2020: Child abuse a big concern during COVID-19 outbreak.

Agencies that serve abused children are bracing for an increase in abuse cases as they reduce their services because of COVID-19. With governments calling for people to stay home, and schools and some social support services closing, many who work with abused children are worried. For some children, group and foster homes are not a safe or healthy place. https://www.ottawamatters.com/national-news/child-abuse-a-big-concern-during-covid-19-outbreak-2186077?fbclid=IwAR0684bb6G6FqWPch-cSdP563mbvYBp1P8CIiMJ7t9kAWogndjtE6db15q8

::: 2020: Orleans-area youth group home worker faces sex-related offences involving minor A youth group home worker based in Orleans is facing sex-related offences in relation to a minor, according to Ottawa police. Shelby Wilson, a 21-year-old, who was previously employed at a group home in the Orleans area, was arrested on Friday, following complaints received by police earlier this month. READ MORE: Woman charged with sex assault of minors worked at group home at time of alleged offences https://globalnews.ca/news/6491236/orleans-youth-group-home-sex-offences-minor/ ::: 2007: Kids see group homes as 'gateways to jail': child advocate. Almost half of Ontario's young offenders in detention for minor crimes came through the child welfare system, a report from the Office of Child and Family Service Advocacy shows. The trend is a concern for child advocates across the country and Ontario Child Advocate Judy Finlay said many of the province's young people are beginning to think of group homes as "gateways to jail." "We're taking them out of very difficult family circumstances, bringing them into state care and then we're charging them for their behaviour. It's very concerning to me," Finlay said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kids-see-group-homes-as-gateways-to-jail-child-advocate-1.675937 ::: Shedding light on the troubles facing kids in group homes. https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2015/07/03/kids-in-toronto-group-homes-can-be-arrested-for-being-kids.html ::: Toronto group homes turning outbursts from kids into matters for police. https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2015/07/03/toronto-group-homes-turning-outbursts-from-kids-into-matters-for-police.html ::: Drugs, theft, alcohol and inappropriate relationships alleged at Children’s Aid group home https://globalnews.ca/news/5334666/drugs-theft-alcohol-abuse-alleged-childrens-aid-group-home/ ::: Two teens' harrowing stories of Ontario group homes. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/03/14/two-teens-harrowing-stories-of-ontario-group-homes.html ::: Victim says a “sex cult” was run out of an Ontario foster home for years and Children’s Aid Society knew. Global News is reporting that an Ontario county Children’s Aid Society failed to detect or act on the systemic abuses of countless vulnerable children in several foster care homes over a span of 8 years. https://thepostmillennial.com/a-sex-cult-was-run-out-of-an-ontario-foster-home https://nypost.com/2019/06/12/childrens-aid-society-in-canada-turned-a-blind-eye-to-sexual-abuse-report/ ::: In a rare legal case, Toronto teen gets green light to sue children’s aid for negligence. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2019/08/23/in-a-rare-legal-case-toronto-teen-gets-green-light-to-sue-childrens-aid-for-negligence.html ::: Three CAS cases settled. https://www.intelligencer.ca/2014/10/21/three-cas-cases-settled/wcm/3fd07287-3f2a-1755-7386-1c8c2353c943 ::: Crown Ward Class Action (Children who suffered abuse before and while they were Crown wards, including in foster care and foster homes, and while in the care of the Children’s Aid Society (“CAS”)). https://kmlaw.ca/cases/crown-ward-class-action/ ::: EXCLUSIVE: Convicted group home owner moves operations to Oshawa. The man at the centre of an in-depth CityNews investigation into illegal group homes is now accused of moving his operations to Oshawa. Authorities in Oshawa believe Winston Manning is in breach of probation and say more charges are pending, adding that vulnerable people have been put in danger. In 2016, Manning was a key figure in an Ontario Provincial Police probe into illegal group homes. The investigation found that people with physical and mental health issues were living in deplorable conditions: mattresses on the floor, inadequate food, mouse feces and the smell of urine in the homes. The findings were corroborated by a former tenant at the time, who was identified only as Dave. “[It was] filthy. Turn on a light in the middle of the night and you could see the cockroaches moving, almost like a carpet. There were thousands of them,” he told CityNews. https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/07/10/group-home-owner-moves-operations-to-oshawa/ ::: Drugs, theft, alcohol and inappropriate relationships alleged at Children’s Aid group home. https://globalnews.ca/news/5334666/drugs-theft-alcohol-abuse-alleged-childrens-aid-group-home/ ::: Child abuse a big concern during COVID-19 outbreak. https://www.ottawamatters.com/national-news/child-abuse-a-big-concern-during-covid-19-outbreak-2186077 ::: Kids see group homes as 'gateways to jail': child advocate CBC News · Posted: Mar 07, 2007 6:28 AM ET | Last Updated: March 7, 2007 Almost half of Ontario's young offenders in detention for minor crimes came through the child welfare system, a report from the Office of Child and Family Service Advocacy shows. The trend is a concern for child advocates across the country and Ontario Child Advocate Judy Finlay said many of the province's young people are beginning to think of group homes as "gateways to jail." "We're taking them out of very difficult family circumstances, bringing them into state care and then we're charging them for their behaviour. It's very concerning to me," Finlay said. The report, which was obtained by CBC News, lays much of the blame on group homes that rely too heavily on police to resolve problems that could be handled by staff. Kids have been charged for everything from refusing to read a book or hitting someone with a tea towel, Finlay said. One group home in Ontario called police 400 times in a single year. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kids-see-group-homes-as-gateways-to-jail-child-advocate-1.675937 ::: Judge certifies $600-million class-action lawsuit on behalf of former residents of Ontario's training schools. An Ontario Superior Court judge has certified a class-action lawsuit seeking $600 million in damages against the Ontario government on behalf of former residents of the province's training schools.Dec 4, 2018. https://globalnews.ca/news/4731951/ontario-training-schools-survivors/ ::: The priest's confession: What the Catholic bishops knew - The Fifth Estate. https://youtu.be/IX-rDwCsUCU ::: Doctors Without Boundaries - the fifth estate. https://youtu.be/xifx_Iatlgs ::: Scout's Honour - Sexual abuse in the Boy Scouts - the fifth estate https://youtu.be/K-1GO1WcsEE ::: 2011: Bad teachers: Ontario's secret list. By Kevin Donovan Staff Reporter. Here are some of the people licensed in Ontario to teach your children and report the suspected abuse and neglect of children. A teacher who disciplined students by warning they would “spend time with a pedophile” and if the behaviour got worse it “would be without vaseline.” READ MORE: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/09/29/bad_teachers_ontarios_secret_list.html ::: Could you spot a pedophile? Here are the warning signs. SOME child molesters jump out of bushes and molest your child on the way home from school. But more likely, he is your friendly neighbor or attentive shopkeeper. He could be a charming relative or the son of a friend who is all too willing to babysit your children. The pedophile in your midst may be the schoolteacher, the bus driver, the youth worker or the lay preacher at your church. The Australian Royal Commission into institutionalized child sex crimes, running since April, has entered a new round of hearings and a concurrent inquiry is continuing into child sex offences in the Catholic Church's NSW Hunter Valley diocese. Child-related workers While pedophiles can work anywhere, they do find ways to be around children as often as possible. It may not be their principal profession, such as a teacher or priest, but a voluntary or weekend position as a sports coach, camp counsellor, school bus driver, daycare worker, Boy Scout leader, church or secular youth worker can provide the contact with children they need. Some well-known pedophiles have placed themselves as teachers or leaders of artistic bodies such as dance schools, where they have surrounded themselves with adoring and aspiring performers. Andrew Manners was a convicted pedophile who had committed offences against minors in Queensland in 1998. He was on parole and prohibited from working with children when he surfaced in 2002. Manners turned up as a fill-in teacher at his mother's Scottish dance school, where he was spotted by an observant parole officer. Former performing arts schoolteacher, Peter Gerard Boys, was also a band leader of the musical troupe the Marching Koalas in the NSW Hunter Valley region when, aged in his 40s, he began having a sexual relationship with four of his students. He was convicted and sentenced to eight child sex offences against girls aged 10-16 years, and on his release from prison is believed to have subsequently married one of the girls who had come of age during his incarceration. Watch out for teacher adoration beyond the bounds of a normal crush, accompanied by "secret" phone calls and special individual attention. The every-man When looking out for a child sex offender, don't be fooled by a person's appearance, outward respectability or importance in the community. Pedophiles are almost always men, more often married adult males and they work in a very wide range of occupations, from unskilled work up to corporate executives. What to look out for is someone who relates better to children than to adults, and has either very few adult friends or whose friends might also be sex offenders. Signs to watch for: pedophiles usually prefer children in one specific age group, such as infants and toddlers, children between six and ten years old, or "tweens" and young teenagers up to the age of 16. Pedophiles can be bisexual but more commonly will prefer children or the one gender, males or females. https://www.news.com.au/national/could-you-spot-a-paedophile-here-are-the-warning-signs/news-story/a0502e8c3edd265972204ce6fb435982 ::: A Letter to Justice LeSage about the Ontario College of Teachers C4A Editorial, Whistleblowers in Canada / By Ian Bron Some of you may be aware that we have been following the case of Ontario teacher Jim Black. Jim spoke out about the Ontario College of Teachers reinstating of teacher with criminal records – records that involved sex with minors. He did this before most people knew it was a problem, and he was punished by the OCT for his effort. Last year, however, public outcry became loud enough that the government forced the OCT to conduct an independent inquiry of its mandate and functions (read a fuller explanation of his role on the OCT website). We put together a letter for Mr. LeSage and sent it to him directly – avoiding the filter of the OCT. In the past, the OCT has prevented us from commenting on Mr. Black’s case in their magazine, Professionally Speaking. Besides the letter below, I also encourage you to read the summary of Mr. Black’s case on our Cases and Issues page. ===================================================== 7 February 2012 Hon. Patrick J. LeSage CM, OOnt, QC 1 First Canadian Place 100 King Street West , Suite 1600 Toronto ON M5X 1G5 Re: Ontario College of Teachers review of investigation and disciplinary procedures and outcomes and dispute resolution program Dear Mr. LeSage: I am writing you to provide input into your review of the Ontario College of Teachers procedures and programs. Canadians for Accountability is an organization created by a group of grassroots whistleblowers and accountability activists. Our mission is to advance integrity and accountability and to help and advocate for whistleblowers in all parts of our society. We are interested in your inquiry as we have been approached by a number of Ontario teachers with concerns about the OCT’s handling of complaints regarding unethical behaviour at schools and at the College itself. Some of them fit our definition of whistleblowers and have faced reprisals – in one notable case, by the College. One case in particular caught our attention: that of James Black, an award winning teacher who spoke out and was punished for doing so. Mr. Black was contacted by the Ontario Ministry of Education in 2004 and asked to provide a critique of the Ontario College of Teachers. As his experience there was troubling, he produced a four-page report that was very critical of the College – notably in its allowing sexual offenders back into the classroom – and recommended some significant changes. Following this, he reports a series of escalating reprisals. He retired in 2006 and made his report more public. This resulted in media attention, which in turn led to disciplinary action by the College. Mr. Black went through a Kafka-esque pseudo-legal nightmare, charged with vague offences and threatened with fines and suspension – despite the fact that he had retired. Principles of natural justice were ignored and in July 2009, Mr. Black was fined $1000 and suspended from teaching for 24 months – despite the lack of clear evidence. His name and case was published in the College magazine Professionally Speaking, which is circulated to some 220,000 teachers. Nowhere in the description of his case does it mention that the complaint was laid by an individual convicted of sexual offences against students, and the standard of proof described is a travesty. The case against Mr. Black has the hallmarks of a personal vendetta and the quality of the investigation and disciplinary process appalling. We attempted to intervene on his behalf, but were ignored. And, as far as we can determine, no action has been taken to address the problems that Mr. Black reported. Even when the more recent investigations were done validating Mr. Black’s concerns, his case was not re-examined. You can find a summary of Mr. Blacks case on our website at http://acac.onefishcreative.ca/acac/issues-and-cases/#jb. I have attached a letter which we sent to the College: it summarizes our concerns about his case. We are also familiar with another case, a teacher in southern Ontario who has blown the whistle on four teachers. One was ultimately convicted of theft in a very public prosecution, yet had been fervently defended. The whistleblower, meanwhile, faced reprisals for speaking out. Interestingly, the teacher who was prosecuted – Wes McConnell – was never disciplined by the College. See http://www.lfpress.com/sports/columnists/morris_dalla_costa/2011/03/16/17645961.html for the London Free Press story. Based on these cases and others we have observed, it is our opinion that the OCT is deficient in performing its functions in respect to investigative and disciplinary processes and decisions. Part of the problem, we feel, is that the College is a self-regulating body with no oversight. Canadians for Accountability is opposed to such bodies on principle as we feel all bodies should have oversight – especially those where professionals may be judging their colleagues and inappropriate influence is possible. We would like to see the Ontario Ombudsman have the authority to investigate and make findings against the College as a precaution against such potential abuses. As you are no doubt aware, the Province of Quebec maintains an oversight function via the Office des professions, and publishes annual reports on the findings of its reviews in the Montreal Gazette and other pubic media. Such an office could serve as an alternative to the Ombudsman. In addition, we are concerned that professional training and standards for investigators and disciplinary panel members may not be deficient. The outcome of the cases above certainly suggests so. There are professional accreditations in investigation available – perhaps these should be requirement, particularly given the fact that children are the ones vulnerable to any misconduct that may occur. I hope that this information is helpful to you. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly. Yours truly, Ian Bron Managing Director cc: Ontario College of Teachers http://acacanada.ca/2012/03/23/a-letter-to-justice-lesage-about-the-ontario-college-of-teachers/ ::: 2011: Soft-porn writing teacher resigns from watchdog. The former head of the discipline committee of the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) is facing professional misconduct charges for his role in co-authoring a sexually explicit novel for teens. Jacques Tremblay resigned his position as chair of the OCT’s disciplinary committee, a position that involves overseeing sexual assault cases, in 2011 after his part in writing a soft porn novel titled “The Sexteens and the Fake Goddess” was exposed in a Toronto Star investigation. The book “is a lurid tale of striptease, breast fondling, bum grabbing, orgasms, drugs and blackmail,” reported the Star’s Kevin Donovan in the exposé. The cover of the book depicts the backs of a boy and a girl naked from the waist up looking at a silhouette of the CN Tower. The other authors of the book are identified as Tremblay’s wife, Marie-Ange Gagnon, and Frederic Tremblay. Following Jacques Tremblay’s resignation the OCT launched an investigation into the situation, although the teachers’ watchdog had earlier maintained that Tremblay’s writing did “not have an impact on his ability to act in the public interest.” Tremblay himself had argued that his book was “entirely separate” from his work at the College and service to the public, saying the book was meant to “empower teenagers, to encourage them to be strong and resist or avoid peer pressure.” However, in an article on his website Tremblay says the purpose of his novel is to help teens “find their inner voice” which will affect their “future sex life” because “having higher self-esteem below the belt leads to better sex.” He also warns teens that having negative attitudes about sex could have a “direct impact on orgasm.” https://mychristiandaily.com/teen-sex-novel-lands-former-ontario-teachers-disciplinary-head-in-hot-water/ ::: 2009: Why it’s so hard to fire bad teachers. From 2009: Most principals would rather hide or transfer incompetent teachers than try to oust them. https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/why-its-so-hard-to-fire-bad-teachers/ ::: 2011: Ontario’s top teacher watchdog has quit. Jacques Tremblay, who the Star reported was a writer of soft porn replete with questionable administrator-teacher-student conduct, resigned Tuesday. He was the chairperson for five years of the Ontario College of Teachers’ disciplinary panel, which sits in judgment on hundreds of teachers accused of misconduct. In the novel, main character Leila Montana is introduced as a “young teen” just starting high school. She is also joining a group called the Sexteens’ Select Society. As she awaits initiation into this mysterious alliance, the book describes her appearance as follows: “Her half-open shirt divulges the roundness of her gorgeous bosom. Leila’s particularly short skirt exposes her barely fleshy buttocks.” There are several other detailed references throughout the book about the bodies of Leila and other girls. Taking an oath to the mysterious society, Leila promises to “develop my teenage life at my own rhythm inspired by the aphrodisiac cult, which is based on the power of love and the emancipation of my sexuality.” On the day after the initiation, “Leila wakes up and feels a new energy swelling within her. . . . Despite her efforts, however, Leila can’t remember what really happened. She is peaceful and undisturbed by this lapse of memory. Meanwhile, Leila feels a very light, but quite pleasant, tingling on her upper right buttock.” (Nothing at all creepy about this is there and everything about this little scenario is perfectly normal, right?) ::: Date rape drugs facts: It’s Not Just Roofies Anymore. Date rape drugs are drugs used to assist in a sexual assault, which is any type of sexual activity a person does not agree to. These drugs can affect you very quickly and cause victims to become weak, confused, and even pass out. You may not remember what happened while you were drugged. The most common date rape drugs -- also called "club drugs" -- are flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), also called roofies; gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), also called liquid ecstasy; and ketamine, also called Special K. These drugs may come as pills, liquids, or powders. Alcohol may also be considered a date rape drug because it affects judgment and behavior and can be used to help commit sexual assault. The club drug "ecstasy" (MDMA) has also been used to commit sexual assault. Protect yourself by not accepting drinks from others, not sharing drinks, watching your drink, and by avoiding creepy societies and having a non-drinking friend with you to make sure nothing happens. If you suspect you have been exposed to a date rape drug or have been sexually assaulted, call 911 and get to an emergency room immediately. Date rape drugs can also cause seizures and even death. Adverse Effects of Club Drugs Uncertainties about the sources, chemicals, and possible contaminants used to manufacture many club drugs make it extremely difficult to determine toxicity and associated medical consequences. Nonetheless, we do know that: Coma and seizures can occur following use of GHB. Combined use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea and breathing difficulties. GHB and two of its precursors, gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4 butanediol (BD), have been involved in poisonings, overdoses, date rapes, and deaths. Rohypnol may be lethal when mixed with alcohol and/or other CNS depressants. Ketamine, in high doses, can cause impaired motor function, high blood pressure, and potentially fatal respiratory problems. https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/chairman-of-teachers-discipline-committee-resigns-over-blue-teen-novel https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/10/05/top_teacher_watchdog_who_wrote_porn_resigns.html https://www.thespec.com/news-story/2221198-soft-porn-writing-teacher-resigns-from-watchdog/ ::: 2012: Why bad teachers don’t get fired in Ontario. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/why-bad-teachers-dont-get-fired-in-ontario/article4249405/ ::: 2015: Ontario College of Teachers Cases of Teacher Sexual Misconduct. Teacher sexual misconduct in Ontario was examined by using cases reviewed by the Ontario College of Teachers between 2000 and 2013. Despite the impetus by key stakeholders to develop appropriate policies to circumvent teacher-student sexual relationships, this phenomenon is still not well understood. The current study found that around 92 percent of perpetrators are men. The results indicate that male perpetrators who abuse elementary school-aged males are more likely to have multiple victims and longer offending careers. This study found less intrusive sexual behaviour, fewer multiple victim perpetrators, and shorter offending careers in more recent cases. This suggests that the government-commissioned report published in 2000 may have raised awareness and shaped this issue in a positive way. Practitioners, policy-makers, and the public are provided with a comprehensive picture of the perpetrators, victims, and the nature of abuse to engage in meaningful discourse and implement program and policy. https://www.cais.ca/uploaded/Research/Current_Resources/Sexual-Misconduct/Ontario-College-of-Teachers-Cases-of-Teacher-Sexual-Misconduct.pdf ::: Project Spade arrests by the numbers In Canada: 40 teachers (no surprises here) 9 doctors and nurses (no surprises here) 32 volunteers (volunteers for who?) 6 law enforcement personnel (no surprises here) 9 faith leaders (priests and pastors) 3 foster parents (big surprise it wasn't more) Ontario: 50 Rest of Canada: 58 United States: 76 International: 164 https://www.macleans.ca/general/huge-child-porn-ring-busted-toronto-police-say-348-arrested-in-project-spade/ https://www.toronto.com/news-story/4219011-toronto-police-s-project-spade-results-in-international-child-porn-arrests/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/almost-350-suspects-nabbed-in-huge-child-porn-bust/ ::: Ontario portrayed as pedophile paradise in U.S. ruse to capture predators A website set up by Homeland Security promoted the bogus firm Precious Treasure Holiday Co., which promised to arrange illegal encounters in Ontario for pedophiles. October 10, 2011. U.S. authorities have defended their online portrayal of Ontario as a haven for child-sex tourism, saying the ploy helped them catch four predators. A controversial website set up by the Department of Homeland Security promoted the bogus firm Precious Treasure Holiday Co., which promised to arrange illegal encounters in Ontario for pedophiles. Four people — two Germans and two Americans — fell for the sophisticated ruse and signed up for a trip. A pamphlet that came with the website offered one night hotel accommodations in Canada and travel under the guise of “boyfriend and girlfriend going to gamble at casino.” The pamphlet said transportation to Cleveland, meals and “condoms, lube, etc. . . ” were not included in the travel package. But it was the use of Canada as a safe haven for sex tourism that raised questions about how the country was portrayed in the sting. “Canada made for a more plausible scenario,” Brian Moskowitz, the special agent in charge of the investigation, told Postmedia News shortly after the indictments were announced. “It was never our intent to take anyone to Canada and no children were involved. It was merely part of a scenario that we built.” He said that Canada wasn’t used in the scenario over any perceived weaknesses or legal vulnerability. Canadian authorities, such as those in Windsor, across the river from the Detroit offices of Homeland Security where Moskowitz is based, are alerted whenever such a sting is underway to prevent them from wasting resources on chasing the American operation, he said. Homeland Security first set up the website in 2009. It remained online in several reincarnations until it was finally outed in March as a government sting by The Smoking Gun website. “Sex tourism is a scourge and must be combated with every available resource,” Moskowitz said in a release when the convictions were announced in early September. “These cases show international borders are no longer a hindrance for predators.” The two German men convicted in the sting paid up to $1,600 to have sex with girls and boys between the ages of 10 and 13. One, a 49-year-old doctor from Stuttgart, was allegedly found with lingerie, sex toys, bondage ropes, straps, a mask, lubricant, 17 condoms as well as four stuffed unicorns and a paint-by-number set, Homeland Security said. Two Ohio men also pleaded guilty to sex trafficking offences and possession of child pornography as a result of the sting. In one case, a 38-year-old man tried to organize a sexual encounter with an eight-year-old girl. In the other case, a 25-year-old man wasn’t legally allowed to enter Canada because he was on parole for a molestation conviction, Homeland Security said. https://nationalpost.com/news/ontario-portrayed-as-pedophile-paradise-in-u-s-ruse-to-capture-predators ::: Cornwall sex abuse victims given large settlements Published Thursday, June 10, 2010 12:20PM EDT ctvottawa.ca Some victims of the Cornwall sex abuse scandal are receiving large financial settlements after decades of allegations that a cover-up of a pedophile ring existed in the eastern Ontario city, CTV Ottawa has learned. The sex abuse scandal was uncovered in the early 1990s. A public inquiry ended in December 2009 after four years. The inquiry found the Catholic Church, police, the Ontario government and the legal system all failed to protect children from sexual predators. Now, Ontario's attorney general has confirmed to CTV that several financial settlements have been reached with victims, and more lawsuits are outstanding. The Project Truth inquiry into a pedophile ring cover-up and sex abuse allegations in Cornwall ended in December 2009. Alleged victim Steve Parisien says the public has a right to know about large settlements paid out to sex abuse victims. Although confidentiality agreements could mean taxpayers will never learn the true cost of the settlements, a former MPP predicts the payouts will total tens of millions of dollars. "I would look at somewhere between $70-100 million," said Garry Guzzo, a former Conservative MPP who blew the whistle on the scandal and pushed for a public inquiry. "It's a lot of money coming from very few taxpayers, and the people of the Catholic Church are taxpayers." While sources have told CTV the payouts are in the millions, alleged victim Steve Parisien says some individuals are getting less than $20,000. "I think parishioners and taxpayers have a right to know how much has been paid out," he said. A lawyer representing dozens of the victims wouldn't reveal how much money was paid. However, he confirmed several settlements have been reached with the Catholic diocese, the Ontario government and other Catholic organizations. There are also several cases in the works against the Children's Aid Society. Cornwall's Catholic Diocese says it has settled all 16 of the lawsuits against the Catholic Church. The last lawsuit was settled a few weeks ago. Bishop Paul-Andre Durocher says the total payouts from those lawsuits amount to $1.2 million. He adds none of those settlements involved confidentiality agreements. "There's no doubt in my mind that these victims deserve this money," said Guzzo. "You know the confidentiality agreement - never going to trial, never allowing it to become public - there's an element of hush money." Although Parisien hasn't received a settlement, he is hoping to get some compensation for his experience. He says while no amount of money will change his life, it will help validate what he went through. "Just for my loss of wages - that's all I seek. I don't want nothing else from these people, they've done enough damage. And they have to sleep with themselves at night." With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/cornwall-sex-abuse-victims-given-large-settlements-1.521190 ::: Three CAS cases settled. When it was filed in 2013, the civil suits totalled $14 million ($2.8 million per plaintiff). Each plaintiff initially claimed $350,000 for pain and suffering, in addition to $1 million each for loss of future earnings and another $1 million for punitive damages. They sought $100,000 in future care costs, plus $100,000 for special damages and $250,000 for aggravated damages. Two outstanding plaintiffs will be addressed shortly, Bonn said. “We continue to work on those,” he said. “We intend to mediate those.” The suit directed at the CAS also targets four former foster parents, two are now serving prison terms for sexual abuse of children placed in their care. A third convicted predator’s case is now before the Ontario Court of Appeal. “Like most of these issues, they’re difficult all the way through and deal with unpleasant issues, but the fact that we’ve been able to reach some form of agreement means that each side is able to live with it at some level,” Bonn said Tuesday. Bonn filed the claims on behalf of the five female plaintiffs, now in their late teens and early 20s. “With litigation done, it would bring an end to this piece of their involvement with the CAS,” Bonn said. All complainants listed claim the Prince Edward County CAS (PECCAS) is liable for the abuse each of them suffered while in the care of PECCAS. The County society is now part of the newly-amalgamated Highland Shores Children’s Aid Society, which also spans the societies of Hastings and Northumberland counties. Mark Kartusch, the society’s executive director, was also tight-lipped about the settlement. “I can’t disclose any of the details,” he said Tuesday. “However, we do hope this helps these youths move forward.” Kartusch wouldn’t go as far as viewing the settlements as a form of closure for the plaintiffs. “How does one ever have closure?” he said. “We believe in these young people and their future and want to support them in that.” Before the 2013 merger, PECCAS was subjected to an extensive government probe which revealed a bevy of damning findings. The investigation led by the Ministry of Child and Youth Services in Dec. 2011 – following a rash of child sex abuse charges against County foster parents – showed the agency was rife with significant internal conflicts recklessly placing vulnerable children in homes not properly screened and some cases not screened at all for months. Kartusch said the agency has found better footing since the findings triggered amalgamation. “I think we’re moving forward but will not forget the past,” he said. Some concerns linger. “I’m concerned that this may cause people to lose confidence in fostering or foster families,” he said, adding few bad apples aren’t representative of the whole bunch. The 2013 statement of claims alleged “PECCAS is responsible, in fact and in law, for its own negligence and breaches of its statutory and fiduciary duties as well as for the negligence and breaches of duty committed by its servants, agents and employees,” states the claim, a copy of which was obtained by The Intelligencer in April 2013. One statement of claim states, “PECCAS caused (the plaintiffs) permanent and extensive injuries and losses” ranging from alcohol and substance abuse to inability to trust, impairment of mental health, nightmares of abuse, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. “They (plaintiffs) have incurred medical expenses and will continue to require therapy and medical attention,” the 2013 statement of claim adds. Two of the former foster parents initially targeted in the claim were Walter Joseph Holm, 46, and his wife, Janet Holm, 49. They pleaded guilty to several charges, including possession of child pornography, sexual assault and invitation to sexual touching and were sentenced in November 2011 to four- and three-year prison terms respectively. Three of the five plaintiffs, now ages 21, 23, and 19, are linked to the Holms. It’s not known if they were the three of five now concluded. Justice Geoff Griffin blasted the Holms for turning their home into a “sexual cult” while fostering 25 teenagers over the course of nine years. The three plaintiffs further implied that PECCAS was “vicariously liable for the actions” of the Holms. https://www.intelligencer.ca/2014/10/21/three-cas-cases-settled/wcm/3fd07287-3f2a-1755-7386-1c8c2353c943