Cornwall Standard Freeholder

27 October 2008

Posted By KEVIN LAJOIE, STANDARD-FREEHOLDER

The man credited with uncovering allegations of widespread sexual abuse in Cornwall has been recognized for his efforts.

Former Cornwall cop Perry Dunlop is the recipient of the first-ever Golden Whistle Award "for service to Canada in the pursuit of truth in government."

The award -- which was created by Peace Order and Good Government (POGG) Canada and sponsored by Canadians for Accountability -- serves to recognize whistleblowers for their integrity, courage and resolve. The award was presented during a breakfast meeting Saturday in Ottawa, however Dunlop was not on hand to receive the award.

"The price for taking a stand, telling the truth and protecting our freedom of speech can come at an enormous cost. I am living proof of that," said Dunlop in a prepared statement read by his friend Sylvia MacEachern, who accepted the award on his behalf.

"The physical, psychological and emotional toll to me and my loved ones continues to hit home each and every day. It should not have cost this much to protect children. The fallout has been massive, the cost in human suffering incalculable, and the end is still not in sight."

Dunlop is now back home in Duncan, B. C. after serving a seven-month jail sentence on contempt of court charges for refusing to testify at the Cornwall Public Inquiry. He was released from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre on Oct. 4.

MacEachern, the author of a popular blog on the inquiry, told the audience she was honoured to accept the award on Dunlop's behalf.

"What an honour for Perry," she said. "I do believe his heart will skip a beat when he sees that plaque bearing his name hanging on the wall."

Canadians for Accountability President Allan Cutler -- the man credited with blowing the whistle on the federal sponsorship scandal -- said Dunlop was an obvious choice to receive the award. Cutler said he got a chance to speak to Dunlop about the award following his recent release from jail.

"He's a very worthy person," said Cutler. "He sort of stands for something. He stands for doing the right thing and it does him and it does the country good to recognize that there are people out there who are going to do that."

Canadians for Accountability is a non-profit organization that strives to advance integrity and accountability and to advocate for whistleblowers. On her blog, MacEachern describes POGG as a serious discussion group of conservative-minded friends and others which formed in March 2004.

Dunlop was arrested in February after he disregarded a court order to appear at the Cornwall Public Inquiry, which is looking into sex abuse allegations that Dunlop first uncovered in the 1990s while serving as a Cornwall police officer. An OPP investigation known as Project Truth followed and resulted in 114 charges being laid against 15 men. Only one was ever convicted, and police found no evidence of a pedophile ring.