IQALUIT — The devastating effects of Eric Dejaeger’s sexual abuse of seven Inuit children more than four decades ago are being felt a generation later, a judge said Thursday as he handed the former Catholic priest a six-year prison sentence.
Dejaeger pleaded guilty last week to indecent assault against six girls and one boy between 1978 and 1982 in the hamlet of Igloolik, Nvt. He was previously convicted of dozens of other sex offences involving children in Nunavut and Alberta.
“He destroyed their childhood, hurt their relations with their families and ruined their relationship with their church,” Justice Faiyaz Alibhai said in his sentencing decision Thursday. “The trauma reverberated to the next generation, as the children of his victims also suffered from the consequences of his actions.”
Court heard harrowing accounts from five abuse survivors, who were between the ages of four and nine when the assaults took place. The two other victims have since died. The judge paused frequently to allow an interpreter to repeat his words in the native language, Inuit.
“Virtually all of the victims advised the offences destroyed their relationship with the Catholic Church, marginalized them, made it difficult for them to communicate with their loved ones, to engage in physical intimacy or to be close to their children,” Alibhai said. “They also became overprotective of their children.”
Crown and defence lawyers had jointly recommended the six years. Dejaeger, 77, stood in court and made brief remarks before he was sentenced. “I would like to ask for forgiveness for the cruel things I have done,” he said. “I am a changed person. And all the time I have been in prison — I have had a lot of time to think. And also the last 40 years, I have not reoffended.”
Philippe Plourde, the chief federal prosecutor in Nunavut, expressed gratitude for the presence of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada’s Nunavut sexual violence prosecution team, crown witness co-ordinator, and victims services staff, which provided much-needed support to survivors during the court proceedings.
No sentence, Plourde stated, would repair the harm done by such atrocious violence, particularly by someone who held such trust and authority. “The courage of everyone who came forward to speak about this abuse goes a long way to ensuring those harmed are heard by both the community and the offender,” he noted.
George Dolhai, the director of public prosecutions, emphasized the importance of justice, regardless of how much time had passed. “This encourages persons who have experienced such abuse to come forward, thereby supporting confidence in the criminal justice system,” Dolhai said.
Dejaeger is subject to several sentencing conditions, including a lifetime ban on firearms and other weapons, and must register as a sex offender. He is forbidden from attending areas where children might be present, such as swimming pools and playgrounds, and may not work or volunteer with them in any capacities of trust or authority.
He is also prohibited from having contact with anyone under sixteen years old, except when supervised by an adult, and is not allowed to use computers to communicate with minors. RCMP announced back in June 2023, Dejaeger had been arrested on a Canada-wide warrant in Kingston, Ontario, where he had been living. This arrest followed investigations conducted from 2011 to 2015.
Alibhai pointed out this was the fifth time Dejaeger has been sentenced for crimes against children. His history includes serving part of a five-year sentence, beginning in 1990, for sexual crimes against children committed between 1982 and 1989. He faced additional sentences over the years, including 19 years for 32 crimes against Inuit children during his time as priest, which were uncovered from 1978 to 1982.
While the courtroom was filled with victims and their families, each listened intently as Alibhai shared his decision, describing Dejaeger as “a calculated predator” who had been fully aware of his actions at the time of the crimes.
Despite showing remorse during the trial, Dejaeger’s pattern of abuse has left severe scars on many lives. The impact of his actions reminds the community of the urgency and necessity of speaking out against sexual violence, creating pathways for healing and justice.
Those affected by sexual assault have access to various support resources, including crisis lines and local support services through the Ending Violence Association of Canada's database. Immediate dangers require action, prompting victims to contact local authorities or emergency services for assistance.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on January 30, 2025, and serves as both a reminder of the past and encouragement to others facing similar challenges to seek help.