RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon, acting head of Major Crime and Behavioural Sciences, speaks at a news briefing in Dartmouth, N.S., on September 17, 2025. CTV
Historic Allegations Come to Light
A 75-year-old man, Donald Douglas Williams, faces 66 charges after a long investigation into sexual assaults at the Nova Scotia Youth Centre in Waterville. The RCMP arrested Williams at his home in Dartmouth on Saturday. He worked as a swim instructor at the facility from 1988 to 2017.
Police allege Williams assaulted more than 300 youths, aged 12 to 18, between 1989 and 2015. Most victims were male, with one female reported. “This instructor held a position of authority, and the young people he victimized should have been able to trust him and feel safe with him,” said Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon during a news conference Wednesday.
Details of the Charges
The charges relate to 30 alleged victims and include:
- Three counts of sexual assault causing bodily harm
- 28 counts of sexual assault
- 32 counts of sexual exploitation
- Sexual interference
- Invitation to sexual touching
- Assault
More charges are expected as the investigation continues. McCamon described the crime as “devastating” with lifelong impacts for survivors. He added, “We know that for survivors, sexual offences can cause long-lasting intense fear, shame and stress.”
Emotional Toll on Investigators
McCamon became emotional while speaking about the case, calling it a “very sad situation.” He noted the investigation’s emotional weight, saying, “Any time you’re dealing with something of this magnitude there’s a lot of emotion attached to that… it becomes very heavy. I expect this file was very difficult on our investigators.”
Williams has been released by the courts under strict conditions. He is scheduled to appear in Kentville provincial court on September 26.
Operation Headwind
The arrest is the result of Operation Headwind, a multi-year investigation. The RCMP began looking into allegations in 2018 and formally established the operation in 2021. By 2022, a 14-member team focused solely on the case.
Investigators interviewed over 450 people across Canada, reviewed more than 9,800 documents, and completed over 1,200 investigative tasks. McCamon explained, “When you’re dealing with historical sexual assaults there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, especially in an institutional setting with extensive documentation.”
Appeal to Other Victims
Police urge anyone who may have been a victim or has information to come forward. “We believe there are more survivors and people in the community who know about the abuse that occurred at the youth centre,” said McCamon.
Tips can be reported to the Operation Headwind line at 902-720-5313 or toll-free at 1-833-314-3475, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Confidential voicemail is available outside those hours.
Looking Ahead
Authorities continue to investigate, aiming to identify additional victims and hold all responsible parties accountable. The case highlights the importance of reporting abuse, even decades later.
