Peter Nygard now facing Winnipeg sex charges while awaiting trial in Que., Ont. and U.S.

Disgraced Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard will face sexual assault-related charges in Winnipeg, police said on Tuesday. 

The offences were allegedly committed in November 1993 and involve a victim who was then 20 years old, a news release from the Winnipeg Police Service says. 

April Telek says Nygard held her captive and raped her after inviting her to Winnipeg for a modelling job in 1993. 

She told CBC News on Tuesday she was relieved to hear charges were laid in Winnipeg relating to her case. Though any trial is still a long way off and a conviction is not a certainty, Telek says she's certain justice will be served.

"This feels like such a huge victory for me after such a long battle trying to get my truth told and heard and believed," she says. 

"It's not a full victory because I still have sisters out there who he is not being held accountable for the damage that he has done to them. But for me today, I want to really, truly embrace this as a win and the justice system works."

Winnipeg police opened their investigation into Nygard in June 2020. Police later submitted eight cases for consideration to Manitoba prosecutors, who decided not to pursue criminal charges.

However, the matter was forwarded to Saskatchewan Justice for an independent review in December 2022. Saskatchewan's findings resulted in Nygard being charged with sexual assault and unlawful confinement in Winnipeg, the WPS says. 

KC Allan, a former model who grew up in Winnipeg, says that Nygard raped her in 1979 when she was 17 years old. She went public with the allegation in 2020 and gave a statement to Winnipeg police.

Allan said she was happy to learn about the charges announced Tuesday, though they don't relate to her allegation.

"It's about time. It's a devastating commentary on Manitoba's so-called justice that we had to look afield to get answers."

Serena Hickes's case was also forwarded initially to prosecutors in Manitoba. Hickes, who worked for Nygard in one of his stores in 1992, said she's not surprised Nygard is only facing charges in one of the eight cases sent to Saskatchewan for review.

"It's absolutely embarrassing," Hickes said in a phone interview. "I already had no faith in getting justice in Winnipeg and there won't be. Let's be serious. He's 81."

Melissa Hazelton of the Manitoba Association of Crown Attorneys — which represents provincial prosecutors in the province — says the union supports its members unequivocally and respects their opinions and hard work, but could not comment further. 

Manitoba's justice minister, who ordered in December the review of prosecutors' decision to not proceed with charges against Nygard, said Saskatchewan prosecutors provided their report to Manitoba Justice in May.

"It was determined that a prosecution of Peter Nygard is viable in respect of the allegations made by one complainant," Kelvin Goertzen said in a prepared statement. 

No further comment would be forthcoming as the case is now before the courts, Goertzen said. 

Facing charges elsewhere

Nygard is also facing criminal charges in the U.S., Toronto and Quebec. Winnipeg police say officers in their sex crimes unit arrested Nygard in Toronto.

He's been in custody since December 2020, after he was arrested in Winnipeg on a provisional warrant that was issued on behalf of U.S. prosecutors. 

He was initially detained at Headingley Correctional Centre, but was transferred to the Toronto South Detention Centre after being charged in that city with sexual assault and forcible confinement. 

His trial in Toronto is set to start in September and last 10 weeks. 

Nygard also faces one count of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement in Quebec and allegedly took place between November 1997 and November 1998.

Nygard is set to be extradited to the U.S. to face criminal charges there after his Canadian charges are resolved. His lawyers have appealed the extradition order from federal Justice Minister David Lametti and are awaiting a decision from Manitoba's Court of Appeal. 

His Quebec sexual assault trial is slated to begin in June 2024. 

Nygard has consistently maintained his innocence and has denied all of the allegations against him. CBC News sought comment from his legal counsel on Tuesday but did not hear back.