The parents of an Edmonton security guard killed during a violent robbery more than a decade ago are advocating for changes to Canada’s parole system, saying the current process forces victims’ families to relive trauma repeatedly.
Dianne and Mike Ilesic are supporting a proposed federal law known as “Brian’s Bill,” named in memory of their son, Brian Ilesic. The legislation aims to extend the waiting period between parole applications for individuals convicted of murder.
If passed, the bill would require offenders convicted of first- or second-degree murder to wait five years before applying for parole again after a denial. Under the current system, many offenders can submit a new application each year after their first refusal.
The Ilesics say the proposed rule would ease the emotional burden on families who must repeatedly confront those responsible for their loved ones’ deaths.
“We don’t really feel like victim families have a true voice,” said Dianne Ilesic. “It’s always about the perpetrator. We think this is just the beginning of changing that.”
Brian Ilesic was 35 years old when he was killed in June 2012 during an armed robbery at HUB Mall on the campus of the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
At the time, he was working as an armoured vehicle guard for G4S Security. The attack occurred while a team of guards was servicing an ATM inside the mall.
During the ambush, Travis Baumgartner opened fire on his co-workers. Three security guards were killed in the shooting, and a fourth survivor suffered severe brain injuries that permanently altered his life.
Brian had taken the job with hopes of eventually relocating to Canada’s West Coast, a place his parents say he loved for its ocean views and relaxed environment.
His mother remembers the pride he took in his work.
She recalled how he carefully prepared his uniform before each shift, checking his reflection in the mirror as he adjusted his badge and smoothed his coat.
More than a decade later, the family’s loss remains deeply felt.
“Brian’s Bill,” introduced by Conservative Member of Parliament Kerry Diotte, seeks to amend the federal Corrections and Conditional Release Act.
Under the proposal, offenders convicted of murder would face a mandatory five-year gap between parole applications following a denial.
Diotte argues that the existing system places an unnecessary burden on victims’ families, requiring them to participate in repeated hearings.
“This is a bill that will mean murderers cannot continue to go before the parole board year after year, traumatizing the families of murder victims,” he said.
The bill is scheduled for debate in the House of Commons this week.
A similar initiative previously brought forward by another Conservative MP did not pass, but Diotte says the stories shared by victims’ families may help generate broader political backing this time.
The push for legislative reform comes after a major 2022 Supreme Court of Canada decision that reshaped sentencing rules for multiple murders.
Baumgartner had initially been given one of the harshest sentences in Canadian history — life in prison with no possibility of parole for 40 years.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that stacking consecutive periods of parole ineligibility for multiple murders violated constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.
Following that decision, Baumgartner’s eligibility timeline was adjusted. He could now seek a parole hearing in roughly 12 years.
For the Ilesic family, that possibility raises fears of repeatedly facing the man responsible for their son’s death.
Mike Ilesic says the ruling undermined the original sentence and diminished the work done by investigators and prosecutors.
He also expressed frustration with Canada’s current limit on parole ineligibility periods.
“If someone decides to take a life, one or many, all they’re going to serve is 25 years,” he said.
Not everyone agrees with the proposed changes.
Some legal experts argue that altering the parole schedule could interfere with the justice system’s balance between punishment and rehabilitation.
Edmonton criminal lawyer Brian Beresh said the current system already contains safeguards that ensure fair decisions by the courts and the parole board.
He believes limiting the frequency of hearings could reduce offenders’ motivation to make progress toward rehabilitation.
“I do not see this passing,” Beresh said, adding that the legislation would interfere with the existing parole process.
Still, for the Ilesic family, the campaign is about protecting others from what they have experienced.
They plan to travel to Ottawa to attend the next debate on the bill and continue advocating for the change.
Their hope, they say, is that Brian’s legacy will lead to reforms that support families affected by violent crime across Canada.
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