In a recent development, the legal charges against the individuals who owned a foster agency that provided cannabis to children under their care have been dropped following a plea deal. The agency, known as Spirit Rising House, admitted guilt and agreed to pay a $35,000 fine as part of the resolution.
The owners of Spirit Rising House, namely John Bennett, Christine Ormiston, Ian Rabb, and Kelli Register, were initially accused in September 2024 of distributing illegal cannabis and supplying it to underage individuals. Additionally, charges against three other employees of the agency were also dismissed during the legal proceedings.
After extensive negotiations, the federal Crown and legal representatives for Spirit Rising House reached a mutual agreement, leading to the organization admitting to distributing cannabis as a corporate entity under the federal Cannabis Act.
Spirit Rising House, a profit-based company located in Winnipeg, operated foster homes and two specialized group residences catering to 34 at-risk youth under the care of Child and Family Services. Following an internal investigation by Southeast Child and Family Services, which revealed the inappropriate distribution of cannabis to vulnerable children for harm reduction purposes, Spirit Rising House ceased its operations in March 2024.
During court proceedings, it was disclosed that each of the four owners held a 25% ownership stake in Spirit Rising House. Subsequent investigations by the Winnipeg police, initiated after the Southeast inquiry, led to the execution of multiple search warrants on the agency’s premises.
The agreed-upon facts presented in court indicated that the owners, including Ormiston, Bennett, and Register, supported and facilitated the provision of cannabis to the children in their care for behavioral management. Rabb, while not directly involved, was aware of the staff’s actions in providing cannabis to the youth.
Despite claims made to the staff that they had authorization from Child and Family Services to dispense cannabis, investigations revealed that only two out of the 34 youth possessed valid medical prescriptions for the substance. The court was informed that the owners failed to seek medical advice or implement a structured treatment plan for the youth.
In response to queries from Provincial court Judge Kusham Sharma regarding the imposed $35,000 fine, the Crown emphasized that there was no evidence of malicious intent by the organization’s operators. It was acknowledged that while their intentions may have been well-meaning, their approach was flawed, lacking proper consultation with medical professionals or the establishment of a formal treatment regimen for the youth.
Legal counsel for Spirit Rising House confirmed that the fine would be settled promptly, emphasizing the organization’s genuine desire to support the welfare of the vulnerable youth in their care and deter them from resorting to more dangerous substances due to their high-risk backgrounds.
Ultimately, Judge Sharma approved the joint recommendation, marking the conclusion of this legal chapter for Spirit Rising House and its owners.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/spirit-rising-house-stay-9.6947468)