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RCMP confirms it's investigating John Furlong allegations
Former Vanoc CEO John Furlong at the start of his news conference.
Stephen Hui
The RCMP says it is looking into serious allegations swirling around former Vanoc CEO John Furlong.
Today (September 27), the Georgia Straight published an investigative report, "John Furlong biography omits secret past in Burns Lake", which has led to much media coverage and a response from Furlong himself.
Sgt. Rob Vermeulen, spokesperson for the RCMP's E Division, issued a statement this afternoon.
"We can now confirm that we are aware of the allegations involving John Furlong and are investigating. At this time we will not be providing further comment," Vermeulen said.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC also released a statement this afternoon regarding Furlong, who is the organization's executive chair.
"Today, public allegations were made against Whitecaps FC executive chair John Furlong. Earlier this year, we appointed John because of his excellent reputation and his lifelong dedication to growing sport at all levels. In his short time with the club, he’s demonstrated strategic leadership and a full commitment to taking Whitecaps FC to the next level and beyond. Whitecaps FC are doing everything we can to support John through this process," the team stated.
"As this matter will likely proceed before the courts, we will make no further comment."
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The wording takes into account the fact that allegations other than those reported by the Straight were subsequently aired by other media outlets.
The RCMP statement was vague about which allegations they were investigating.
Youth soccer is huge in BC and strongly supported by the Whitecaps through camps, clinics and tournaments. The organization should be deeply, deeply concerned that its chairman is the subject of 8 sworn affadavits alleging child abuse.
Instead, the club seems to have concluded that the alleged victims are either mistaken or lying, and that Furlong will be cleared. Good luck with that crystal ball prediction.
Whether the allegations are found to be legitimate or not is beside the point, at this stage. Until Furlong is fully cleared by the RCMP, he is a liability for the Whitecaps ... but they obviously don't see that.
Bizarre.
Some people think that because Furlong is a successful businessman he must be incapable of being a creep. Those people are both blind and stupid.
John Furlong on the other hand leaves out details of working in a racist religious school as a young adult and discredits 8 signed statements from former students who say they suffered abuse from this man. Then Furlong starts a legal case because he has the bucks to shut people up, and then refuses to answer question because its "before the courts."
Strip this man of his order of Canada and plaster his abuses all over the media when the truth comes out.
In my opinion, these sorts of allegations are always backed up by some degree of fact; there is no reason for them not to be, it profits no one.
I can't really understand the Furlong is innocent crowd - physical and sexual abuse of aboriginal students at the hands of religious institutions is hardly unprecedented. Plus it is a bit weird to leave out when you actually arrived in Canada in a book which dwells on... well when you first arrived in Canada. To then describe the missing years as "uneventful", when you in fact got married and had children is even weirder.
Thought his comment re: the journalist's problem with male authority figures was kind of douche-y thing to say. Smacks of a man who thinks his actions are above question, particularly by a woman.