9°c Partly cloudy
19°c Variable cloudiness
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Supervisor didn't know Sinclair's social worker was full-time student
Delores Chief Abigosis (centre) testified she took Steve Sinclair at his word when he told her on July 6, 2001, that Phoenix was being well cared for by friends. (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store
Related Items
The supervisor in charge while Phoenix Sinclair's case file sat idle left says she doesn't know why the social worker assigned to it wasn't working on the case.
Angie Balan told the inquiry into the little girl in care's death this morning that she did not know that social worker Delores Chief-Abigosis was attending university classes full-time while working for Winnipeg Child and Family Services.
Chief-Abigosis told the inquiry Tuesday that she was juggling a full-time job, attending university full-time and commuting from Brokenhead First Nation, 82 kilometres north of Winnipeg. The social worker Tuesday was questioned about gaps in the file on Phoenix Sinclair and her family from November 2000 when Chief-Abigosis started at the agency and inherited the file and February 2001.
Phoenix was apprehended after she was born in April 2000 from her parents Samantha Kematch and Steven Sinclair. To get her back, they signed a service agreement with CFS that set out conditions for getting her back -- including meeting regularly with a social worker.
Chief-Abigosis didn't visit the family until February 9, 2001. She didn't see them again until July. She didn't know that Phoenix's parents had a second child April 29, 2001 until the hospital notified CFS of the birth.
Chief-Abigosis couldn't recall why there were no notes of her doing any work on the file.
Her supervisor, Balan, testified on Wednesday that she expected the social worker was keeping in touch with the family and doing the case work.
"The necessary contacts were not maintained," said Balan. She could not say why because her supervisory notes "have not been made available," she said. Her testimony continues today.
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Decades-old smoke bomb found behind Crescentwood home
05/23/2013 7:17 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Housing a little more expensive in Manitoba: RBC
- Lake St. Martin reserve close to getting new home
- Some good news, some bad news from weatherman
- Manitoba senators weigh in on scandal
- 'I told them, "I think that guy downstairs is dead"': teen witness at murder trial
- Drug dealer sentenced to 3½ years in prison
- Jockey club launches $350-M civil suit against province
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Police identify slaying victims
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- 'Responsible Winnipeg' ads appear on sign run by mayor-owned Goldeyes' baseball park
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Man missing since 2009 found safe
- Baby steps toward empathy
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- U of M president targets low tuition
- City chiropractor guilty of beating, sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend
- Drug dealer sentenced to 3½ years in prison
- New units to help keep invasive aquatic species out of province
- Housing a little more expensive in Manitoba: RBC
- Jockey club launches $350-M civil suit against province
- New provincial restrictions on buying cigarettes
- Bethania board puts CEO on leave amid probe
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Fishing for fashion
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Core grocer a challenge: expert
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Newly minted MD a beacon for kids in youth program
- North End proud
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- A child-custody catastrophe
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.