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pedophile

By Loreth Beswetherick Staff at Myrtle Philip elementary and Whistler secondary have taken steps to warn students of a convicted pedophile who is out on probation and now living in Whistler.

By Loreth Beswetherick Staff at Myrtle Philip elementary and Whistler secondary have taken steps to warn students of a convicted pedophile who is out on probation and now living in Whistler. Local RCMP are not in a legal position to release much information about the man other than he has been in Whistler for about a month, is employed locally and has been convicted of several offences against teenage boys. He is now out of jail and serving probation. A condition of his probation is that he stays away from areas frequented by children. RCMP feel there is a risk of him re-offending and have lobbied the Privacy Commissioner to release his name and photograph. A community interest group is also now lobbying to have the man’s identity released. RCMP community police officer Warren Tomalty said at risk are boys from ages 12 to 13 to around 17. "The minute he arrived we started an application to release the fact he was in town and make his name public," said Tomalty. Police told Whistler councillors of the man’s presence in the community and staff at the Whistler Health Care centre were informed, but it was only after a concerned parent called Myrtle Philip principal Bob Daly last week that the issue became public. Daly asked Tomalty to address parents at a PAC meeting Monday, Dec. 13 where the RCMP officer said he was glad it was finally out in the open. He said officers have been trying to find a way to release the information but had not been in a legal position to do so. Some parents expressed anger at not having been informed sooner and are demanding to know more. "I know nearly every parent in Whistler would have been here if they had known this was going to be a topic on the PAC agenda," said one father. Principal Rick Smith was also informed Monday and issued a school newsletter the next morning. He said school staff have spoken with students and he advised parents to "talk with their kids about this issue and the cautions that should be taken when dealing with strangers in our town." Smith said in his letter it was not his intention to alarm anyone unnecessarily. "But this issue seems to be a clear example of the need for families to constantly communicate about the sometimes hidden concerns in our society." Tomalty said the man has been told RCMP are working to release his identity and they have every indication he may leave town before they have a chance to do so. Cpl. Dave Fee said as soon as RCMP are in a legal position to release his name and photograph they will do that. "We will let everyone know the second we hear."