Jack Grover released from prison
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, Friday, acquitted Saskatoon landlord Jack Grover of obstruction of justice and ordered his immediate release from prison. Grover was convicted of obstruction earlier this year and had served three months of the one year sentence imposed on him in September.
The charge resulted from actions Grover allegedly took “to falsify” inspection records which would have indicated that timely property inspections had occurred prior to a fire at his rental property at 214 Avenue E North which killed three-year-old Isabelle Bowron and her infant sister Jordynn in March, 2005. One other adult, Curtis Gifford suffered permanent brain damage from the fire. Jennifer Bowron, mother of the children who perished, along with her three-year-old son William were burned.
The day after the fire, Grover approached the grandmother of the dead children at the hospital and asked her to sign inspection records indicating that timely inspections had been performed, as the law requires. She refused. Grover was later charged and convicted of attempting to falsify records.
In a 2 to 1 ruling, the Court of Appeal concluded that there was “no evidence” that Grover actually knew that the inspections had not been conducted.
Grover has a lengthy history of problems related to his Saskatoon real estate, a portfolio which includes single family homes and apartment buildings. In one five year period over 30 fires were reported at his properties. He’s been convicted of making a false or misleading statement, obstruction of justice, as well as other infractions under the Fire Prevention Act and Saskatoon’s fire bylaws.
Grover claims to be a victim of a fire department conspiracy and seems to sincerely believe that the system is just out to get him.
The first time I ever spoke with Jack Grover he was loudly singing halleluiahs and proclaiming himself a “Christian man.” Such public pronouncements, particularly those expressed during an introduction almost always leave me feeling suspicious and on my guard. He describes himself as a “very, very good man,” yet he seems to have no problem letting his tenants live in poorly maintained firetraps.
Will the death of two young children cause Grover to be filled with Christian conviction? Will he turn over a new leaf and work to improve the properties which he owns, for the sake of those unfortunate souls who have few options for housing?
9 comments so far. We'd love to hear your thoughts.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:53 PM
This guy doesn’t sound like a Christian to me! He who shouts loudest sometimes is not worth the listen. Very nice blog page, fellow AR.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Thanks Gena. I appreciate the visit and your comment. Yes, Jack is a different kind of duck and based on his record, I am also suspicious of his claims of righteousness. Following this fire, he seemed far more concerned with protecting himself than he was with the victims.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Jack is a … and should be in jail for the next 25 years becuase of his stupied actions 2 little girls a dead and a young man will never be the same and their families have to live with that for the rest of their lives
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:54 PM
I am happy that the supreme court reinstated the conviction.Our family has gone through alot and this makes things right. And i wish he did get more time in jail but he is still getting something
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Sabrina,
Thanks for the comment. This seems such a small price to pay for such precious losses. I can only imagine the pain that your family has had to endure and I hope that the worst of days is behind you. God bless you all!
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 PM
As the father of the my 2 angels I am deeply displeased with the outcome of the justice that has been handed down to this individual. It leads me to believe that event the biggest problems with society are swept under the carpet in the faces of the innocent and the souls of the departed. I for one am not going to see the end of this until I can manage to find a way for this man to be put out of business, for good. If he can’t ensure the safety of his tenants then what is he doing in the position of a landlord. If Grover is at all a christian man, then may the lord have a swift hand in the justification any man that shows no remorce for his deeds of negativity.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Micheal,
Thanks for the comment.
I assume from your comment that Isabelle and Jordynn are your “2 angels?”
My deepest sympathies to you. I can’t, for a single moment, imagine what you must be going through. I hope that you can find some justice and some comfort in your future.
You’re right that it’s a shame that anyone providing “housing” can get away with being so reckless.
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24)
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:56 PM
I am sooo glad that he is getting jail time i think that he should be going in there for longer, Curtis Gifford was my best friend and what happened to him i will never forget. Me and my daughter both miss him alot.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Sasha,
Thanks for the comment. So sorry to hear that you and your girl have suffered such a great loss.
Wishing you both great comfort moving forward.