Former students of Saskatoon school allege sexual abuse in $25M legal claim
Warning: Some details in this article may be disturbing to readers
Former students are working to bring a class action lawsuit against the Saskatoon school where they allege they suffered physical and sexual abuse.
Friends, family and other past students of Saskatoon Christian Centre Academy — now called Legacy Christian Academy (LCA) — gathered outside a Saskatoon courthouse on Tuesday to announce the legal action.
“I am so thankful for so many of my peers that have found the courage to tell their stories so that we may move forward to a place of healing,” Caitlin Erickson said.
"The staff tried to physically and psychologically break me, despite their best efforts they were not successful, and that's why I'm able to stand here today.”
Erickson attended the school from 1992 to 2005. She and other students have recently come forward alleging that staff routinely paddled students and engaged in "controlling and abusive" behaviour — including a "gay exorcism."
Saskatoon Police Service has confirmed an investigation into historical allegations involving the school has been turned over to Crown prosecutors.
Mile Two Church, which operates the school, is named as a defendant in the claim.
"The community of Mile Two Church is deeply troubled by the details of abuse reported by former students in the press," the church said in a statement.
"At this time, Mile Two Church has not seen the Statement of Claim, which is expected to contain the details reported in the press. We have to trust that the legal system will provide clarity around who did what to whom, and when, and will ultimately hold those responsible to account for their actions."
The statement of claim, which lists Erickson and Coy Nolin as plaintiffs, expands the scope of the allegations levelled against the school to include claims of sexual abuse.
The statement of claim alleges a church worker would invite girls into a bathroom where "he would put candy on his penis and have the girl take the candy with her hands or mouth."
The court document also alleges the worker would sometimes cut the pockets out of his pants and invited girls to reach into his pockets by saying "see what surprise I have for you."
The statement of claim further outlines the students' allegations of corporal discipline using a wood paddle at various times.
“Six paddles were administered on each of two or three occasions during (Erickson’s) grade 12 year,” the statement of claim says.
The statement of claim also alleges the school sold paddles and kept them "in plain view as intimidation and threat of future battery with said paddles."
Erickson also claims she was subject to psychological, mental, emotional and spiritual harm during her time at the school.
“The alleged abuses are of course horrific,” the former student’s lawyer Grant Scharfstein said.
“This church and school exhibit all the hallmarks of what we often think of as a cult. They were involved in every aspect of their members’ lives.”
The plaintiffs claim the alleged abuses were carried out “as a pattern of pervasive, systematic abuse of vulnerable children."
In the statement of claim, Erickson and Nolin say they did not bring these issues up earlier because of their physical, mental or psychological condition.
There were 21 defendants listed in the statement of claim. The students are looking for more than $25 million in compensation.
"The courts are quite limited in what (they) can do. It can work compensation. It can make a few orders. The minister actually has a lot of power, and that's why we're calling out the minister today to do something, and do it today,” Scharfstein said.
The Ministry of Education has said it won’t make any decision about funding to the school until after a police investigation has concluded.
The court still needs to certify the class action before it can move forward.
The church has not yet filed a statement of defence.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.