A teacher in northeastern British Columbia is facing charges related to the possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material. Matthew McColm was charged on March 24 for offenses that allegedly took place between August 4 and November 26, 2025, in or near Fort St. John.
McColm, who works as a Grade 1 teacher at Margaret Murray Community School in Fort St. John, has agreed not to teach while a regulatory investigation is ongoing, according to the online teaching registry of British Columbia. This school is located approximately 300 kilometers northeast of Prince George.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stated that there is no apparent link between the alleged offenses by McColm and his employment status. He was taken into custody on March 23.
Superintendent Stephen Petrucci of the Peace River North School District (School District 60) confirmed that the district was aware of the criminal charges against the teacher. Petrucci mentioned that upon being notified by the police, immediate action was taken to ensure the teacher was not present in the schools. He emphasized that the situation does not involve any students from their district and that they have limited information.
The next court appearance for McColm is scheduled for May 25, as per online court records.
The district is fully cooperating with the authorities and handling the situation with utmost care and diligence.
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