B.C. instructor targeted in Creep Catchers sting banned from teaching for life
A high school instructor from Delta, B.C., who was targeted in a Creep Catchers sting has been banned from teaching for life.
An anonymous caller reported Simon William Isbister to his school district and to B.C.'s Ministry of Education back in 2018 after video of his encounter with the vigilante group was posted online.
The recording showed the teacher being confronted inside a Tim Hortons restaurant, where he had allegedly intended to meet with a 12-year-old girl.
The district suspended Isbister shortly after receiving the complaint, and he later resigned from his job. The incident was eventually reviewed by the B.C.'s commissioner for teacher regulation, who decided this month to cancel his teaching certificate and ban him from ever obtaining another one.
Isbister demonstrated "serious misconduct that undermines the public confidence in the education system," commissioner Howard Kushner wrote in a consent agreement posted online Tuesday.
According to the documents, Isbister's trouble began when he responded to a listing in the "Casual Encounters" section of Craigslist in November 2017.
While the listing purported to be from an 18-year-old woman, the person who answered quickly identified herself as a girl named Sierra who was "turning 13." In fact, it was someone associated with Surrey Creep Catchers.
"Ahh, hi! Thanks for your note. Thirteen is very young though. Not sure how I feel about that," Isbister responded, according to the consent agreement.
The teacher went on to ask if Sierra had "played with many older guys." When she said yes, he replied, "Lucky them!"
When the two later began arranging to meet, Isbister expressed some hesitation, writing: "I'm really curious to meet you, but nervous too. I could get into a lot of trouble for meeting a girl so young, right?"
The Creep Catchers associate promised she would "never tell ne one (sic)."
Isbister eventually agreed to drive to a Tim Hortons, where he was ambushed by a member of Surrey Creep Catchers. During a recorded conversation inside the restaurant, the teacher told the vigilante group he only agreed to meet because he was concerned about the girl.
The commissioner for teacher regulation determined that a lifetime ban on teaching in the kindergarten to Grade 12 education system – either in public or private schools – was warranted because Isbister's conduct "spanned several days and showed a pattern of persistence in meeting with 'Sierra.'"
The teacher's acknowledgement that his communications could get him in trouble also factored into the decision, Kushner said.
In signing the document, Isbister admitted the events described in the consent agreement are true and agreed not to dispute them orally or in writing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.