Former Saskatoon private school admin, pictured with paddle in 1997, testifies at former principal's trial

Lou Brunelle, then an administrator at Christian Centre Academy, photographed with a wooden paddle for a 1997 Maclean's magazine article. A copy of the photo was entered as an defence exhibit in the assault trial of Duff Friesen on Monday. (Maclean's)Social SharingA photo of a former administrator for a Saskatoon private Christian school holding a wooden paddle, published in Maclean's magazine 30 years ago, is now evidence in the assault trial of a former principal at the school.

Duff Arthur Friesen faces five counts of assault with a weapon. He has pleaded not guilty to all of them.

Friesen is accused of hitting students with a wooden paddle. The charges stem from his time at Christian Centre Academy from 1997 to 2007.

The school was later renamed Legacy Christian Academy, then Valour Academy. It's closely associated with Mile Two Church, now called Encounter Church.

Duff Arthur Friesen makes his way into Saskatoon Court of King's Bench last week for the start of his jury trial. He faces five counts of assault with a weapon. (Travis Reddaway/CBC)Lou Brunelle, the man in the magazine photo from 1997, was the first defence witness at the trial. He testified Monday that paddling was school policy and parents signed off.

Brunelle worked at the school from 1989 to 2001, first as a supervisor and then an administrative assistant, reporting to the director and senior to the teachers. He said the role can be compared to that of a vice-principal.

He said the paddle was one of multiple methods, alongside things like demerits and detentions, that the school used to enforce discipline for things like stealing, lying or cheating.

“We would chat with the child. If warranted — three swats,” he told the jury.

He said the student and the discipliner would then pray together. 

Brunelle also testified that none of the staff at the school at the time were certified to work as teachers. He added that the curriculum was approved and that students received Ministry of Education transcripts that allowed them to go on to university.

The Crown closed its case Friday after calling five former students, each of whom testified about being struck with a wooden paddle.

Robyn Mandell said Friesen spanked her hard enough to leave bruises for days. She said it was extremely "humiliating, shameful and terrifying."

Trial begins for former principal of Sask. private Christian school facing assault charges

Coy Nolin, who testified on Wednesday, told the jury he was called to Friesen's office during a school day after Friesen sent a letter to his mother about his schoolwork, and was told he would be taken off the basketball team if he didn't catch up.

He said Friesen told him he’d be getting paddled and sent back to class. Nolin said he then put his hands on the seat of a chair and bent over.

“He struck me three times,” Nolin said.

The trial is set for two weeks, with Justice Daryl Labach presiding.

Aishwarya Dudha is a reporter for CBC Saskatchewan based in Saskatoon. She specializes in immigration, justice and cultural issues and elevating voices of vulnerable people. She has previously worked for CBC News Network and Global News. You can email her at aishwarya.dudha@cbc.ca