Former swim instructor charged with sex assault, exploitation at youth facility
Posted Sep 17, 2025 05:00:21 AM.
Last Updated Sep 17, 2025 03:43:57 PM.
Following a four-year investigation into allegations of dozens of sexual assaults at a provincial youth correctional facility, the RCMP laid charges against a Dartmouth man.
Donald Douglas Williams, 75, is facing 66 offences following the investigation of sexual assault at Nova Scotia Youth Centre in Waterville, N.S., about 100 kilometres northwest of Halifax. The press release notes that Williams worked at the facility as the swim instructor between 1988 and 2017.
The accused is facing charges including:
- Sexual assault causing bodily harm – three counts
- Sexual assault – 28 counts
- Sexual exploitation – 32 counts
- Sexual interference
- Invitation to sexual touching
- Assault
“We believe there are more survivors and people in the community who know about the abuse that occurred at the youth centre,” Sgt. Rob McCamon, officer in charge (acting), major crime and behavioural sciences, said.
According to police, the swim instructor at the time sexually assaulted over 300 young people who were between the ages of 12 and 18 over more than 30 years. All of the cases involved males except for one, police said.
“This instructor held a position of authority and the young people he victimized should have been able to trust him feel safe with it,” McCamon said.
RCMP officials explained that cases like these are complex, especially when they span over years. Since the beginning, police have interviewed hundreds of survivors and witnesses and reviewed 9,800 documents, which included institutional programming.
“Sexual assault is a devastating crime with traumatic lifelong impacts on those who experience it. We know that for survivors, sexual offences can cause long-lasting, intense fear, shame, and stress,” he said.
Williams was released by the courts on conditions and is expected to be in front of a judge on Sept. 26.
Police say more charges against the accused are expected, and the investigation remains ongoing.
In July 2023, the Mounties confirmed they were investigating at least 70 cases of alleged sexual assault. At the time, RCMP Sgt. Brian Fitzpatrick said the investigation — known as Operation Headwind — started in early 2019.
McCamon said that the RCMP used the Kaufman Report, an independent review of the response to institutional abuse in Nova Scotia. One of the recommendations is to have a survivor-centric approach, which he says made people feel safer to reach out.
“I think that’s why some of the numbers increased,” he said.
The RCMP established a confidential hotline for victims or those who had information about alleged sex crimes at the centre.
The centre opened in 1988.
It houses male and female young people serving open or secure custody sentences, as well as young people awaiting a court appearance.
The centre includes five cottages, each of which has two, 12-bed units. Each unit has a kitchen, laundry area, common area and 12 individual bedrooms. The buildings are interconnected to form a circle around a large recreation area.
With files from CityNews’ Mark Hodgins.
