Albert de Villiers, the former chief medical officer of Interior Health, has been granted full parole after being convicted of sexually abusing a child. De Villiers was found guilty in February 2023 in Grande Prairie, Alberta, of sexual interference against a young boy over a two-year period from 2018 to 2020. He received a sentence of five and a half years in prison.

Before his arrest in 2021, de Villiers served as the top doctor for Interior Health in Kelowna, British Columbia, a role he began in August 2020. His career also included 16 years as a medical health officer for Alberta's north zone.

A recent decision by the Parole Board of Canada indicated that de Villiers does not pose an undue risk to society. The board noted that he has adhered to his day parole conditions, which he has been on since October 16, 2024. The decision, dated April 6, stated, "You have spent the majority of your time rebuilding your relationship with your wife and sons."

De Villiers has been assessed as a minimum-security offender and has been living at a halfway house under supervision, with no reported concerns from local authorities. He has also secured employment working with his wife on an online business, although the name of the business was not disclosed in the decision.

The board's assessment included input from a psychologist, who found de Villiers's risk of reoffending to be generally low. The psychologist noted that if de Villiers does not have unsupervised access to children, his risk would be even lower. However, he is prohibited from contacting the victim or any male children under 16 without prior approval from his parole supervisor.

Additional restrictions include not owning more than one phone or SIM card without permission and allowing his parole supervisor to monitor his communications. He is also barred from accessing pornography or being near areas where children gather, such as schools and parks.

The Parole Board acknowledged the serious nature of de Villiers's offenses, highlighting several aggravating factors during sentencing. These included the young age of the victim, the significant harm reported by the victim and his family, and de Villiers's position of trust. The board emphasized, "The impacts on the victim and your betrayal of trust and authority on him and his family cannot be overstated."

De Villiers's case has raised significant concerns regarding public safety and the implications of his release.