FILE PHOTO
Richard Gregory, Medicine Hat College's multiple-award-winning chair of health and human services, faces an assault charge stemming from an April 2018 incident.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel
Medicine Hat College’s department chair of health and human services has been charged with assault.
Richard Gregory, 63, who received the Canadian Association of Social Workers’ Distinguished Service Award in May, appeared in provincial court Tuesday.
He allegedly committed the offence on April 25, 2018, although the charge wasn’t laid until Oct. 24 of this year. The alleged incident, according to court documents, involved another faculty member at the college.
According to a profile of Gregory in the News from May, he also received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee award in 2013, as well as the Hero Award from the Chinook Foundation of Calgary and Sunny Andrews Award from the Association of Social Work Boards in 2016.
According to the profile, Gregory’s role at the college involves co-ordinating the social work, addictions counselling, child and youth care, paramedic and therapist assistant programs.
In addition to his administrative role, Gregory is a social work instructor at MHC.
Fred Phelps, the executive director of the Canadians Association of Social Workers, declined comment before knowing the full details of the allegations against Gregory, although he did say the charge is inconsistent with the individual he knows.
“It’s very surprising to me and very uncharacteristic for Richard Gregory,” said Phelps.
MHC executive director of advancement and community relations Mark Kellar said in an e-mailed statement that the school “is aware of the situation,” but won’t comment on a matter before the courts.
However, he did confirm that Gregory “is not currently on campus.”
“The college has followed and will continue to follow all relevant policy, and remains focused on providing an environment that allows students to pursue their goals,” wrote Keller.
Gregory’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 28.
