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Principal ignored by supervisors, inquest hears

Suicide of Hal Richards probed during Iqaluit coroner's inquest

NWT Coroner Percy Kinney presided during an inquest into the suicide of Hal Richards, who was principal of Nakasuk School in Iqaluit before his death in June 2001.

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(PHOTO BY KIRSTEN MURPHY)

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KIRSTEN MURPHY

Hal Richards, 52, spent his final days isolated from co-workers and ignored by education supervisors before firing a single fatal bullet into his head on June 9, 2001, according to testimony at a coroner's inquest into his suicide this week.

The public inquest began on Sept. 17 and was scheduled to end on Sept. 20, after Nunatsiaq News went to press. On the last day of the inquest, a six-person, all-male jury was expected to make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

On May 29, 2001, Steve Prest, then-superintendent of Qikiqtani Schools Operations (QSO), suspended Richards with pay. The suspension followed a complaint from the parent of a Nakasuk student alleging a "serious incident" involving her daughter and Richards. Details surrounding the incident were not disclosed at the inquest.

Richards was instructed to return his school keys and clean out his desk. He was told that further information would be forthcoming pending the outcome of a departmental investigation. In the meantime, Richards was told to contact Prest with any concerns.

However, unknown to Richards, Prest decided to sever ties with the principal. The decision was made, Prest said under oath, at the request of the RCMP who, by May 30, had launched their own investigation.

The RCMP advised Prest and QSO executive director Charles Banfield not to talk to Richards because such contact could interfere with the police investigation.

The explanation drew gasps from the gallery, which included Nakasuk teachers and MLA Hunter Tootoo.

QSO's internal investigation was temporarily delayed while the RCMP investigated the complaint.

Not knowing the length of his suspension or the details of the complaint added to Richards' growing sense of frustration, witnesses said.

"He was in a situation where he was in the dark," said Barrie Chivers, a lawyer for the Federation of Nunavut Teachers (FNT).

"He was left in limbo, isolated from his support network at school and from school administrators," said Kelly Payne, a lawyer representing Richards" wife Elizabeth.

Richards' wife of 31 years spoke on the first day of the inquest. She called her husband her best friend and described a troubling breakdown in communication between him and QSO officials.

"He had no idea how long this [suspension] would go on.... He phoned the department of education," she said, but no one returned his calls.

Indeed, the only education officials who contacted Richards were SNT representatives Blake Lyons and Lou Budgell.

Richards spoke to his wife for the last time on June 8.

"He was so anxious, so [I tried to change the conversation] and we talked about cleaning ovens. I didn't know it was the last time...." she said choking back tears.

Elizabeth was working in Yellowknife when she learned of her husband's death.

Assistant principal Janice Beddard took over as principal after Richards was suspended. Prest told Beddard that Richards was on indefinite personal leave.

Beddard said she felt "lied to" when she learned that Richards was suspended and the RCMP were involved.

She described the school as being in a crisis.

"I would have liked to be honest with the staff," said Beddard, who was left to deal with the rumours that quickly spread among staff and students.

When Richards realized Prest would not return his phone calls, he asked Beddard to relay messages to him.

The request frustrated Beddard, who described herself as a middleman.

"They weren't contacting him and were using me to make contact with him. At least, that's what I understood," Beddard said.

"We all know this can happen to us. Not only was the staff shocked and grief-stricken, we felt very vulnerable. It was frightening to see the process unfold."

That process is now under revision.

Lindsay Hudson, labour relations consultant for the Nunavut government's department of human resources, expressed similar concerns about the education department's policies for "allegation investigations."

Hudson said she did not know Richards had asked to collect additional papers from the school. She also said she did not instruct Prest to cut off contact with Richards.

Ten witnesses were scheduled to testify during the four-day inquest. A panel of five lawyers questioned the witnesses. The lawyers represented the coroner's office, Elizabeth Richards, the RCMP, the GN's education and human resources departments, and the Federation of Nunavut Teachers.
RCMP Cpl. Cory Bushell was to testify on Thursday.

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