Ex-member says Chilliwack church leader charged with child porn had ‘smorgasbord of children to be around’

College Street Victory Church leaders say Vincent Perron was removed from role yet Fraser Health lists him as manager of child-care centre

Leaders of a Chilliwack church say they didn’t know anything about the alleged pedophilic tendencies of a senior member who is facing child pornography charges until recently.

Several former members of College Street Victory Church, however, say that’s hard to believe since Vincent Perron is a key member of the inner circle at coming from Lethbridge, Alberta to help found Chilliwack branch.

Perron, 39, is charged with one count each of accessing and possession of child sex abuse/exploitation materials.

The charges have an offence date listed as June 20, 2025, according to court services online. Church leaders say they didn’t find out about it until late December 2025. The congregation wasn’t told until a March 27 email. But the email signed by Pastor Matt Funk didn't tell the truth about the criminal charge.

“Vince is currently facing charges under Section 163 of the Criminal Code of Canada (obscene materials),” according to the email said. Close, but no. Perron is charged under Section 163.1(4)(possessing child pornography) and Section 163.1(4.1) (accessing child pornography), a critical distinction from what the flock was told.

Want to support independent journalism?
Consider a one-time donation or subscribe for less than $1 a week so I can continue this work.

Donate to support this work

According to Fraser Health documentation as of Jan. 6, 2026, Perron is listed as the manager of Pamela’s House, a licensed child-care program at the church. When reached by telephone in Alberta, Perron said it was “misinformation” that he is or was the manager of Pamela’s House.

“I’m not involved with anything,” Perron said. “I’m not even there.”

He talked briefly but was focused on an inaccurate story posted online by The Chilliwack Progress that claimed he missed a court appearance that was attended by his lawyer.

“So yeah, it just created a big mess here,” he said. “So yeah, it's unfortunate.”

When asked to comment on being involved in a facility that takes care of children while facing child pornography charges, he said almost nothing.

“Right.”

He was then asked about the nature of his interaction with children of church members at the location on College Street across from Central Elementary School.

“I don’t have interaction with anybody,” Perron said. “I’m not in the province anyway. I’m not doing anything right now and obviously we need to get this matter resolved before anything happens here.”

'Weird and creepy'

Something Worth Reading spoke with several former church members who confirmed that, yes, Perron was not actually involved with Pamela’s House when it opened in September. However, the child-care centre is very new and he was appointed as manager before the child pornography investigation came to light.

Beyond that, Perron had extensive contact with large numbers of children through the kids ministry, according to ex-members. He oversaw the Sunday school, and more than one person said he would often hug or try to hug children.

“He was obsessed with my youngest daughter,” Calandra Gauld said in a brief interview on Wednesday (April 29, 2026). Gauld left the church in May 2024 after too many strange encounters with Perron.

“He would constantly go beyond boundaries. He would always want to be around pre-teen girls. It was just too much, too much involvement from a man at the church.”

Another former member who did not want her name used said Perron was “heavily involved in the kids’ ministry.”

“He told me kids were ‘his calling,’” she said. “[The church leaders] claimed he was never supposed to be part of Pamela’s House. If he wasn’t intended to have that role, why is he on legal documents? He was thrilled to be part of Pamela’s House.”

Yet another former church member who was also worried about having her name published said Pamela’s House was actually Perron’s idea.

“He set it up and did all the work to get it open,” she said. “Vince oversaw the preschool kids area on Sundays, he led a family connect group, and also built relationships with the pre-teen leadership girls.”

College Street Victory Church is the creation of Charmaine and Matt Funk who are involved Victory Churches Canada, a Lethbridge, Alberta-based charismatic Christian church.

While Perron’s child pornography charges have an offence date of June 30, it’s unclear when the church leadership actually knew about them, but ex-members say it’s highly unlikely they didn’t know.

Asked to comment on the criminal charges and Perron’s connection to children at the church, a lengthy email was sent from the administrative assistant’s email address, signed “Board of Directors.”

”We want to be absolutely clear: as soon as any allegations were brought to our attention on December 24, 2025, Vincent Perron was immediately removed from all involvement with the church and any related ministries. We acted without hesitation….

“We were shocked and horrified when we became aware of these allegations. Our hearts go out to anyone who may have been affected. We are, and will remain, fully supportive of those impacted.”

Neither Charmaine Funk nor Matt Funk responded to an email sent to the church or to questions sent to each of them via Messenger. But some ex-members are critical of the fact that even if the board of directors didn’t know about the investigation into allegations of accessing child pornography prior to Dec. 24, 2025, they still waited more than three months to tell the congregation in the March 27 email from Pastor Matt, and in person after services on Sunday, March 29.

“When this came to light in December, they told a select few in the leadership team,” a source said. “Vince was pulled out and it was hush-hush for months.”

Gauld said she recognized the “red-flag behaviour” as far back as 2023 up to leaving the church in May 2024. She said she even told church founder Charmaine Funk about the behaviour but she “totally dismissed it.”

“It’s just so shocking,” Gauld said. “I wasn’t the only one who came forward. To me personally, they are just trying to downplay it. They are just trying to save face for the church…. He had a smorgasbord of children to be around. He was weird and creepy.”

As for the church, the email from the board of directors – which was clearly written using an artificial intelligence app – said that safety of children and vulnerable people is a highest priority for them.

“Our policies and protocols include:
“• Strict volunteer screening, including criminal record checks completed in advance;
“• Clear supervision policies ensuring no individual is ever alone with children;
“• Ongoing accountability structures and leadership oversight; and
“• Security measures such as cameras throughout our facility.

“We are a church that serves many hurting and broken people in our community, and we take that responsibility seriously. These safeguards exist precisely to protect those in our care.”

There is no evidence to suggest Perron touched or is alleged to have touched any children. The charges against him have not yet been tested in court. All individuals charged with criminal offences are innocent until proven guilty. He is next due in court May 26.

A reliable source also said the investigation is far from over, there could be more charges to come.

-30-

Want to support independent journalism?
Consider becoming a paid subscriber or make a one-time donation so I can continue this work.

Paul J. Henderson
pauljhenderson@gmail.com
facebook.com/PaulJHendersonJournalist
instagram.com/wordsarehard_pjh
x.com/PeeJayAitch
wordsarehard-pjh.bsky.social