Trivia company founder arrested for child porn

A national pub trivia company that ran contests at several local venues is scrambling to restore its reputation after its founder was arrested on child pornography and exploitation charges in British Columbia.

Based in Kelowna, Tremendous Trivia Night Productions was under the ownership of a man named Jayson John Davey, under whom the company expanded its operations in recent years to Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

Last month, contests across the country were largely cancelled once new charges were laid against the 56-year-old, a former elementary school teacher who had changed his name from John Patrick Davy after being sentenced to 30 months in jail for possession of child pornography materials in 2014.

At the time of that initial arrest, news outlets in his former home of Chilliwack, B.C., reported that the man was found with more than 27,000 digital images and 866 videos classified as child pornography.

It was also reported that three female Grade 6 students complained to their school that Davy had touched them inappropriately, though the incident never went to police or court.

In the intervening decade, the accused changed his name, moved to Kelowna, and started operating Tremendous Trivia, whose website boasts that it became the country’s “largest and most popular trivia event provider, with more than 100 events per week at venues throughout the Okanagan, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Southern Ontario.”

Davy’s latest charges, for possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material, stem from an arrest last summer.

Once reports of Davy’s criminal record came to light, trivia hosts across the country began to quit en masse, with venues, including ones in Manitoba, ceasing to work with the B.C.-based provider.

Kaely Dyck, the co-owner of the Smitty’s Restaurant & Lounge on Pembina Highway, said that all ties with Tremendous were cut as soon as the venue heard about the charges against Davy. Like hundreds of venues across the country, the restaurant is seeking out a new trivia provider, she says.

The company’s network of independent hosts were caught off guard by the charges levelled against Davy, who preferred to be called JD, and posted online as JD Quizman.

On Feb. 17, the company issued its first and as yet only public statement on its Facebook page.

“We would like to address an unexpected and difficult situation taking place in the company and what remediation steps are being taken. The company’s founder, John Davey, is facing serious criminal charges and has a criminal past related to these same charges. First and foremost, we do not condone his actions. We were completely unaware of this until very recently and we do not wish to interfere with the legal investigation.

“Earlier today, two senior managers reached an agreement with John Davey to assume control of the company and have John Davey exit the business completely. The company will be under new leadership and operational management starting today. Upon Mr. Davey’s exit, we will be proud to invite back to work any former employees who have resigned. We look forward to making a fresh start with a strong and dedicated team committed to providing top-quality events for our valued employees, venue partners and fans, and appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding through this ordeal.”

“This wasn’t something I wanted to be associated with for even another second,” says former Winnipeg host Jesse Bercier, who quit the weekly gig in disgust last month after a year of contract employment. “I know they’re scrambling to get venues back on board with them and hosts back working with them again, but I couldn’t tell you to what degree of success.”

On Thursday, the Tremendous Trivia website had no listings for future events, either regularly scheduled free biweekly trivia nights or theme nights, which are ticketed events.

Contacted by phone Thursday, the company’s acting director, Stephen Smith, confirmed to the Free Press that he was one of the managers in question.

Smith, a sales and accounting executive who started out as a trivia host three years ago before becoming a full-time employee in January 2025, said that he and another manager, whom he would not name, are in negotiations to “acquire 100 per cent of the company’s shares” from Davy.

The accused is scheduled to appear in B.C. provincial court in Kelowna next on March 10.

winnipegfreepress.com/benwaldman