Arctic Predator: The Crimes of Edward Horne Against Children in Canada's North (Dundurn Press) by journalist Kathleen Lippa is a highly anticipated work of nonfiction. After years of research, Kathleen has written about the shocking crimes of Edward Horne, a trusted teacher who wrought lasting damage on Inuit communities in Canada’s Arctic when he sexually abused his male students.
Kathleen is not Indigenous and some people might question why Kathleen is the person to tell this story. We are honoured to have Kathleen on our Power Q & A series to talk about her position.
Welcome, Kathleen!
Arctic Predator by Kathleen Lippa (Dundurn Press, February 4, 2024)
Q: Did you ever question whether or not you are the right (or a right) person to tell this story?
A: We live in a time of truth and reconciliation in Canada, and non-Indigenous journalists who write stories that involve Indigenous people are sometimes questioned about their point of view or "right" to tell stories coming out of Indigenous communities.
I have never questioned my right or ability to compassionately write about Inuit in Nunavut. Maybe that's because I lived in Iqaluit for 9 years and worked for a local newspaper. Maybe it's because I felt accepted and appreciated in every Nunavut community I visited.
And when it came to writing Arctic Predator, the story about pedophile Ed Horne’s crimes against Inuit children, I faced a truly cross-cultural story involving Inuit and non-Inuit that local people wanted the world to know about. I know that my contacts, many of whom are survivors of Ed Horne’s predations, didn't care what colour I was. All that mattered to Inuit I spoke to was that I was a good person, and that I would tell the world what happened in Nunavut with all the grace I could.
More about Arctic Predator:
The shocking crimes of a trusted teacher wrought lasting damage on Inuit communities in Canada’s Arctic.
In the 1970s, a young schoolteacher from British Columbia was becoming the darling of the Northwest Territories education department with his dynamic teaching style. He was learning to speak the local language, Inuktitut, something few outsiders did. He also claimed to be Indigenous — a claim that would later prove to be false. In truth, Edward Horne was a pedophile who sexually abused his male students.
From 1971 to 1985 his predations on Inuit boys would disrupt life in the communities where he worked — towns of close-knit families that would suffer the intergenerational trauma created by his abuse.
Journalist Kathleen Lippa examines the devastating impact the crimes had on individuals, families, and entire communities. Her compelling work lifts the veil of silence surrounding the Horne story once and for all.
Author Kathleen Lippa.
About Kathleen Lippa:
Kathleen Lippa is a Canadian journalist, born in Toronto and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Kathleen trained as a professional dancer at The Quinte Ballet School and The School of the Toronto Dance Theatre before embarking on a journalism career.
At Memorial University, from which she graduated with a BA (English) in 1998, she worked on the student newspaper, the muse. Following graduation, she worked at a number of Canadian newspapers including The Express (St. John’s) where she won a Canadian Community Newspaper Association award for arts reporting, The Hanover Post (Ontario), a number of newspapers under the corporate umbrella of the Northern News Services, 24 Hours (Toronto), and the Calgary Sun.
For Northern News Services, after a short stint in Yellowknife, Kathleen served as Bureau Chief in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
Her experience includes writing, editing, page layout and design, and photography. Her Northern experience was in a cross-cultural setting primarily reporting news from Inuit communities.
After spending many years in Iqaluit, Kathleen now lives with her husband in Ottawa and St. John’s.