Head Of Sask. Bible Camp Admits Exorcism But Not Medical Treatment Performed On Boy Who Suffered Possible Seizure

These and other revelations are contained in a recording of Redberry Bible Camp executive director Roland Thiessen obtained Tuesday by CBC News. The voice on the recording matches that of Thiessen, who referred all questions to board president Wayne Dick during a brief phone conversation earlier this month with CBC News. He also confirms his name and position on the recording. In the recording, Thiessen also admits to being present at part of the late-night exorcism conducted by staff member Carlos Doerksen. “[Doerksen] was praying that Jesus would set this boy free,” Thiessen says in the 15-minute phone call with a concerned parent who called Redberry after hearing rumors of the July 13 exorcism. Listen to part of the recorded phone call:

The executive director of Redberry Bible Camp defends exorcism

This recording from late July features Redberry Bible Camp Executive Director Roland Thiessen speaking to a concerned mother on the phone. In the recording, Thiessen tells the parent, Brooke Elliott, that Doerksen, “has experience with the forces of darkness. He’s been dealing with dark things for quite some time. He was probably the best person in the room at that point. He didn’t specifically approve from the camp. [But] it was not something that once started could be stopped.” The “dark stuff” Doerksen has been involved in includes a recent history of pornography and drug addiction, domestic violence and being fired from his previous job as a camp counselor, all detailed on Doerksen’s Facebook page. On the call, Thiessen says there were several camp staff members with medical training, including three lifeguards and a retired nurse, but he admitted no one was called to check on the boy at any point. Thiessen said the boy was lying “motionless on the floor for a period of time” and then agreed with Elliott that other symptoms the boy experienced were consistent with a seizure. Thiessen admits on the recording that Redberry, a 75-year-old camp that hosts hundreds of children each year, didn’t have protocols for medical emergencies, but says there are now “more to protect ourselves than anything else.” Thiessen then reiterates that the main reason for medical treatment is to protect himself and other staff members. Elliott, a licensed practical nurse, tells Thiessen it’s “scary” to hear that. “The way you phrased it a little bit is a little disturbing to me. I think in that statement you’re not putting the best interest of the child forward. I think the mindset needs to change,” he said. Thiessen apologizes and says he didn’t mean it that way. A staff member at Redberry Bible Camp north of Saskatoon allegedly performed an exorcism on an underage child this summer, then handed out business cards and told the gathered children that only he could keep demons away from them, according to a government official. (Don Somers/CBC) In an interview Tuesday with CBC News, Elliott said the call convinced her and several friends to cancel their children’s registration for a weeklong camp in Redberry in late July. He said they requested and received a full refund. “This is all so worrying,” he said. “How can anyone feel safe sending their child to this camp?”

RCMP says reported practices ‘not illegal in Canada’

At least three parents whose children were exorcised have filed complaints with the RCMP. On Tuesday afternoon, the RCMP issued a press release saying no charges would be laid and the investigation was closed. “Criminal investigations ultimately boil down to two things: gathering evidence and determining whether that evidence indicates that a person committed a crime as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada,” he stressed. Josh Graham, officer in charge of the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit, was quoted as saying in an RCMP press release. “Practices like the one reported may concern some people, but they are not illegal in Canada.” Parents interviewed say this is the wrong decision. They say their children were traumatized and some still suffer from delusions, paranoia and excessive anxiety. Several parents of children who attended Redberry Bible Camp say Carlos Doerksen, right, the counselor at a boys’ cabin, performed an exorcism on a boy who was apparently in medical trouble. (Redberry Bible Camp website) They say Doerksen “brainwashed” the boys from the start. They would do a full day of vigorous physical activity in the summer heat, and then Doerksen would talk to them in their cabin until the wee hours of the morning. He warned children of signs of demonic possession, which included any flickering indoor or outdoor light, thinking a girl was cute, or laughing while watching The Simpsons or other “bad” TV shows. In a YouTube video posted by Doerksen earlier this month, Doerksen admits to performing a “release” on a boy who collapsed and then smashed to the floor. “I have a room full of boys who are absolutely terrified … cowering under their blankets,” Doerksen said in the video. Doerksen said he was able to exorcise many demons from the boy. The parents say she handed out business cards so the boys could stay in touch if the demons returned. After performing the exorcism, Carlos Doerksen distributed this business card to the children present. (Submitted by Marci Bond) Four of the boys called their parents that night to take them home. Parents say Doerksen and Thiessen and others defended the exorcism. They used phrases like “spiritual warfare” and “satanic activity,” the parents said. “I told them I’ve never heard a bigger st in my life,” said one father. Neither Thiessen, Doerksen nor Redberry board chairman Wayne Dick returned interview requests. Dick said they are taking the incident seriously.

title: “Head Of Sask. Bible Camp Admits Exorcism But Not Medical Treatment Performed On Boy Who Suffered Possible Seizure Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-07” author: “Emma Blanco”

These and other revelations are contained in a recording of Redberry Bible Camp executive director Roland Thiessen obtained Tuesday by CBC News. The voice on the recording matches that of Thiessen, who referred all questions to board president Wayne Dick during a brief phone conversation earlier this month with CBC News. He also confirms his name and position on the recording. In the recording, Thiessen also admits to being present at part of the late-night exorcism conducted by staff member Carlos Doerksen. “[Doerksen] was praying that Jesus would set this boy free,” Thiessen says in the 15-minute phone call with a concerned parent who called Redberry after hearing rumors of the July 13 exorcism. Listen to part of the recorded phone call:

The executive director of Redberry Bible Camp defends exorcism

This recording from late July features Redberry Bible Camp Executive Director Roland Thiessen speaking to a concerned mother on the phone. In the recording, Thiessen tells the parent, Brooke Elliott, that Doerksen, “has experience with the forces of darkness. He’s been dealing with dark things for quite some time. He was probably the best person in the room at that point. He didn’t specifically approve from the camp. [But] it was not something that once started could be stopped.” The “dark stuff” Doerksen has been involved in includes a recent history of pornography and drug addiction, domestic violence and being fired from his previous job as a camp counselor, all detailed on Doerksen’s Facebook page. On the call, Thiessen says there were several camp staff members with medical training, including three lifeguards and a retired nurse, but he admitted no one was called to check on the boy at any point. Thiessen said the boy was lying “motionless on the floor for a period of time” and then agreed with Elliott that other symptoms the boy experienced were consistent with a seizure. Thiessen admits on the recording that Redberry, a 75-year-old camp that hosts hundreds of children each year, didn’t have protocols for medical emergencies, but says there are now “more to protect ourselves than anything else.” Thiessen then reiterates that the main reason for medical treatment is to protect himself and other staff members. Elliott, a licensed practical nurse, tells Thiessen it’s “scary” to hear that. “The way you phrased it a little bit is a little disturbing to me. I think in that statement you’re not putting the best interest of the child forward. I think the mindset needs to change,” he said. Thiessen apologizes and says he didn’t mean it that way. A staff member at Redberry Bible Camp north of Saskatoon allegedly performed an exorcism on an underage child this summer, then handed out business cards and told the gathered children that only he could keep demons away from them, according to a government official. (Don Somers/CBC) In an interview Tuesday with CBC News, Elliott said the call convinced her and several friends to cancel their children’s registration for a weeklong camp in Redberry in late July. He said they requested and received a full refund. “This is all so worrying,” he said. “How can anyone feel safe sending their child to this camp?”

RCMP says reported practices ‘not illegal in Canada’

At least three parents whose children were exorcised have filed complaints with the RCMP. On Tuesday afternoon, the RCMP issued a press release saying no charges would be laid and the investigation was closed. “Criminal investigations ultimately boil down to two things: gathering evidence and determining whether that evidence indicates that a person committed a crime as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada,” he stressed. Josh Graham, officer in charge of the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit, was quoted as saying in an RCMP press release. “Practices like the one reported may concern some people, but they are not illegal in Canada.” Parents interviewed say this is the wrong decision. They say their children were traumatized and some still suffer from delusions, paranoia and excessive anxiety. Several parents of children who attended Redberry Bible Camp say Carlos Doerksen, right, the counselor at a boys’ cabin, performed an exorcism on a boy who was apparently in medical trouble. (Redberry Bible Camp website) They say Doerksen “brainwashed” the boys from the start. They would do a full day of vigorous physical activity in the summer heat, and then Doerksen would talk to them in their cabin until the wee hours of the morning. He warned children of signs of demonic possession, which included any flickering indoor or outdoor light, thinking a girl was cute, or laughing while watching The Simpsons or other “bad” TV shows. In a YouTube video posted by Doerksen earlier this month, Doerksen admits to performing a “release” on a boy who collapsed and then smashed to the floor. “I have a room full of boys who are absolutely terrified … cowering under their blankets,” Doerksen said in the video. Doerksen said he was able to exorcise many demons from the boy. The parents say she handed out business cards so the boys could stay in touch if the demons returned. After performing the exorcism, Carlos Doerksen distributed this business card to the children present. (Submitted by Marci Bond) Four of the boys called their parents that night to take them home. Parents say Doerksen and Thiessen and others defended the exorcism. They used phrases like “spiritual warfare” and “satanic activity,” the parents said. “I told them I’ve never heard a bigger st in my life,” said one father. Neither Thiessen, Doerksen nor Redberry board chairman Wayne Dick returned interview requests. Dick said they are taking the incident seriously.

title: “Head Of Sask. Bible Camp Admits Exorcism But Not Medical Treatment Performed On Boy Who Suffered Possible Seizure Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-04” author: “Johnny Giles”

These and other revelations are contained in a recording of Redberry Bible Camp executive director Roland Thiessen obtained Tuesday by CBC News. The voice on the recording matches that of Thiessen, who referred all questions to board president Wayne Dick during a brief phone conversation earlier this month with CBC News. He also confirms his name and position on the recording. In the recording, Thiessen also admits to being present at part of the late-night exorcism conducted by staff member Carlos Doerksen. “[Doerksen] was praying that Jesus would set this boy free,” Thiessen says in the 15-minute phone call with a concerned parent who called Redberry after hearing rumors of the July 13 exorcism. Listen to part of the recorded phone call:

The executive director of Redberry Bible Camp defends exorcism

This recording from late July features Redberry Bible Camp Executive Director Roland Thiessen speaking to a concerned mother on the phone. In the recording, Thiessen tells the parent, Brooke Elliott, that Doerksen, “has experience with the forces of darkness. He’s been dealing with dark things for quite some time. He was probably the best person in the room at that point. He didn’t specifically approve from the camp. [But] it was not something that once started could be stopped.” The “dark stuff” Doerksen has been involved in includes a recent history of pornography and drug addiction, domestic violence and being fired from his previous job as a camp counselor, all detailed on Doerksen’s Facebook page. On the call, Thiessen says there were several camp staff members with medical training, including three lifeguards and a retired nurse, but he admitted no one was called to check on the boy at any point. Thiessen said the boy was lying “motionless on the floor for a period of time” and then agreed with Elliott that other symptoms the boy experienced were consistent with a seizure. Thiessen admits on the recording that Redberry, a 75-year-old camp that hosts hundreds of children each year, didn’t have protocols for medical emergencies, but says there are now “more to protect ourselves than anything else.” Thiessen then reiterates that the main reason for medical treatment is to protect himself and other staff members. Elliott, a licensed practical nurse, tells Thiessen it’s “scary” to hear that. “The way you phrased it a little bit is a little disturbing to me. I think in that statement you’re not putting the best interest of the child forward. I think the mindset needs to change,” he said. Thiessen apologizes and says he didn’t mean it that way. A staff member at Redberry Bible Camp north of Saskatoon allegedly performed an exorcism on an underage child this summer, then handed out business cards and told the gathered children that only he could keep demons away from them, according to a government official. (Don Somers/CBC) In an interview Tuesday with CBC News, Elliott said the call convinced her and several friends to cancel their children’s registration for a weeklong camp in Redberry in late July. He said they requested and received a full refund. “This is all so worrying,” he said. “How can anyone feel safe sending their child to this camp?”

RCMP says reported practices ‘not illegal in Canada’

At least three parents whose children were exorcised have filed complaints with the RCMP. On Tuesday afternoon, the RCMP issued a press release saying no charges would be laid and the investigation was closed. “Criminal investigations ultimately boil down to two things: gathering evidence and determining whether that evidence indicates that a person committed a crime as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada,” he stressed. Josh Graham, officer in charge of the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit, was quoted as saying in an RCMP press release. “Practices like the one reported may concern some people, but they are not illegal in Canada.” Parents interviewed say this is the wrong decision. They say their children were traumatized and some still suffer from delusions, paranoia and excessive anxiety. Several parents of children who attended Redberry Bible Camp say Carlos Doerksen, right, the counselor at a boys’ cabin, performed an exorcism on a boy who was apparently in medical trouble. (Redberry Bible Camp website) They say Doerksen “brainwashed” the boys from the start. They would do a full day of vigorous physical activity in the summer heat, and then Doerksen would talk to them in their cabin until the wee hours of the morning. He warned children of signs of demonic possession, which included any flickering indoor or outdoor light, thinking a girl was cute, or laughing while watching The Simpsons or other “bad” TV shows. In a YouTube video posted by Doerksen earlier this month, Doerksen admits to performing a “release” on a boy who collapsed and then smashed to the floor. “I have a room full of boys who are absolutely terrified … cowering under their blankets,” Doerksen said in the video. Doerksen said he was able to exorcise many demons from the boy. The parents say she handed out business cards so the boys could stay in touch if the demons returned. After performing the exorcism, Carlos Doerksen distributed this business card to the children present. (Submitted by Marci Bond) Four of the boys called their parents that night to take them home. Parents say Doerksen and Thiessen and others defended the exorcism. They used phrases like “spiritual warfare” and “satanic activity,” the parents said. “I told them I’ve never heard a bigger st in my life,” said one father. Neither Thiessen, Doerksen nor Redberry board chairman Wayne Dick returned interview requests. Dick said they are taking the incident seriously.

title: “Head Of Sask. Bible Camp Admits Exorcism But Not Medical Treatment Performed On Boy Who Suffered Possible Seizure Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-29” author: “Sarah Durisseau”

These and other revelations are contained in a recording of Redberry Bible Camp executive director Roland Thiessen obtained Tuesday by CBC News. The voice on the recording matches that of Thiessen, who referred all questions to board president Wayne Dick during a brief phone conversation earlier this month with CBC News. He also confirms his name and position on the recording. In the recording, Thiessen also admits to being present at part of the late-night exorcism conducted by staff member Carlos Doerksen. “[Doerksen] was praying that Jesus would set this boy free,” Thiessen says in the 15-minute phone call with a concerned parent who called Redberry after hearing rumors of the July 13 exorcism. Listen to part of the recorded phone call:

The executive director of Redberry Bible Camp defends exorcism

This recording from late July features Redberry Bible Camp Executive Director Roland Thiessen speaking to a concerned mother on the phone. In the recording, Thiessen tells the parent, Brooke Elliott, that Doerksen, “has experience with the forces of darkness. He’s been dealing with dark things for quite some time. He was probably the best person in the room at that point. He didn’t specifically approve from the camp. [But] it was not something that once started could be stopped.” The “dark stuff” Doerksen has been involved in includes a recent history of pornography and drug addiction, domestic violence and being fired from his previous job as a camp counselor, all detailed on Doerksen’s Facebook page. On the call, Thiessen says there were several camp staff members with medical training, including three lifeguards and a retired nurse, but he admitted no one was called to check on the boy at any point. Thiessen said the boy was lying “motionless on the floor for a period of time” and then agreed with Elliott that other symptoms the boy experienced were consistent with a seizure. Thiessen admits on the recording that Redberry, a 75-year-old camp that hosts hundreds of children each year, didn’t have protocols for medical emergencies, but says there are now “more to protect ourselves than anything else.” Thiessen then reiterates that the main reason for medical treatment is to protect himself and other staff members. Elliott, a licensed practical nurse, tells Thiessen it’s “scary” to hear that. “The way you phrased it a little bit is a little disturbing to me. I think in that statement you’re not putting the best interest of the child forward. I think the mindset needs to change,” he said. Thiessen apologizes and says he didn’t mean it that way. A staff member at Redberry Bible Camp north of Saskatoon allegedly performed an exorcism on an underage child this summer, then handed out business cards and told the gathered children that only he could keep demons away from them, according to a government official. (Don Somers/CBC) In an interview Tuesday with CBC News, Elliott said the call convinced her and several friends to cancel their children’s registration for a weeklong camp in Redberry in late July. He said they requested and received a full refund. “This is all so worrying,” he said. “How can anyone feel safe sending their child to this camp?”

RCMP says reported practices ‘not illegal in Canada’

At least three parents whose children were exorcised have filed complaints with the RCMP. On Tuesday afternoon, the RCMP issued a press release saying no charges would be laid and the investigation was closed. “Criminal investigations ultimately boil down to two things: gathering evidence and determining whether that evidence indicates that a person committed a crime as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada,” he stressed. Josh Graham, officer in charge of the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit, was quoted as saying in an RCMP press release. “Practices like the one reported may concern some people, but they are not illegal in Canada.” Parents interviewed say this is the wrong decision. They say their children were traumatized and some still suffer from delusions, paranoia and excessive anxiety. Several parents of children who attended Redberry Bible Camp say Carlos Doerksen, right, the counselor at a boys’ cabin, performed an exorcism on a boy who was apparently in medical trouble. (Redberry Bible Camp website) They say Doerksen “brainwashed” the boys from the start. They would do a full day of vigorous physical activity in the summer heat, and then Doerksen would talk to them in their cabin until the wee hours of the morning. He warned children of signs of demonic possession, which included any flickering indoor or outdoor light, thinking a girl was cute, or laughing while watching The Simpsons or other “bad” TV shows. In a YouTube video posted by Doerksen earlier this month, Doerksen admits to performing a “release” on a boy who collapsed and then smashed to the floor. “I have a room full of boys who are absolutely terrified … cowering under their blankets,” Doerksen said in the video. Doerksen said he was able to exorcise many demons from the boy. The parents say she handed out business cards so the boys could stay in touch if the demons returned. After performing the exorcism, Carlos Doerksen distributed this business card to the children present. (Submitted by Marci Bond) Four of the boys called their parents that night to take them home. Parents say Doerksen and Thiessen and others defended the exorcism. They used phrases like “spiritual warfare” and “satanic activity,” the parents said. “I told them I’ve never heard a bigger st in my life,” said one father. Neither Thiessen, Doerksen nor Redberry board chairman Wayne Dick returned interview requests. Dick said they are taking the incident seriously.