when he got the job or who, if anyone, opened those doors.

- During his years in Cornwall Hickerson was known to keep company with probation officers Nelson Barque and Ken Seguin, an ex priest. Both were accused of sexual abusing young boys. Both committed suicide. Did Hickerson know either or both of these men prior to his arrival in Cornwall?

- At least two men came forward in the late 90’s with allegations of sexual abuse against Hickerson. Hickerson acknowledged a sexual relationship with one of his victims but described it as consensual. (such sexual activity was illegal in the late 60s Consent by the victim was never a defence for the perpetrator. )

- Hickerson was confronted by one of his Cornwall victims years after the abuse. The victim was told that Hickerson was kicked out of the priesthood for having a sexual relationship with a boy - one - in Saskatchewan. Hickerson convinced his victim to feel sorry for him and that that was in the past and he had changed his ways.

- Hickerson had a sexual relationship with James Lewis. Lewis was probably sexually abused by Hickerson. Lewis was later charged and convicted of (1) possession of kiddie porn and (2) sexual abuse. Hickerson left his estate to Lewis.

- Hickerson was heavily into pornography of all kinds, including kiddie ponr and bestiality.

19 June 1998: Committed suicide

After his suicide Cornwall Police found a huge stash of porn videos and porn at Hickerson’s. It was all destroyed. This despite the fact that at that time Cornwall was rife with allegations of paedophile ring and cover-up and Project Truth was investigating those allegations . Without doubt there was invaluable evidence in the collection.

Two known victims from Hickerson's years in Cornwall are C-11 and Jamie Marsolais.

24 June 1998: Richard Hickerson obituary

Robert Sheets Project Truth Statement

Pages from 1961-63 Academie Provencher yearbooks showing Father Richard Hickerson as staff (Saint Boniface Manitoba) (names of students pictured with Hickerson have been redacted)

Blog

20 May 2008: "Children who seduce men"!

Media

21 May 2008: INQUIRY: Cops had to piece together pics
17 May 2008: Cop details suspected abuser's suicide
04 October 2007: Abuse continues to haunt Marsolais
21 August 2007: Witness says police threatened to kill him over abuse allegations; Police internal letter says accusations 'unfounded'

07 June 2007: Man's abuser 'the worst of the worst'
Blog

21 August 2007: Straight form the heart

07 June 2007: My stomach churns