The executive director of a children’s ministry supported by the diocese of Fredericton and operating in Saint John, N.B., has been charged with eight child pornography and sexual offences. Donnie Snook, executive director of the Saint John Inner City Youth Ministry (ICYM), was arrested on Wednesday evening, Jan. 9. Snook, also a city councillor, was formally charged the following day and remanded to jail. The board of ICYM suspended Snook with pay pending resolution of the charges.
ICYM includes the Chicken Noodle Club, a hot lunch program for elementary school children established by the Rev. Chris VanBuskirk at St. James Anglican Church on Broad Street, Saint John, in 1989. It has grown exponentially since then and is well supported by business and industry as well as the diocese.
Archdeacon Geoffrey Hall, executive assistant to the bishop of Fredericton, the Most Rev. Claude Miller, says, “These are serious charges and our diocese has a zero tolerance policy on sexual misconduct.” He asks people to pray for Snook and to avoid judgment before all the facts are known.
The diocese of Fredericton encompasses the entire province of New Brunswick.
– With files from Ana Watts, editor, New Brunswick Anglican.
