Supervisor of 20-year-old hedge worker killed on job not guilty of criminal negligence

The supervisor at an Ottawa hedge-trimming company has been found not guilty in the 2023 death of Nick Chenier. CTV’s Katelyn Wilson reports.

The supervisor charged with criminal negligence in the 2023 death of a young worker who was trimming a hedge in Ottawa has been found not guilty.

Steven Deans, a manager with Best Green Hedges, was charged with criminal negligence causing death in April 2024 in connection with the death of Nick Chenier.

The 20-year-old Nick was trimming a hedge on Jean Park Road in Manotick in May 2023, when the hedge trimmer he was using came into contact with a 16,000-volt power line. He died about an hour later.

The judge found Deans not guilty Friday morning.

Jennifer Chenier says her son Nick was loved by many for his humour and charm.

“He was super charismatic, very funny, very loving and loved by so many people,” Jennifer told CTV News Ottawa.

Jennifer says today’s verdict was a long time coming, but not the outcome she hoped for.

“I have waited for this day for two and a half years it just didn’t go the way we hoped, unfortunately,” she said.

“If there were proper laws and legislations for this type of work, he would still be alive today so no, I’m not done. I’m going to continue my fight.”

Mark Ertel, defence lawyer for Deans, says his client was close to Nick and the trial has made Nick’s death more difficult.

“This is a horrible tragic case. Mr. Chenier was not just a colleague of Mr. Deans, but a good friend. So, imagine being prosecuted for the death of your good friend.” Ertel said. “He’s heartbroken at the loss of his friend.”

The Crown alleged that Deans had failed to identify or warn Nick about the danger of the hydro wires and showed a “reckless disregard” for his safety.

The trial marked the first time that a charge of criminal negligence causing death was laid against an employer or supervisor of a company in Ottawa, according to Ottawa and District Labour Council president Sean McKenny.

“It sends a loud message to employers that they need to smarten up, they need to protect workers when it comes to health and safety,” McKenny said.

The Ministry of Labour had previously conducted its own investigation and laid five non-criminal charges against the company, its owner, and Deans.

In April 2024, company owner Sheldon Best Green pleaded guilty to the Ministry of Labour’s charge of failing, as a director, to take all reasonable care to ensure that the corporation complied with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.

All charges laid by the Ministry of Labour against the company Best Green Hedges were withdrawn given the owner’s guilty plea. The judge imposed a $45,000 fine and with a victim surcharge, the total fine was about $56,000.

--With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Katelyn Wilson and Katie Griffin

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