Abuse by Teachers & Other Professionals

If you are a survivor of sexual abuse by a teacher, doctor, coach or another figure of authority and trust, your life has probably been affected in many ways. Almost everything about you may have suffered—your education, your relationships, and your career may have all been hurt by your past abuse.

Your teacher or coach is a figure of trust and authority, and when that trust is destroyed, you may feel helpless. Survivors of teacher child abuse or coach sexual abuse often live their whole lives not understanding where the pain comes from; why they haven't accomplished much with their lives; why they keep turning to drugs or alcohol. Many people come to a realization, often well into adulthood, that the pain they've had their whole lives is rooted in sexual abuse by a coach or teacher in the past.

Perhaps you didn’t even realize it was an abusive situation until long after the sex abuse ended. According to the Criminal Code of Canada, sexual exploitation charges apply even if victims are over the age of consent, in cases where the perpetrator is “in a position of trust or authority … or is a person with whom the young person is in a relationship of dependency.”

Sometimes, exploring the possibility of taking action against the abuser(s) is an important part of the healing process. Whether or not you ultimately decide to sue the perpetrator(s) is your choice. We help give you the information you need to make the choice that's right for you.

If you were sexually abused by a coach or teacher, you may have a claim against the person who assaulted you, or against other people who can be found responsible. Our sexual assault team in Toronto can help you. Contact us today.

Latest News:

Friday, December 09, 2011

In a solemn six-minute video posted online Thursday, Scouts Canada offered a public apology to all former members who may have “suffered harm” at the hands of volunteer leaders in the past and announced a third-party review of its records relating to abuse.

“Our sincere efforts to prevent such crimes have not always succeeded. We are sorry for that,” chief commissioner Steve Kent said in the video posted on YouTube. “We are saddened at any resulting harm. Our most profound sympathies extend to all victims and to their families.”

Kentʼs words came weeks after a report on CBCʼs Fifth Estate alleged Scouts Canada maintained a list of suspected pedophiles dating back at least to the mid-1980s and did not share it with authorities. Scouts Canada repeatedly denied the allegation, saying any information on suspected pedophiles was shared with police.
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Thursday, December 08, 2011

Roman Catholic officials in Ontario were told on two occasions that a priest was molesting young boys but didnʼt alert the police or the childrenʼs aid society, allowing Rev. William Hodgson Marshall to assault children for three decades, two new civil suits allege.

One of the clerics who is alleged to have failed to report Father Marshallʼs sexual abuse is the late Monsignor W.E. Dillon, a long-time pastor at Sacred Heart parish in Windsor.
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Friday, October 21, 2011

Sexual Predator, Richard Turley – Boy Scouts Leader across the Canada & the United States

Richard Turley, a Boy Scout leader who molested at least eight scouts throughout the 1970’s and 80’s across California and British Columbia, wasn’t sentenced to jail until 1988 for sexually assaulting a child at a swimming pool. He spent 30 days in jail and was banned from associations dealing with youths such as Scouts, YMCA and Little League. The police finally started a large-scale investigation into Turley in 1995.
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October 01, 2011

Predator teachers: Students ruined by teacher sex assaults

Predator teachers have left a trail of wounded students across Ontario. Teachers, mostly male but some female, have sexually abused young people. Broken lives are the result. A Toronto Star investigation has found this is a serious problem that nobody - not the teacher watchdog, school boards or teachers' unions - has been able to curb.

Tuesday, December 11, 2010

School Teacher Robert Pickering Charged

A school teacher at the prestigious The Waldorf School in Richmond Hill has been accused of sexually assaulting students 25 years ago. Robert Pickering, 56, has been a teacher at Waldorf since 1985.

Now in their late 30's and early 40's two former female students have come forward with claims they were taken advantage of while attending Waldorf when they were 17 years old.

Pickering, who is still employed by The Waldorf School, is listed as teaching science, chemistry, physics, mathematics and music. He's also listed as a Grade 9 class advisor and guidance counsellor.

The Kettleby resident was charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count each of sexual exploitation and seduction of a female between 16 and 18 years.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Lawrence Michael Roberts – Roadie charged with sex assault

A band roadie from Goderich, Ontario has been charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy in the 1970s. Lawrence Michael Roberts, also known as L. Michael Roberts, 60, has been charged with indecent assault on a male, buggery, and making or possessing obscene matter. In his job as a stage and laser-light technician for music bands, Lawrence may have travelled extensively, and police believe there may be other victims. If you have a complaint against Lawrence Michael Roberts, contact us. We can help.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Dr. Javad Peirovy – Toronto doctor charged with sexual assault

Toronto doctor, Javad Peirovy, was charged today with sexual assault following a three-week police investigation. A 32-year-old woman contacted police on July 31, after she was treated for an illness at the Fast Lane Walk-In Clinic on Bloor Street. She alleges Dr. Peirovy assaulted her during her visit. Peirovy’s primary practice is in North York at the Nymark Medical Centre, on Leslie St.

If you have a complaint against Dr. Javad Peirovy, contact us. We can help.

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Chi Cuong Hang – North York Teacher Charged with Sexual Assault

North York middle school teacher, Chi Cuong Hang, has been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference following allegations involving a 12-year-old student.

Hang teaches grade 7 at Don Mills Middle School in Toronto. He was arrested on June 3 on charges stemming from two incidents in April and May, when the victim was at school and under Hang’s supervision.

Stewart Adams – Toronto Teacher Charged with Making Child Pornography

Toronto elementary teacher, Stewart Adams, was arrested on June 1 at Kingsview Village Junior School. Adams is charged with possessing child pornography, making child pornography, making available child pornography and accessing child pornography. The charges come after an undercover police sting that found the explicit images of boys ranging from five to 12 years of age. Adams has been at the school for 11 years and has also worked at Park Lawn Junior Middle School, Wellesworth Junior School and Lanor Junior Middle School in Toronto.

If you have a complaint against Stewart Adams, please contact us. We can help.

John Slingerland – Former Medical Officer Charged with Indecent Assault

John Owen Slingerland, 87, of Mount Albert in the town of East Gwillimbury, was arrested and charged today with 15 counts of indecent sexual assault against males between 1962 and 1971. The former medical officer of health for the York Region practiced in Mount Albert and Newmarket, and was also a local volunteer with Scouts Canada, police said. Slingerland was the medical officer of health in York from 1959 until he retired in 1988. For some of that time he also served as commissioner of social services for the region. Slingerland has been released on bail and ordered by an Ontario Court judge to return June 22.

If you have a complaint against John Slingerland, please contact us. We can help.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Jonathan Summerhayes – Five Charges Against Swim Coach

Jonathan Summerhayes, a Toronto District School Board swim coach has been charged with five sex-related offences in connection with a 12-year-old boy. Toronto Police allege that the youth was sexually assaulted at Carlton Village Public School in April 2009. The charges laid against Summerhayes include sexual assault, sexual exploitation and sexual interference. The accused has been a swim coach in Toronto since 1995 and is currently a coach at Allenby Junior Public School.

Police believe there may be other victims. If you have a complaint against Jonathan Summerhayes, please contact us. We can help.

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