Dunlop issue takes centre stage

[theinquiry.ca note:  there is no byline on the Cornwall Standard Freeholder online edition.  The article however is, as far as I can see,  verbatim that of the Gregory Bonnell CP article released 03 March 2008 and appearing in various newspapers across the country today.  That article is posted below]

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

04 March 2008

Struggling to reinvent itself economically and socially, this eastern Ontario community will watch its murky past dredged up yet again Wednesday as a former police officer appears in court for refusing to appear at an inquiry largely of his own making.

Entering its third year with a running tab of some $23 million, the Cornwall Public Inquiry began making national headlines again in January when former Cornwall, Ont., cop Perry Dunlop vowed to defy a court order compelling his testimony.

Making good on his promise, Dunlop sits in a Toronto jail cell, convicted of contempt for refusing to tell his story and waiting to learn his sentence.

The words "Cornwall" and "pedophiles" are once again being linked in the national consciousness.

"It's certainly a part of our history that is a dark cloud," said Cornwall Mayor Bob Kilger.

"But right now we have continued to move this city forward, economically, socially. It is a community that is very tightly knit, made up of honest, hard working people like everywhere else."

Allegations of systemic sexual abuse against young people were thrust into the spotlight when Dunlop's off-hours investigation produced a bombshell allegation: a clan of well-heeled, powerful pedophiles sexually abusing children.

Former Cornwall resident Ron Leroux swore in an affidavit that for decades, powerful people - many of them community leaders - would gather at a cottage for bizarre sex rituals performed on young boys. He recanted his story when he testified before the inquiry last summer.

Dunlop, however, remains unswayed, convinced there was a pedophile ring operating in Cornwall that was covered up by police, the church, politicians and Crown lawyers.

Dunlop, who now lives in Duncan, B.C., with his wife and three daughters, has said that conspiracy extends to the continued persecution of his family.

Others in the community say that while they don't believe in a "managed" conspiracy of men plotting actions in back rooms, there are many real victims of sexual abuse in the city of 46,000 - a truth that needs addressing before the community can move forward.

"At best there is a conspiracy of silence. We see that even in the present day," said Paul Scott, president of Citizens for Community Renewal - a group with standing at the inquiry.

"I think there's still a lot of people who want to sweep this under the carpet and basically are in denial about it. That's going to be a problem."

The community can only move out from under that dark cloud if it "comes to terms" with its past, Scott added.

Cornwall is clearly a city in need of renewal.

Economically beleaguered by the same manufacturing woes seen in many Ontario communities, the former mill town has seen some 2,000 jobs shed since Domtar began winding down its operations there a little more than two years ago.

Recently, Cornwall lost another 49 jobs through layoffs at the NavCan Training and Conference Centre.

Cornwall has been unfairly painted as a city significantly linked to pedophilia, given that many communities around the world struggle with the issue, said Kilger.

"(It's) no different than any other dark cloud in any other community across the country or anywhere else for that matter," he said.

March 3, 2008 - 12:52

Gregory Bonnell, THE CANADIAN PRESS

CORNWALL, Ont. - Struggling to reinvent itself economically and socially, this eastern Ontario community will watch its murky past dredged up yet again Wednesday as a former police officer appears in court for refusing to appear at an inquiry largely of his own making.

Entering its third year with a running tab of some $23 million, the Cornwall public inquiry began making national headlines again in January when former Cornwall, Ont., cop Perry Dunlop vowed to defy a court order compelling his testimony.

Making good on his promise, Dunlop - whose off-hours investigation in 1993 led to explosive claims of a widespread pedophile ring that have since taken on a life of their own - sits in a Toronto jail cell, convicted of contempt for refusing to tell his story and waiting to learn his sentence.

The words "Cornwall" and "pedophiles" are once again being linked in the national consciousness.

"It's certainly a part of our history that is a dark cloud," said Cornwall Mayor Bob Kilger.

"But right now we have continued to move this city forward, economically, socially. It is a community that is very tightly knit, made up of honest, hard working people like everywhere else."

Allegations of systemic sexual abuse against young people were thrust into the spotlight when Dunlop's off-hours investigation produced a bombshell allegation: a clan of well-heeled, powerful pedophiles sexually abusing children.

Former Cornwall resident Ron Leroux swore in an affidavit that for decades, powerful people - many of them community leaders - would gather at a cottage for bizarre sex rituals performed on young boys.

He recanted his story when he testified before the inquiry last summer.

Dunlop, however, remains unswayed, convinced there was a pedophile ring operating in Cornwall that was covered up by police, the church, politicians and Crown lawyers.

Dunlop, who now lives in Duncan, B.C., with his wife and three daughters, has said that conspiracy extends to the continued persecution of his family.

Others in the community say that while they don't believe in a "managed" conspiracy of men plotting actions in back rooms, there are many real victims of sexual abuse in the city of 50,000 - a truth that needs addressing before the community can move forward.

"At best there is a conspiracy of silence. We see that even in the present day," said Paul Scott, president of Citizens for Community Renewal - a group with standing at the inquiry.

"I think there's still a lot of people who want to sweep this under the carpet and basically are in denial about it. That's going to be a problem."

The community can only move out from under that dark cloud if it "comes to terms" with its past, Scott added.

Cornwall is clearly a city in need of renewal.

Economically beleaguered by the same manufacturing woes seen in many Ontario communities, the former mill town has seen some 2,000 jobs shed since Domtar began winding down its operations there a little more than two years ago.

Recently, Cornwall lost another 49 jobs through layoffs at the NavCan Training and Conference Centre.

Add to that the dark cloud of pedophilia and troubles with illegal smuggling, and it's apparent the city needs to rehabilitate its image to outsiders.

"I think it's important to change other people's minds because Cornwall is going through a transition right now. We're no longer a mill town, we're trying to reinvent ourselves," said Claude McIntosh, a columnist with the Cornwall Standard Freeholder.

"That's an important thing, if you want families to move here."

Cornwall has been unfairly painted as a city significantly linked to pedophilia, given that many communities around the world struggle with the issue, said Kilger.

"(It's) no different than any other dark cloud in any other community across the country or anywhere else for that matter," he said.

"I think every community knows there continues to be a need to protect and safeguard our children and to help those who have suffered that very serious abuse."

That Cornwall has had the strength to confront its history should be a credit to the community, not a liability, said Peggy Parker, a longtime resident.

"It's an across the world problem," said Parker, who attends the inquiry on a daily basis.

"The fact that Cornwall was strong enough to allow itself to be torn wide open to let the light in on all of this mess, maybe it should be seen as a very positive thing."