An 80-year-old former Calgary teacher has been charged in connection with two historical sexual assault cases involving students at John Ware School in the early 1990s.
Following an investigation by the Calgary Police Service’s Sexual Assault Investigative Unit, Fred Henry Archer, of High River, was charged with two counts of sexual assault with a child under the age of 16, two counts of sexual interference with a child under the age of 16, and one count of invitation to sexual touching with a child under the age of 16.
The allegations involve two separate victims, both 12 years old at the time of the incidents, which are believed to have occurred between 1991 and 1995.
The first victim attended the school in 1991 as a Grade 7 student and was in two of Archer’s classes. According to police, the teacher offered after-hours tutoring sessions, during which the assaults allegedly occurred. Some incidents reportedly took place off-campus in the teacher’s vehicle.
The second victim, who was also in Grade 7, attended the school from 1993 to 1995. Although not in Archer’s classes, the student reportedly spent significant time with him off school property. The assaults are believed to have taken place at Archer’s residence and in his vehicle.
“There is no time limit on reporting a sexual assault in Canada, and we encourage anyone who believes they are a victim to come forward, no matter how much time has passed,” police said in a statement.
Archer is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
It's not the first time Archer has been in trouble with the law over his behaviour with girls.
In 2009, he was charged with sexual assault and given a two-year conditional sentence.
A charge of gross indecency was also withdrawn.
And earlier this week, a class-action lawsuit, filed by the victims of two Calgary teachers will proceed, an Alberta judge has ruled.
CTV reported the lawsuit, which involves three groups of anonymous plaintiffs, is against the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), the estate of Michael Gregory and another teacher, Archer.
According to court documents, the plaintiffs attended John Ware Junior High School in Calgary between 1988 and 2004 and claim they were sexually and physically abused by Gregory and Archer.
In February 2021, Gregory was charged with 17 sexual offences.
He killed himself five days later.
Police are urging anyone with information about these or similar incidents to contact them at 403-266-1234. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477, visiting www.calgarycrimestoppers.org, or using the P3 Tips app.