A surviving victim of Elizabeth Wettlaufer and the administration at the long-term care homes where the murders of eight residents took place are among those selected to participate in an upcoming public inquiry into the actions of the killer former nurse.
Commissioner Eileen Gillese released her decision Thursday on who would be granted permission to take part in the public inquiry in June. Gillese broke the participants down into three categories -- the victim and family members and close friends of victims; the Province of Ontario, the facilities where the offences were committed, and the College of Nurses of Ontario; and other organizations involved in the Ontario long-term care homes system.
"It is self-evident that each of these applicants has a substantial and direct interest in the subject matter of the Inquiry. Each has suffered – and, indeed, continues to suffer – as a direct result of the offences," Gillese wrote in her 19-page decision. "Further, because of their direct knowledge of the Offences and the circumstances within which they were committed, their participation will further the conduct of the public hearings."
Beverly Bertram, who Wettlaufer admitted to trying to murder in her home, Jon Matheson, and Pat Houde will be allowed to take part. As will Arpad Horvath Jr., Laura Jackson, Don Martin, Andrea Silcox, and Adam Silcox Vanwyk; and Shannon Lee Emmerton, Jeffrey Millard, Judy Millard, Sandra Lee Millard, Stanley Henry Millard, and Susie Horvath. All are either the family or friends of Wettlaufer's victims.
Standing at the inquiry was also granted to:
- The provincial government, which includes the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
- Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Homes Limited, which owns the nursing home where many of the offences were committed.
- Jarlette Health Services and Meadow Park (London) Inc., which owns and operates the nursing home where the eighth murder was committed in 2014.
- Revera Long Term Care Inc., the operator of Telfer Place Long-Term Care Residence, the site of an attempted murder in 2015.
- The College of Nurses of Ontario, which is responsible for regulating nurses in the province.
In all, 50 applications to participate in the inquiry were received by Gillese, 17 of which were refused.
"Their interest tends to be in Ontario’s long-term care homes in general. They do not have a sufficiently substantial and direct interest in the subject matter of this Inquiry," Gillese stated in her decision.
She did, however, note that while these 17 applicants will not be allowed to participate in the hearings they can make written submissions.
Wettlaufer pleaded guilty in June of last year to eight counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, and two counts of aggravated assault. The murders occurred between 2007 and 2014 in nursing homes in Woodstock and London. The 50-year-old former nurse is currently serving a life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Gillese, an Ontario Court of Appeal Justice, was appointed in August by the province as the commissioner of the inquiry into the safety and security of residents at Ontario’s long-term care homes.
Inquiry public hearings will begin in June at the Elgin County Courthouse in St. Thomas. Gillese will present her final report with recommendations to the Attorney General by July 31, 2019.