Community projects kept Iqaluit man out of trouble

An Iqaluit man with a history of assault convictions and facing sentencing on seven counts of breaching an undertaking and one count of drug possession told Judge Beverley Browne this week that he is trying to make a change in his life.

Browne ordered Chris Henderson to pay a fine on the drug charge and sentenced him to 60 days in jail for his repeated probation violations.

“There is an awareness, and his deeds seem to reflect this, that this is not who he wants to be. He doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life in BCC,” said Henderson’s lawyer, Greg Nearing.

Nearing also invited Jonathan Dewar, the volunteer executive director of Iqaluit’s Qaggiq Theatre Company, to speak on Henderson’s behalf.

Dewar said he worked with Henderson on the theatre company’s “shutting down” workshop, which was performed during the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention conference in May.

After the success of that project, Dewar asked Henderson to help him develop youth programs for a contract with the Illitiit Society.

“He was talking at length about breaking the cycle,” Dewar told the court. “He worked very hard and showed great commitment.”

He added that Henderson would likely continue to do well if programs were available to keep him consistently out of trouble.

Henderson told the court that his work with Dewar helped him identify his goals. “It made me see that there are other things better than alcohol,” he said.

“I wish I could take Chris Henderson and other people and get them to take alcohol off the top of their list of things that are important,” Browne said during her judgement. “If it’s important to you to get involved and help other young people, then let’s put that at the top of the list.”