Suspended BC teacher acquitted of harassment, agrees to peace bond

A Provincial Court judge found a man who worked as a teacher in School District No. 57 not guilty of criminal harassment on Oct. 27, but ordered him to live under a peace bond for the next year.

Michael Duane Christie was accused of harassing a woman in Prince George shortly after the end of their relationship, between Nov. 1, 2023 and Dec. 14, 2023.

Christie, born in 1977, maintained his not guilty plea before Judge Martin Nadon, but admitted that his actions during that period would have caused the woman to reasonably fear for her safety.

Court heard that Christie continued to try communicating with the woman, despite her refusal to respond. She contacted RCMP after he approached her with a letter outside her workplace.

The woman’s child was a student in one of Christie’s classes. His conversation with the child about the end of the relationship led to a complaint against Christie with the school district.

“It's clear that counsel have put a considerable amount of work into this, and I have, present in court, the complainant as well, who has been informed with respect to this resolution,” Nadon said. “So it's my view that this is an appropriate way to deal with this matter.”

Nadon set the peace bond for one year in the amount of $500, without deposit and without surety. Conditions include no possession of any weapons as defined by the Criminal Code and not to go within 100 metres of or communicate with the complainant or her children.

The only exception to the no communication clause is for Christie to write a letter of apology to the woman. Once it is approved by a probation officer, he need not report again.

Christie’s lawyer, Hazem Osso, said his client has been engaged to be married for approximately a year. He is currently unemployed, after working in drywalling and as a counsellor with Carrier Sekani Family Services.

“He is on leave as a teacher, he hasn’t been fired,” Osso said. “He would like to pursue and try to get back his teaching certificate and work at a private school to teach young individuals.”

The province’s online registry of teachers said Christie was suspended April 9, 2024 pending inquiry.