Publication Group: Civilian Monitor Reports

The IIO, in partnership with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government, appointed two civilian monitors to review the IIO investigation into the October 2022 death of a man in Williams Lake. The full report submitted by the civilian monitors in October 2024 is below, as is a response from Chief Civilian Director Jessica Berglund.

It is my privilege to publish, in full, the report of the civilian monitors into the death of a man while in the custody of the Williams Lake RCMP. The Tŝilhqot’in National Government and the monitors acting on their behalf have my gratitude for their patience and diligence during the appointment and review process. The civilian monitor’s review was thorough and has been reviewed carefully by my office.

Section eight of the monitor’s report notes the limits placed on the IIO’s investigation as detention guards were not subject to the IIO’s mandate at the time this death occurred and reflects on the progress of Bill 17 to add oversight of detention guards to the IIO’s jurisdiction. Since the civilian monitor’s report was written, Bill 17 has passed and came into effect on September 1, 2025.

Section nine further contains the monitors’ reflections about the civilian monitor appointment process and the IIO’s communication with affected families and communities. I thank them for raising these issues, and I commit to continue working with the province to improve our contracting process with civilian monitors, as well as to enhancing IIO procedures to ensure more timely and consistent communication with those affected by incidents under IIO investigation.

Publication of both the IIO’s public report and the civilian monitor report was delayed by some additional investigative tasks, in addition to my transition into the chief civilian director role. I thank everyone for their patience while we ensured both the investigation and public report were as comprehensive as they could be.

Based on the available evidence, I have determined that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer committed an offence. Accordingly, this matter has not been referred to Crown Counsel for consideration of charges, and an IIO public report has been published today.

Jessica Berglund
Chief Civilian Director
Independent Investigations Office of BC
October 9, 2025

On April 25, 2022, the IIO appointed Thomas George as an Indigenous Civilian Monitor to review the IIO investigation into the death of a man in Opitsaht on Meares Island. The full report submitted by Mr. George is below, as is a response from Chief Civilian Director Ronald J. MacDonald, KC.

I am pleased to publish the IIO’s first report from an Indigenous Civilian Monitor, Thomas George. Mr. George submitted his report to my office on June 30, 2022, and release of both this report and the IIO’s public report was delayed by concurrent court proceedings that have since concluded.

I extend my sincere gratitude to Mr. George for his dedicated efforts in reviewing and offering his opinion of the IIO investigation, and I thank the Tla-o-qui-at First Nation for their support of this endeavor.

Mr. George’s report has been published as it was submitted to my office. I offer the following clarifications:

• The acronym AP used throughout Mr. George’s report is an abbreviation for ‘affected person’, a neutral term used to describe the person impacted by the incident, who in this case is deceased.
• The report refers to breakfast and lunch events held at the IIO. I note that Mr. George was at the IIO office completing his review during the week of June 13, 2022, which is when BC celebrates Public Service Week. These events were held to celebrate the hard work and dedicated service of public servants, including IIO employees, and Mr. George was invited to partake.

Upon the completion of all investigative work and receipt of Mr. George’s report, I determined that there were no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer had committed an offence. Accordingly, the matter was not referred to Crown Counsel for consideration of charges, and the IIO investigation was concluded.

Ronald J. MacDonald, KC
Chief Civilian Director
Independent Investigations Office of BC
July 14, 2023

Report of the Civilian Monitor into the September 10, 2012 death of Mr. Gregory Matters

Civilian Monitor Terms of Reference regarding the September 10, 2012 death of Gregory Matters involving members of the RCMP in Prince George, B.C.