A member of a well-known golfing family in Seaforth has been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the 1990s.
Cameron Doig, 63, was sentenced Friday at the Huron County Courthouse in Goderich. He was found guilty in September of sexual assault, sexual interference, and two counts of sexual exploitation. The victim, who is now in her 40s, was taking golf lessons from Doig when the assaults occured. Her identity is protected by a court order.
In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered that Doig be banned from going to any public place where someone under the age of 16 would be present. This includes parks, community centres, and public pools. He will also not be allowed to work in a job in which he would be in a position of authority over a person under 16 for 10 years. The judge also prohibited him from contacting his victim or being within two kilometres or her.
Doig is also facing a civil suit from the victim. The suit claims Doig “repeatedly sexually abused, assaulted and exploited” the underage student while management overlooked the situation.
A statement of claim has been provided to both parties, while omitting the name of the plaintiff to protect their identity.
The statement of claim noted the plaintiff began taking lessons under Doig in 1993. It states Doig began “paying special attention” to the victim after noticing their talent for the sport, and conducted weekly one-on-one lessons.
The statement describes the victim as being passionate and ambitious, with having dreams of playing professionally while looking up to Doig, valuing his approval.
The suit claims the sexual abuse started in 1995 when the victim was 13 years old. The allegations include inappropriate and sexually charged comments, incidents involving unwanted touching, kissing and fondling, unwanted sexual advances, voyeurism, and dozens of instances of sexual assault against the plaintiff.
Further in the claim, it alleges Doig paired his “abusive conduct with positive reinforcement” to manipulate the victim who sought his approval. It also claims Doig used his position of power to ensure the victim did not disclose the abuse to anyone.
The statement says given his status, reputation and influence at Seaforth and within the broader golfing community, “no one would believe her if she told anyone.”
The lawsuit also accuses Seaforth Golf Course of facilitating the abuse by giving him the “opportunity to abuse his power and authority” and accuses the golf course of neglecting to provide the plaintiff an owed duty of care, claiming that it knew or ought to have known about the alleged abuse.
The statement of claim says there is a strong connection between Cameron’s roles at Seaforth Golf Course as a supervisor and lead golf instructor, and, as such, Seaforth Golf Course is “vicariously liable for Doig’s assault and battery.”
The lawsuit, which is being led by lawyer Nicole Marcus of Strosberg Sasso Sutts LLP, is seeking compensation for general damages, as well as special, aggravated and, punitive damages against both defendants.
**with files from Fiona Robertson