An Edmonton man who used his position in a church community to sexually abuse a teenager can now be identified after the victim successfully applied to remove a publication ban.
Ernest MacKenzie, 56, was sentenced to eight years in prison last fall for grooming and exploiting the victim between 2008 and 2012.
Initially, a publication ban to protect the victim’s identity also shielded Mackenzie’s name because of their familial relationship. The victim later applied for a removal of the ban, which a judge granted March 5.
The mother of two said she pursued charges against MacKenzie after her daughter was born. While playing with her in the backyard, she thought of how often women and girls become victims of abuse.
“I essentially decided that if I didn’t do something about this, then how could … I confidently help her navigate something — if God forbid that were to happen — if I couldn’t even do it myself?”
The woman asked to remain anonymous because she is not ready to be publicly associated with the abuse she suffered. However, she felt the public deserves to know MacKenzie’s identity.
MacKenzie was the victim’s step-uncle and 25 years her senior. He introduced her to the now-defunct Pentecostal church in central Edmonton, where he worshiped and was involved in youth programs. At the time, he was employed driving a local delivery truck.
Ernest Gregory MacKenzie was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2025 for sexually abusing a teenage girl between 2008 and 2012. The victim applied to have a publication ban removed in the case March 5, 2026, allowing MacKenzie to be named.
In his sentencing decision, Court of King’s Bench Justice Michael Kraus said MacKenzie told the victim it was “God’s will” that they be together and that their sexual relationship was the “right thing to do.” MacKenzie gave her a purity ring for her 15th birthday and performed her baptism.
“He attended church several times a week with the victim and took her to Bible studies,” Kraus wrote. “He talked to the victim regularly about God, faith, and how to behave that was consistent with God’s will. He used that faith and religion to manipulate the victim.”
The victim said “not one adult” in the community thought to ask questions, despite multiple witnesses testifying MacKenzie was “touchy/feely” with the victim in public. She blames the whole community for what happened to her, adding she no longer has any involvement in organized religion.
“I can’t see how there could be any higher power … that would allow such heinous behaviour,” she said.
The victim’s sister also experienced a crisis of faith, telling court she struggled after learning “a seemingly God-fearing man … manipulated religion to exploit a child.”
Kraus, who found there were no mitigating factors in the case, said MacKenzie showed no remorse during court proceedings.
MacKenzie is pursuing an appeal but the victim said he remains in custody. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
MacKenzie is required to register as a sex offender for 20 years and is banned from contact with children under 16 for five years post-release.
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