Christopher Robin Beaton is charged with a pair of child luring charges. His first court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 14. (Facebook)

By Ian Holmes

Charges laid

Well known Nanaimo community advocate faces child luring charges

Jul 21, 2021 | 4:14 PM

Editor’s Note: NanaimoNewsNOW has updated this story to add a statement published Thursday, July 22 from the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre.

NANAIMO — The former executive director of the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre (NAC) is charged with two sex offences involving luring children.

Christopher Robin Beaton is charged with luring a child under the age of 18 on Dec. 29, 2018 and Feb. 24, 2020 in Nanaimo.

The charges were approved by crown counsel on July 15.

Court records showed Beaton is not in custody.

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He has a scheduled initial court appearance on Sept. 14, 2021 at the Nanaimo courthouse.

The longtime Nanaimo resident left his job with NAC earlier this year.

His tasks heading NAC included advocating for and providing services for vulnerable youth.

Beaton was appointed by the ministry of children and family development in March 2019 to serve a nearly two year term as a member of the Provincial Child Care Council.

Beaton worked in the social services sector for more than 25 years.

None of the charges against him have been tested in court.

The Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre posted a statement on its Facebook page Thursday morning regarding the charges against Beaton.

“We have become aware that charges have been laid against Chris Beaton, NAC’s former executive director. Mr. Beaton has not worked with NAC since March of this year. We are very disturbed at the nature of the charges and will wait for the justice system to run its course. We have very little information about the allegations and respect the privacy of all of the individuals involved. The NAC Board and employees feel angry and betrayed and NAC wishes to state emphatically that we did not and do not condone this type of conduct in any way. Whatever the outcome of the criminal proceedings, Mr. Beaton will not be returning to the employment of NAC. Given that there is an ongoing criminal prosecution, we won’t be making any further comment.”

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes