Nygard part of a larger problem

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This article was published 18/11/2023 (869 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There are still so many unanswered questions regarding Peter Nygard and his pattern of behaviour, beginning in the late ’60s when he was first investigated for a sexual offence. At that time, according to a CBC report, Nygard was in his twenties when allegations were made against him by an 18-year-old woman who worked for him. She refused to testify, and nothing happened.

In 1980, Nygard was charged with rape, but again the charges were withdrawn because the victim would not testify.

This pattern continued and according to the CBC report, the Winnipeg Police Service by the 1990s had a police file on the fashion mogul that was 10 inches thick. Yet Nygard was like Teflon. Nothing seemed to stick to him.

Until Kai Bickle stood up and did what other men — men who arguably had much less to lose — failed to do.

He blew the whistle on Nygard, who he describes as a systemic monster. In the process, Bickle lost his inheritance and was gaslit by the Nygard organization.

Bickle is Nygard’s son and had been working in his father’s organization when he witnessed his father assault a young child. Bickle reported the assault to company officials and was told he was mentally unwell.

But Bickle has stood his ground throughout and watched last weekend as Nygard was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault and acquitted of a fifth count, plus a count of forcible confinement. The allegations dated from the 1980s until the mid-2000s.

Winnipeg police originally opened its investigation into Nygard in June 2020. In December 2021, police submitted eight cases for consideration to Manitoba prosecutors, who at the time decided not to pursue criminal charges. After the matter was forwarded to Saskatchewan Justice for an independent review a year later, Nygard has been charged in just one case.

He will be returned to Winnipeg to face charges of sexual assault and unlawful confinement in an incident from November 1993, involving a victim who was then 20 years old.

It took an independent review to force Manitoba Justice to move forward on charges against a man who had a police file more than 10 inches thick. Meanwhile, Manitoba’s NDP government refuses to commit to an inquiry, saying that the case that is still before the courts in Manitoba.

Is it any wonder why women keep silent?

According to researchers, sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes.

Only about six per cent of sexual assaults are reported to the police. Most of those sexual assaults never make it into court. Even fewer result in justice. Some estimate that only about one per cent of the sexual assaults reported result in a conviction.

According to the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community, women will not report violent victimization for various reasons: 43 per cent of women believed that the offender would not be adequately punished; 34 per cent felt shame or embarrassment; 25 per cent didn’t think they would be believed; and 19 per cent were concerned that reporting would bring shame and dishonour to their family.

The majority of women (57 per cent) who were sexually assaulted also said they did not want to deal with police or go to court (42 per cent).

Disabled women, Indigenous women, Black women and women of colour all have higher rates of sexual violence. Thirty per cent of all women over 15 have been sexually assaulted and the incidence of sexual assault has not declined in Canada, while other violent crimes have.

Stopping sexual violence is important.

Women and children who have been sexually violated are more likely to suffer long-term mental health issues, including suicidal ideation and post-traumatic stress disorder, if they aren’t able to access treatment.

One way to address this issue is to ensure that there is justice for those who are brave enough to come forward.

Predators must be held accountable. Police and the court must do more to ensure women are heard, supported and heard.

Inquiries must be held to determine systemic racism and misogyny within police departments.

And there needs to be more people like Kai Bickle.

» Shannon Sampert is a communications consultant, freelance editor for Policy Options and former politics and perspectives editor at the Winnipeg Free Press. She teaches part-time at the University of Manitoba. This column previously appeared in the Free Press.