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Former Child Care Council member charged with child luring

Child advocate charged

A former member of the Provincial Child Care Council has been charged with two child-luring offences.

Nanaimo resident Christopher Robin Beaton was charged July 15 with communicating with two young persons for the purpose of facilitating an offence. The communications are alleged to have occurred on Dec. 29, 2018, and Feb. 24, 2020, in Nanaimo.

Beaton, who is also the executive director of the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, is scheduled to appear in provincial court on Sept. 14.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development appointed Beaton to the child care council on March 20, 2019. His term ended on Dec. 31, 2020.

The council provides advice and recommendations to government on B.C.’s universal child care plan.

The ministry statement announcing his appointment said Beaton had worked in the social services sector for 25 years and described him as a passionate advocate for supporting the success of Indigenous learners and recognizing the importance of early learning in all aspects of life.

The B.C. Prosecution Service said it had no comment on the specific circumstances of the charges. Nanaimo RCMP could not be reached for comment.



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