Former Saskatoon principal gets 6-month community sentence for historical student assault

WATCH: Duff Friesen has been sentenced to six months, served in the community, after being convicted of assault with a weapon.

A former principal of a private Saskatoon Christian school will not spend time behind bars for assaulting a student more than 20 years ago.

Duff Friesen has been sentenced to six months, served in the community, after being convicted of assault with a weapon.

The conviction is connected to an incident in 2003-2004 when Friesen hit a student with a wooden paddle. He was found not guilty on the three other charges.

“It was cruel and excessive and humiliating and devastating,” Justice Natasha Crooks said during her nearly 30-minute sentencing.

A publication ban is in place on all evidence in the trial, which includes victim impact statements, to protect the integrity of Friesen’s second jury trial, scheduled for September 2026. The trial is connected to Friesen’s time working at Christian Centre Academy, which has since been rebranded multiple times — first as Legacy Christian Academy and then Valour Academy.

“The decision really affirms what former students of the school have said,” said Caitlin Erickson, a former student. “We’re really happy that it has been taken seriously by the justice system.”

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Friesen was present in court during the sentencing. His lawyer appeared by video.

Friesen was given a number of conditions, one of which prohibits Friesen from any employment or volunteering that involves being in a position of trust or authority towards a person under the age of 16.

Crooks described that condition as punitive to how Friesen will spend his time.

“That is the biggest drive and motivation in coming forward with all of this is that these things are not repeated on other minors that were in the same position we were,” Erickson said.

Friesen must also remain in Saskatchewan and stay in regular contact with a court-appointed supervisor. Crooks did not impose a curfew or a ban on drugs or alcohol, which is common for a conditional sentence.

He is one of three people connected to the school facing assault charges. John Olubobokun, the former director of Christian Centre Academy, pleaded guilty to five counts of assault with a weapon on Dec. 2.

Ken Schultz, another former director, is charged with assault and sexual assault.