A former Charlottetown Army Cadet commander is facing a standing court martial for alleged repeated inappropriate behaviour.
Capt. Todd Bannister faces nine charges: two charges of behaving in a disgraceful manner; six charges of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline and one charge of neglect to the prejudice of good order and discipline.
The charges stem from at least four incidents alleged to have taken place between March 20, 2013, and June 20, 2015, says Rob Taylor, spokesman for the Office of the Judge Advocate General, which oversees the administration of military justice.
“They all deal with inappropriate language – sexual innuendo, some of it is off colour … (the language) is leading to sexual misconduct. It is all what we would consider to be inappropriate language,’’ said Taylor.
None of the charges have been proven.
Bannister had been involved with the cadets since 2010 and was appointed as commander of the 148 Charlottetown Army Cadets in October 2012.
In April 2016, following preliminary review of allegations, Bannister was placed on suspension, relieved of his duties as commanding officer and ordered not to attend cadet activities, said Capt. Liam Mather, public relations officer for the Regional Cadet Support Unit for Atlantic Canada.
He said both staff and cadets raised concerns about Bannister’s behaviour.
“We take these kind of allegations very seriously,’’ said Mather.
“We do regret any negative impacts that these allegations may have had at this time.’’
Mather said Cadets Canada works to ensure a safe environment for cadets by having staff that is of the highest order.
Three former cadets who all had Bannister as their commander for several years spoke to The Guardian Monday on the condition of anonymity.
Each one felt Bannister made inappropriate comments to cadets and appeared to engage in unprofessional social interaction with female cadets.
“He was very, very buddy-buddy with the females,’’ notes one former male cadet.
“He was very close and touchy with most of the female cadets.’’
The former cadet said he heard Bannister say “sexually provocative things’’ to a female cadet who was 17 or 18 at the time. Bannister, he added, jokingly suggested to the female cadet that they should have “make-up sex.’’
A former female cadet felt Bannister was “overinvolved’’ with female cadets.
“I felt like it was a little much,’’ she said. “He favoured females.’’
A third cadet told The Guardian he was not surprised to learn of the charges against Bannister, adding they are “definitely necessary.’’
The cadet said he witnessed Bannister act inappropriately towards female cadets on many occasions, like making “immature jokes.’’
All three of the cadets who spoke to The Guardian also noted that Bannister, when not acting inappropriately towards female cadets, was a very good commander.
“Take away this whole side of him that was bad, and he would be an A-plus (commander),’’ said one cadet.
Bannister faces a range of disciplinary action if convicted on one or more of the charges.
Taylor noted conviction of a charge of behaving in a disgraceful carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail but could result in a fine, reduction in rank or dismissal from the Armed Forces.
Military Judge Lt.-Col. Louis-Vincent d’Auteuil will preside over Bannister’s trial, which begins in Charlottetown on Jan. 15.
